South Africa: O Kae Molao continues to record successes Gauteng SAPSs much-vaunted Operation O Kae Molao continues to make significant strides in the fight against crime in the province. Over the weekend, in various operations led by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, over 1 000 suspects were arrested. In a statement, provincial spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello said: [In Tembisa], an operation resulted in the arrest of 274 people and confiscation of alcohol, drugs and five vehicles of which their engines were tempered with and one of them was a suspected hijacked vehicle. Traffic fines to the value of R12 650 were also issued for non-compliance of the Road Traffic Management Act. Meanwhile, police in Johannesburg District nabbed 202 suspects for various crimes including assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, rape, possession of an unlicensed firearm, carjacking, murder and robbery. In the Sedibeng District a suspect trace was conducted in support of Operation O Kae Molao. Thirty-five suspects were arrested for murder, armed robbery, rape, sexual offences and housebreaking. The West Rand District together with other law enforcement agencies also conducted weekend operations. During the operation a total of 145 suspects were arrested for different crimes ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunitions, possession of hijacked motor vehicle, possession of drugs, possession of suspected stolen property, possession of dangerous weapon, possession of copper cable, assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm, armed robbery, common robbery, malicious damage to property and illegal mining, she said. Over 600 suspects were arrested. Among the arrested were five undocumented persons. Several liquor outlets were closed. Traffic fines to the value of R70 000 were issued and illegal gambling machines were confiscated. All arrested suspects are expected to appear before various Magistrates' Court soon. Lieutenant General Mawela applauded all the stakeholders involved for their efforts and continued commitment in ensuring that criminal activities are minimised in the province. The community has been encouraged to report any forms of criminal activities at their nearest police stations or contact the Crime Stop number 08600 10111. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: 19 firearms, drugs seized in WC operations Western Cape police last week scored major successes when 19 illegal firearms, 790 rounds of ammunition and drugs worth R2 million were confiscated during various operations. Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said the operations were executed throughout the province between Monday and Sunday. The operations, she said, had a specific focus on identified hotspots and crime generators. In the main, illegal firearms and to some extent, other dangerous weapons, continue to contribute to serious violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, hijacking and armed robbery. The seizures comprised rifles, pistols, gas guns and imitation firearms. On Thursday evening, members of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) chased and arrested a 40-year-old suspect from Bonteheuwel and seized an unlicensed rifle. The next day, AGU in Bishop Lavis confiscated two pistols and charged a 34-year-old suspect with strong links to gangs. He was charged with possession of prohibited firearms. Meanwhile, members of the Cape Town K-9 unit on Thursday followed up on information about a vehicle, whose occupants were behaving suspiciously in the Blackheath industrial area. Potelwa said police, upon searching the vehicle on the corner of Range and Stellenbosch Arterial roads, discovered a 9mm firearm in a black paper bag on the back seat and another 9mm pistol on one of the four occupants of the vehicle. All four suspects were subsequently arrested. Lockdown II forces deployed in Delft stopped and searched several persons and seized 16 knives and dangerous weapons. The same Lockdown II forces discovered an abandoned gas gun in Viscount Street at The Hague. Two suspects, aged 28 and 30, were arrested by police in Basboom Street in Delft South on Tuesday for possession of homemade guns (zip guns), she said. Meanwhile in Atlantis, a 17-year-old was apprehended by the Atlantis crime prevention unit members for possession of a 9mm pistol. In the same precinct, a 28-year-old was arrested for possession of an imitation firearm on Monday. Other firearms were seized in operations in Nyanga, Gugulethu, Delft, Steenberg and Khayelitsha. On Saturday evening, the Breede River K-9 unit members arrested three suspects - aged 20, 23 and 26- in Roodewal Flats, Worcester, for possession of stolen vehicle batteries. Three suspects were arrested by Lockdown II forces on Saturday in Nyanga at a vehicle checkpoint with house breaking implements. The vehicle the suspects were in was discovered to have been stolen in September in Harare, Khayelitsha. The vehicle has since been linked to several house robberies. The three suspects - aged 17, 23 and 24 - have been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and house breaking implements. As investigations continue, the suspects could face additional charges. On Sunday morning, members of the George Public Order Police, deployed in hotspots in the Cape Town metropole, discovered during a routine stop and search on Lillian Ngoyi Street, Samora Machel, a vehicle reportedly stolen in Indwe in the Eastern Cape in June 2021. A 33-year-old suspect was henceforth arrested. On the drug front, Eden and Central Karoo rural flying squad members intercepted drug consignments worth over R2 million in two major seizures during the week. All suspects arrested over the weekend will appear in various courts on Monday. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Transition to low-carbon emissions economy urgent President Ramaphosa President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country must urgently reduce its carbon and greenhouse gas emissions or risk experiencing negative social and economic consequences. The President was addressing the nation through his weekly newsletter. Carbon and greenhouse gas emissions are a product of the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal, which contribute to global warming and changes in the Earth's climate patterns (climate change). President Ramaphosa said the impact of climate change is already felt in some South Africans quality of life through drought and flooding. Several communities in Mpumalanga, for example, are affected by high levels of pollution, which increases respiratory illness and other diseases. Those who are dependent on the ocean for a living have already seen depleted fish stocks amid changing weather patterns and changes in ocean temperature, he said. The President warned that if the country continues its carbon intensive production methods, the economy will bear some risks. As our trading partners pursue the goal of net-zero carbon emissions, they are likely to increase restrictions on the import of goods produced using carbon-intensive energy. Because so much of our industry depends on coal-generated electricity, we are likely to find that the products we export to various countries face trade barriers. In addition, consumers in those countries may be less willing to buy our products. The other economic risk is that investors will shy away from investing in fossil fuel powered industries. Banks and financial institutions are already facing pressures from their shareholders not to finance enterprises that depend on fossil fuels to produce their products or services, President Ramaphosa said. A just power transition President Ramaphosa acknowledged that although the low-carbon economy transition is a necessary one, it needs to be just because some sectors will be negatively impacted. There are several important sectors of our economy that will be negatively affected by such a transition, including agriculture, tourism, mining, energy, transport, manufacturing and the biodiversity economy. That is why a transitionmust address the needs of workers in these industries and in affected communities. The process of transition needs to be based on the full involvement of organised labour and business in targeted programmes of reskilling and upskilling, creating employment and providing other forms of support to ensure workers are the major beneficiaries of our shift to a greener future, he said. Transforming communities and electricity sector President Ramaphosa said government is already developing plans on a transition towards a low-carbon economy, starting with the electricity sector which, according to the President, contributes to 41% of the countrys emissions. It will be the quickest industry to decarbonise and will have a beneficial impact across the economy. We will be decommissioning and repurposing coal-fired power stations, and investing in new low-carbon generation capacity, such as renewables. We will also pursue green industrialisation, such as manufacturing using green technology and a shift to the production of electric vehicles, the President said. In line with this, President Ramaphosa announced that the State power utility will transform a coal-fired power station into a renewable power production plant. Eskom will be undertaking a pilot project at its Komati power station, which is due to shut down its last coal-fired unit next year, to produce power through renewable energy. Komati will serve as a good example of how this shift from coal dependency could be achieved, he said. The President said in Mpumalangas mining towns, government is working with different sectors in pursuance of moving towards less dependence on coal, assessing its impact and making sure that communities are protected against the risks and benefit from the opportunities presented by this transition. There are economic challenges and risks. There are huge economic opportunities that we must seize. South Africa is endowed with abundant resources that can be harnessed to open up new frontiers of investment and growth and build a new economy in areas like green hydrogen. By pursuing these opportunities, we can ensure that our just transition yields new innovative opportunities that will create new jobs. Cooperation key The President said in order for the country to meet its target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, developed nations will be required to keep promises made to financially support energy transitions in countries like South Africa. In this regard, government is working with international partners to secure a financing facility for the decarbonisation effort. This is not about charity. It is about fairness and mutual benefit. Countries with developed economies carry the greatest responsibility for climate change as they have historically been the biggest polluters, while developing economies are the worst affected. That is why wealthier countries have an obligation to provide significant financial support for developing economies to adapt to climate change and reduce emissions, President Ramaphosa said. South Africans too, are required to commit to the transition to a low carbon emitting economy. The climate transition is something that affects every South African and we all need to be part of its design and implementation. We have undertaken widespread consultation and there is broad support among social partners for an ambitious, realistic and, most importantly, just transition. We have to act now if we are to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, secure the health and well-being of our people and safeguard the future of our planet, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Mpumalanga MEC arrested for murder, attempted murdered This story has been published on: 2021-10-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Western Cape police last week scored major successes when 19 illegal firearms, 790 rounds of ammunition and drugs worth R2 million were confiscated during various operations. Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said the operations were executed throughout the province between Monday and Sunday. The operations, she s... See more South Africa: Term of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng comes to an end President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoengs decade long-term at the helm of the Constitutional Court as one characterised with fearlessness, integrity and resilience. The term of the Chief Justice is expected to come to an end today. Today we pay tribute to Chief Justice Mogoeng for endowing South African jurisprudence and the democratic order more broadly with judicial integrity and resilience which has impacted positively on the lives of citizens and advanced accountability. Following a decade of outstanding service and leadership, Chief Justice Mogoeng leaves a rich legacy for our democratic culture, our judiciary, the legal profession and ordinary South Africans, the President said. President Ramaphosa hailed Chief Justice Mogoeng for leading a fearless judiciary, which has earned South Africa international recognition. Chief Justice Mogoengs leadership inspired a judiciary that was fearless in holding those in power to account and empathetic to the plight of individuals and groups in our society. This has deepened international regard for South African jurisprudence, for the integrity, effectiveness and efficiency of our democratic institutions, and for the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution. Chief Justice Mogoeng presided over our judiciary during a decade which was challenging in many ways, but during which our judiciary held firm and enabled the renewal of our society he said. The President wished him well in his retirement. Having served the nation with such distinction since September 2011, Chief Justice Mogoeng is now able to devote himself to more his personal interests, even though we know he will continue to be an important figure and voice in public life, President Ramaphosa said. The process to appoint a new Chief Justice is currently underway with eight people qualifying for a nomination to lead the apex court. South Africans have until 5pm on Friday to submit objections to the nomination of any of the nominees with their biographies available on The Presidency's website. Objections can be sent to angeline@presidency.gov.za and OSewpaul@justice.gov.za. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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 Ending Univ. of Pittsburgh's Fetal Organ Harvesting Atrocities Pitt Exposed: Now What? NEWS PROVIDED BY Magee Project Oct. 11, 2021 PITTSBURGH, Oct. 11, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- WHAT: A panel discussion of what has been revealed about the harvesting of human organs and tissues from aborted children at Magee Hospital and their use in controversial research and experimentation at the University of Pittsburgh. WHEN: Tuesday, October 12, 2021 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon WHERE: First Trinity Lutheran Church 531 North Neville Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Free to the public with limited seating. Media invited. Moderated by former Congressman Keith Rothfus Panel members to include: David Daleiden, The Center for Medical Progress - whose undercover videos have exposed Pitt's role in the illegal harvesting and selling of fetal body parts. Joseph Meany, PhD, The National Catholic Bioethics Center - who will discuss the efficacy of fetal tissue in medical cures and ethical alternatives. Cecily Routman, Jewish Pro-life Foundation - who will present historical perspectives on medical experimentation on human subjects. Judge Cheryl Allen, Retired Pennsylvania Superior Court - who, with the Pa. Family Institute, will highlight Pitt's targeting of this research toward Black women and children. State Representative Tim Bonner, Pennsylvania General Assembly - who will present the possible public policy responses to these practices. To view photos of the scalps from aborted babies grafted on to mice to study the human immune system at the University of Pittsburgh: https://www.lifenews.com/2020/12/18/scientists-attach-scalps-of-aborted-babies-to-humanized-mice-for-dubious-research/ To view a YouTube video from Fox News Tucker Carlson about what is going on at Pitt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2mibUG4rOs To learn more about the work David Daleiden has done to expose the profitable market for aborted baby parts: https://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/2021/08/breaking-university-of-pittsburgh-admits-hearts-beating-while-harvesting-aborted-infants-kidneys/ To learn more about the letter written to President Biden read this article by Judge Cheryl Allen: https://thefederalist.com/2021/10/04/public-officials-silent-about-allegations-of-nazi-level-experiments-at-the-university-of-pittsburgh/ Sponsored by the Pro-life Coalition of Pa., the Magee Project, Rehumanize International, People Concerned for the Unborn Child, and the Pa. Family Institute. For additional information, contact Meredith Parente at 412-795-3924 or themageeproject@gmail.com SOURCE Magee Project CONTACT: Meredith Parente, 412-795-3924, themageeproject@gmail.com Vietnamese startup in automated invoicing raises 3 million USD The developer of Bizzi, a software as a service (SaaS) which simplifies invoice processing, has successfully raised 3 million USD during a pre-Series A round. Co-founders of Bizzi Vu Trong Nghia (R) and Nguyen Bao Nguyen (Photo: vneconomy.vn) The sum will be pumped by a consortium led by Japans leading FinTech/SaaS firm Money Forward, with the participation of Do Ventures from Vietnam and Qualgro from Singapore. The robotic process automation (RPA) technology and machine learning of Bizzi help cut 80 percent of processing time and 50 percent of cost in invoice handling, while increasing transparency and tax obligation amongst businesses. Bizzi is the first company in Vietnam to offer automation solutions for invoice processing via artificial intelligence and the RPA technology. Its platform can be integrated with existing accounting solutions and connect services providers with customers to automatise financial procedures. Executive Officer/CSO at Money Forward Kanto Tatsuya said Bizzi has created a huge impact by helping thousands of firms in digital transformation. The Japanese mobile application software developer will support Bizzi to build the largest account book software in Vietnam based on experience from its own Money Forward Cloud, he added. Co-founders of Bizzi Vu Trong Nghia and Nguyen Bao Nguyen said the new investment will help them bolster the products functions and expand customer network. They underscored that Vietnam remains the firms key market in the near future, and it will consider the possibility to expand to the Southeast Asian market. At present, Bizzis customers include Grab super app, Circle K convenience store chain and Tiki e-commerce platform, among others. Total values of invoice handled through Bizzi exceed 300 million USD per month. Latvia to resell 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for Vietnam The Parliament of Latvia (Saeima) has announced that it will resell to Vietnam 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This is in response to a letter of Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue addressed to heads of parliaments in European nations attending the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP5) in Austria last month. NA Chairman Hue has expressed his gratitude to Speaker of the Saeima Inara Murniece and members of the Latvian Parliament for the vaccine support. In his thank-you note, he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies of Vietnam have rolled out necessary measures to purchase and receive the vaccine in the quickest time possible. He voiced his delight that the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Latvia at large, and the countries parliaments in particular, have been strengthened over the years. Firms fail to convince workers to stay in HCM City Ha Thi Nam, 30, her husband and their small son have just left HCM City for her hometown in Tra Vinh Province on a tiring trip. It took them two days to travel the 130-kilometre-road, a trip that would normally take just two hours. They had to spend lots of time at 10 Covid-19 checkpoints on the way. Ha Thi Nam, her husband and son wait at a Covid-19 checkpoint while on the way to her hometown on October 1 "Well not return to HCM City," Nam said while staying at a quarantine area in her hometown on October 9. "After completing quarantine, my husband and I will try to find a job at Long Duc Industrial Zone here. The payment for workers here may be lower than that we received when working in HCM City, but we feel safer." Nam said that her company in HCM City's District 7 had just called her asking her to return to work but she had refused. "They called yesterday announcing that they were resuming operations soon and when I told them that I had left the city, they said that they could arrange free transportation for me to return, but I refused. The Covid-19 pandemic is still a big threat in HCM City and we spent our last savings during the recent outbreak there. Well stay in our hometown because the pandemic is being better controlled here, and we won't have to pay rent and life is also cheaper. Nguyen Minh Canh, 28, has just received a call from his manager at Pouyuen Vietnam Company in HCM City's Binh Tan District, asking him to return to work, but Canh has said no. He is packing to leave the city for his hometown. Minh Canh has lived on his unemployment allowance of over VND 4 million (USD 174) a month for the past four months during the social distancing period. His company closed four months ago but he decided to stay with the hope that the outbreak would be soon controlled while his wife took their four-month-old child back to their home in the central province of Nghe An. "I've had to experience a lot of negative situations over the long social distancing period," the man said. "I really miss my wife and child. And I've constantly lived in fears of being infected with Covid-19. Life is still so difficult and uncertain here even if the pandemic is being better controlled. I've waited for the eased social distancing rules so that I can return to my hometown." Despites promises of salary raises, bonuses, and transport support made by firms in some southern localities to entice workers back, many migrant workers have decided to leave for their hometowns due to their feelings of insecurity during the pandemic. Thousands of people are leaving some southern provinces for her hometown following the eased social distancing rules HCM City-based Vinh Thanh Dat Foods Company CEO Truong Chi Thien said that before the latest Covid-19 outbreak, his company was doing well with over 400 workers but the number had sharply decreased in recent days, especially after the social distancing rules were eased. "We've been operating throughout the pandemic as we produce essential foods," Thien said. "But right after the outbreak started, 20 percent of our workers left. Then we lost another 20 percent while applying the stay-at-work policy for Covid-19 prevention. Although we've tried to keep workers by various bonuses, were losing even more since the city eased social distancing rules." A worker at Vinh Thanh Dat Foods Company According to Thien, many migrant workers have had psychological problems since the pandemic started. They just do not feel safe in the city anymore. "Most of them have just waited for the eased travelling rules so that they can return to their hometowns," he said. "We and many other companies in the southern region are facing big problems in attracting workers. Chairman of the trade union at Changshin Vietnam Company in Dong Nai Province, Dang Tuan Tu, said that they have resumed operations and 15,000 workers had returned. But they needed many more workers to complete rising orders for the coming Christmas and New Year Holidays. Were trying to call for more workers and are sending buses to neighbouring provinces to help transport them to the company," he said. A report said that Dong Nai authorities had allowed all firms to reopen but local companies were only operating at between 5-10% capacity due to the lack of workers. Statistics showed that some 40,000 workers have left the province since the social distancing rules were eased early October. Vietnamese artists to attend German exhibition Documenta for first time Vietnams artist Nguyen Trinh Thi and Nha San Collective have been selected to participate the 15th edition of contemporary arts exhibition Documenta (Documenta 15) in Germanys Kassel next year. Hanoi-based filmmaker and artist Nguyen Trinh Thi. (Photo: VNA) Documenta 15 marks the first time Vietnam has sent representatives to the event, said curator Ace Le from Singapore. Thi is a Hanoi-based filmmaker and artist. Thi uses montage to compose her works, drawing on different image media, from her own audio and visual recordings to found footage and still images from postcards, photography, newsreels, Hollywood films and ethnographic footage. She is also interested in incorporating new media into current works, including organic materials and natural forces. Her films and video art works have been shown at festivals and art exhibitions, including the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane (2018); 21st Biennale of Sydney (2018); International Film Festival Rotterdam (2016); Jeu de Paume, Paris (2015); CAPC musee dart contemporain de Bordeaux (2015); 13th Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale (2015); Asian Art Biennial, Taichung (2015), among others. In 2009, Thi founded Hanoi DOCLAB, an independent centre for documentary film and the moving image in Hanoi. In 2015 2016, she was a fellow of the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Programme. Nha San Collective began operating as an independent artist collective in Hanoi in 2013, when a group of friends set up a publicly accessible space. Nha San Collective has worked with fellow companions and collaborators to organize exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, talks, and other activities as a support platform for artists in the community. News Headlines Largest SEA genome sequencing centre takes shape in Vietnam Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - The International Paralympics Committee (IPC) will decide Sunday on whether to ban Russia outright from the Games next month. The IPC said it would announce a decision at midday Rio time (1500 GMT) Sunday. It described as "pure speculation" that it, unlike the International Olympic Committee (IOC), would ban Russia following a report into systemic doping. Britains Observer newspaper reported Saturday that a decision had been made to ban Russia from the September 7-18 Paralympics. It follows a report by Professor Richard McLaren for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) outlining state-backed doping in Russia affecting several Olympic sports and Paralympic disciplines. "Contrary to media reports, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has not yet announced its decision regarding the membership status of the Russian Paralympic Committee," a statement said. The IOC on July 24 decided against a ban of all Russian athletes from the Rio Olympics and said it would leave the final decisions with the international sports federations. The IOC wanted to ban Russian athletes with previous doping offences from participating in the Games, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled against. The IPC confirmed it had been speaking with Professor McLaren and his investigations team to seek further information following the publication of his report. On July 22, it opened suspension proceedings against the Russian Paralympic Committee following the report and additional information it had received from McLaren. U.S. treasury secretary hopes Congress will approve global corporate tax deal Xinhua) 08:12, October 11, 2021 U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifies during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 28, 2021. (Matt McClain/Pool via Xinhua) Yellen's remarks came after the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced on Friday that a major reform of the international tax system has finalized, which includes a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent. WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday that she hoped U.S. Congress would approve a key pillar of the global corporate tax deal agreed by some 136 countries and jurisdictions. "I am confident that what we need to do to come into compliance with the minimum tax will be included in a reconciliation package," Yellen said on ABC's "This Week," referring to a spending package being negotiated by the White House and Democratic lawmakers. "I hope ... that it will be passed and we will be able to reassure the world that the United States will do its part," she said. Yellen's remarks came after the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced on Friday that a major reform of the international tax system has finalized, which includes a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent. "This is really an historic agreement. It's something that is very important for American workers to stop what's been a decades-long race to the bottom on corporate taxation, where countries try to cut their taxes to attract our businesses," Yellen said. "And this agreement to place a halt on how low tax rates can go so that all of us have the opportunity to collect tax revenue from successful corporations, and not just from workers. This is really something we need to make globalization work," she added. The global corporate tax deal will also reallocate more than 125 billion U.S. dollars of profits from around 100 of the world's largest and most profitable multinational companies to countries worldwide, ensuring that these firms pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and generate profits. The deal will be delivered to the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers meeting in Washington D.C. on Oct. 13, then to the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rome, Italy at the end of the month, according to the OECD. However, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Republican Leader Mike Crapo and House Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Kevin Brady have blasted the deal, which has the support of the Joe Biden administration. "Rather than securing an agreement that would provide certainty and immediately eliminate digital services taxes, the Administration has instead used this global forum to advance its short-sighted domestic tax agenda," Crapo and Brady said Friday in a statement. "By doing so, the Biden Administration is putting politics over progress and surrendering the fate of the U.S. economy to our foreign competitors," they said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Foreign experts, scholars hail Xi's speech at commemorative meeting marking 1911 Revolution Xinhua) 08:15, October 11, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Experts and scholars across the world have spoken highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping's important speech at a commemorative meeting on Saturday marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 that ended the thousands-year-long absolute monarchy in the country. The speech of Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, expounded on what the past 110 years have shown to the Chinese people, and stressed on rallying the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad to work together to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, both of which are of great significance, they said. The experts and scholars expressed the belief that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people will follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and will make more important contributions to world peace, development and prosperity. Samer Khair Ahmed, a Jordanian writer and expert on Arab-China relations, said Xi's speech "is of high importance." Socialism with Chinese characteristics "succeeded in combining the best economic practices that encourage productivity, work and economic growth with preserving social justice," and "preserved the rights of the people and their dignity in life," he said. "It was proven with evidence that the Chinese approach in implementing socialism is successful," he said, adding that China has provided the whole world with experience in implementing socialism. Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, said "the realities on the ground have proved that socialism with Chinese characteristics has not only led to inclusive social and economic growth ... (such as the) eradication of poverty within a very short period of time, but it has also transformed the world ... in a variety of ways." Praising China as a leading advocate for multilateralism, Moshi said the country has boosted the development of many developing countries, including those in Africa, through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, among others. Stressing the importance of Xi's speech, Oleg Timofeyev, associate professor at the People's Friendship University of Russia, noted that China has turned into a prosperous country and one of the world's leading economies. Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said 110 years after the Revolution of 1911, China has eliminated extreme poverty and achieved building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, and its effort to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. He said he looks forward to China's continuous promotion of regional and global stability and development, as well as common prosperity for all. Hassan Ragab, director of the Confucius Institute at the Suez Canal University in Egypt, hailed Xi's speech as both "important" and "comprehensive." It has shown that "China is going on the right path," Ragab said. "Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a distinctive feature of China, because it stems from reality, and ... (is) based on sharing and bringing benefits to all people," he said. China, led by the CPC, has successfully tackled great challenges including rural poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic, among others, he said. China has also made great contributions at the international level, such as helping developing countries, including Egypt, he added. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) China plays key role in tackling global biodiversity crisis, says expert Xinhua) 08:27, October 11, 2021 "China has a long history of nature conservation, and it's very well recognized. The influence of China is so important globally and it's therefore encouraging to see the concepts that have worked well in China to (influence) other countries," said a U.S. expert. WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- China, with a long history of nature conservation, got a key role to play in helping tackle the global biodiversity crisis, which is equally on center stage with climate change, a U.S. expert has said. "I think the ability of China to provide technical and financial assistance to the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is going to be a big part of the success and their legacy of hosting the COP15," James Roth, senior vice president for global policy and government affairs at Conservation International (CI), a non-governmental organization, told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday. Roth, who oversees the organization's U.S. government affairs and international policy teams, was referring to the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), which will kick off in the city of Kunming in China's southwestern Yunnan Province on Monday. "The kind of ambition that China has shown sort of comes to pass not only in China, but in other countries. So it's a lot of work to host one of these conferences and people expect you to come out and be a leader. It's a lot of responsibility. So far the announcements have been quite good," Roth said. Visitors take photos of samples containing germinated seeds at an exhibition held by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 10, 2021. Ahead of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, CAS held an event on its biodiversity preservation and study, as well as achievements on biodiversity research. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The COP15 includes two parts. The first part is a combination of interactive virtual and in-person setting that will take place on Oct. 11-15 both online and offline in Kunming. The second part, to be held in-person in the first half of 2022, will see broad and deepened negotiations towards an ambitious and practical post-2020 global biodiversity framework. A nature lover and a passionate environmental protectionist, Roth has been closely following China's efforts on promoting biodiversity. "China has a long history of nature conservation, and it's very well recognized. The influence of China is so important globally and it's therefore encouraging to see the concepts that have worked well in China to (influence) other countries," he said. The concept of "ecological civilization," Roth said, "really highlights in our view humanity living in harmony with nature." To meet ecological civilization targets, China has drawn up ecological conservation red lines nationwide to identify the country's crucial ecological zones and enforce strict protection in those areas, he said. White cranes forage in a farmland by the Poyang Lake in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi) "So when you talk about sort of what does 'Beautiful China' mean, in our mind, it's taking these sort of concrete actions and then turning them into protected areas that allow humanity and nature to live together in a mutually sustaining way," said Roth. China's approach to ecological civilization is a "very useful model" for other countries, as they also try to figure out how they're going to reach their own biodiversity goals, he said. "So I think China can serve as a very, very good example here," he added. In addition, China's commitment to strive for the peaking of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 was also "a very, very good example," said Roth. "We realized that there are already some plants under construction, but I think going forward, the fact that China will be turning to other sources of energy, it was very, very welcomed," he said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Chinese startup among winners of G20 Innovation League competition Xinhua) 08:33, October 11, 2021 Representatives attend a meeting of the G20 Innovation League in Sorrento, southern Italy, on Oct. 10, 2021. Chinese startup Sansure Biotech on Sunday won the award for healthcare innovation at the G20 Innovation League, a competition between 100 startups from over 20 countries. Held both in presence and online over the weekend in the southern Italy's city of Sorrento, the competition saw five groups of twenty startups proposing innovative products and solutions in five different competitive sessions, each concerning one of the five main challenges currently faced by mankind: Cleantech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things and Wearables, Smart Cities and Mobility, and Healthcare. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu) SORRENTO, Italy, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese startup Sansure Biotech on Sunday won the award for healthcare innovation at the G20 Innovation League, a competition between 100 startups from over 20 countries. Held both in presence and online over the weekend in the southern Italy's city of Sorrento, the competition saw five groups of twenty startups proposing innovative products and solutions in five different competitive sessions, each concerning one of the five main challenges currently faced by mankind: Cleantech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things and Wearables, Smart Cities and Mobility, and Healthcare. Conceived under the auspices of the G20 Italian presidency and organized by Italy's Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in collaboration with Italian National Innovation Fund and SIMEST, an Italian business internationalization company, the event was aimed at building a bridge of cooperation between public and private innovation players, startups and investors, featuring 100 venture capitalists (VCs) from various countries. Opening the competition, Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio highlighted in a speech the importance of international cooperation in addressing current global challenges and rethinking the future in an innovative way, urging global players to "join forces to shape together a global innovation agenda for the post-COVID world." "The experience in this forum will be fundamental for a global recovery that will be truly sustainable featuring innovation," he said. Following the competitive sessions, final votes by G20 member-nominated VCs and investors determined 10 winners -- two per category -- selected as examples of immediate opportunities to tackle global challenges and boost global investment and trade. China's Sansure Biotech, a startup specialized in reagents and advanced testing tools widely used in battling the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, grabbed the healthcare award, introducing, among other products, its Advance Magnetic Beads Technology, which relies on super paramagnetic nano-spheres to absorb DNA/RNA, increasing screening processes speed and effectiveness. In the same contest, Indonesian startup Nalagenetics was also awarded, while winners in the other categories included startups from Russia, Indonesia, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Canada and Italy. "I think China is the most aggressive country in building startups, not only within the country but also spreading around the world, so we learn from China because many solutions have been made by startups and big companies from China," Bonifasius W. Pudjianto, director for ICT Empowerment at the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Informatics, told Xinhua. After the winners' announcement, the event was handed over to Indonesia. The country will host the second edition of the G20 Innovation League in 2022, as it holds the next rotating G20 presidency. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Negative list for market access to be further shortened China Daily) 08:34, October 11, 2021 China will continue to shorten the negative list for market access this year, as part of the country's ongoing efforts to optimize its business environment and introduce greater opening-up, according to analysts. The government's intensified efforts to revise the nationwide negative list have shown the country's firm determination to expand market access and build an efficient, fair and unified domestic market, they said, which will also help inject new impetus into the economy and foster high-quality development for the long run. The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic regulator, unveiled on Friday the latest draft version of the negative list for market access. The draft list for 2021 indicates areas where investment is prohibited or restricted; all other areas are presumed to be open. It now comprises 117 items, compared with 123 in the 2020 version, according to the NDRC. The NDRC posted the full text of the draft negative list online to seek public opinion from Oct 8 to 14. Pang Chaoran, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the draft is part of the country's ongoing efforts to continuously deepen reforms and expand opening-up. Pang said a unified negative list for market access in all regions will help China build a high-standard market system that is open and competitive, providing a driving force for high-quality development. "The government's continued efforts to shorten the negative list will help further ease the market access in a wider range and in larger fields," he said. "More efforts are also needed to continuously implement the commitment to 'one list for the whole country' and relax market access in fields such as services and consumption." Citing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Pang said the government should also ramp up efforts to improve the systems and mechanisms for the market allocation of production factors, promote the building of a high-standard market system and form a unified, efficient and well-regulated domestic market featuring fair competition. NDRC data show that China unveiled and revised the negative list for market access for three consecutive years, 2018 to 2020, and the number of items on the list has been reduced by nearly one-fifth. Cui Weijie, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said China's continued efforts to improve market access are conducive to expanding opening-up at higher levels and creating the new "dual circulation" development pattern, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while the domestic and foreign markets complement each other. "Continuously shortening a nationwide negative list is key to fostering high-quality development over the long run," Cui said. "As China is transitioning to a new stage of high-quality development, the country needs to continuously deepen reforms and opening-up as well as build an efficient, fair and unified domestic market." Leading executives of multinational companies have also expressed their confidence in China's market, while speaking highly of the country's continued efforts to improve the business environment. Samson Khaou, executive vice-president of Dassault Systemes Asia-Pacific, said the French industrial software company has been dedicated to the China market over the past decade and will expand its investment in China over the next five years. "China represents a high-potential-growth country and market for us. We're going to accelerate the investment (in China)," he said. Silver Fern Farms, New Zealand's leading processor, marketer and exporter of meat products, is also looking to continuously increase its investment in China. Alex Wang, Silver Fern Farms' manager for China, spoke highly of China's continued efforts to improve the business environment. "Seeing the Chinese market's rising growth potential and local people's growing need for red meat, we're confident about our future growth in the China market," he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) First part of COP15 meeting to open Monday in southwest China Xinhua) 08:50, October 11, 2021 Photo shows the entrance of the media center of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 9, 2021. The media center of the COP15 opened here on Saturday. The COP15 is set to kick off in Kunming on Oct. 11. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) KUNMING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The first part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) will kick off on Monday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. The meeting will last from Oct. 11 to 15, with parallel activities featuring forums on topics including climate change and ecological conservation to be held from Oct. 14 to 15. More than 1,800 representatives will gather online and offline for the event. For improving global biodiversity conservation during the 2011-2020 period, the international community outlined 20 action targets in 2010, Liu Sijia, a communication associate from the secretariat of Convention on Biological Diversity said. None of the goals have been fully realized so far, the officer noted. The second part of the meeting, which is expected to be held next year, will review and make a decision on the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" that the international society pins great hopes on, Liu added. China was among the first countries to become a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity that entered into force in 1993. So far, the Convention has 196 parties and the Conference of the Parties is the highest mechanism for discussing and making decisions on the Convention. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Together for greater harmony between man and nature 09:15, October 11, 2021 By Yi Fan ( People's Daily Online (Screenshot/ Xinhua) Zhang Xueliang, a ranger at Xiling Snow Mountain (which is a giant panda habitat some 110 kilometers from Chengdu, capital of Chinas southwest province of Sichuan), returned home after a routine patrol. He looked through the photos of wild giant pandas captured on infrared cameras: one strolling near a hydro-power station, one frolicking on a tree, and another digging bamboo shoots in a villagers land ... The snapshots of the loving creatures are most telling that the population of wild giant pandas is growing and their habitat is expanding. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now lists giant panda as a vulnerable instead of endangered species. These are just a few examples that illustrate what China has achieved in biodiversity conservation. As Chinese President Xi Jinping has said, humanity and nature are a community of life. Biodiversity is essential for human beings to survive and thrive. The scale of global extinction of species, the rate of loss of biodiversity, and the scope of degradation of the ecosystem make it imperative for us to reflect and react. China is a significant participant, a major contributor, and a leading nation of global biodiversity governance and has taken results-oriented measures to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement. Upholding these international instruments, China has presented the world with an impressive scorecard on global biodiversity governance. A top-down design President Xis thinking on eco-environmental sustainability and conservation is an integral part of his Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. His vision guides the nations biodiversity endeavors. Chinas national policy on eco-environmental sustainability and conservation has been built on, among others, the ancient Chinese philosophy of unity of nature and man and Man must follow natures course. The idea of eco-environmental sustainability and conservation has been written into the Constitution of China and embedded as a priority in the countrys national plan for high-quality development. China strives for a modernization that champions harmony between humanity and nature. Green is gold, President Xis saying, has become the consensus of the Chinese. A systemic approach China has developed an integrated system of biodiversity governance. --China adopted the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2011-2030) in 2010. The action plan makes it clear that biodiversity conservation is a major indicator in the countrys overall planning for economic and social development. --Under the action plan, relevant laws and regulations have been enacted or updated, providing a solid legal basis for biodiversity conservation. --Under the action plan, projects for ecological protection and restoration have been launched. They are designed to restore wetlands and forests, protect rivers and lakes, and control desertification. Thanks to these undertakings, China has come a long way in eco-environmental sustainability and conservation. --China has been the worlds top nation for increase in forest resources for the past 10 years, with a total of over 70 million hectares of land afforested. --China has introduced a red line system for ecological protection. Following its setting of the red line for arable land of no less than 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares), the Chinese government has set a red line for ecological conservation. --China has established a system of protected areas with national parks being the main component. This is a practical step to improve in-situ and ex-situ conservation. The 11,800 protected areas account for more than 18 percent of Chinas land mass. Such percentage well exceeds the target set in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). --China has built up its capacity for biodiversity conservation, improved its data monitoring, research and collation, and established a national biodiversity monitoring and research network. --China has stepped up its oversight and investigation of illegal activities through satellite remote sensing and targeted campaigns. These measures have made the supervision and regulation of biodiversity conservation more efficient and effective. Photo shows the entrance of the media center of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 9, 2021. The media center of the COP15 opened here on Saturday. The COP15 is set to kick off in Kunming on Oct. 11. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) Upholding multilateralism and building synergy Human well-being and the ecological environment are inseparable. The protection of our ecological environment and biodiversity will not succeed without international cooperation. As one of the first countries to sign and ratify the CBD, China is a staunch advocate of multilateralism and actively promotes international cooperation on biodiversity conservation. Crested ibis, a bird native to eastern Asia, was once thought extinct until Chinas discovery of the last seven wild crested ibises in 1981. China has since signed documents on the protection and conservation of crested ibises with Japan and the Republic of Korea successively. Thanks to the three countries joint efforts, the population of crested ibises has rebounded to over 7,000. In 2018, China and countries along the Belt and Road launched the Global Biodiversity and Health Big Data (BHBD) Alliance with the aim of promoting biodiversity and health big data sharing in the world and using database networks to help improve biodiversity. China is the host of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity to be held from 11 to 15 October. The conference offers a good opportunity for world leaders to explore new strategies on global biodiversity governance. Themed Ecological Civilization Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth, the COP15 will be the UNs first global meeting focused on ecological civilization. Its theme embodies the worlds aspiration for greater harmony between man and nature. The meeting is of great significance for promoting the vision of ecological civilization. The second segment of COP15 is scheduled to be held next year when the delegates will consider and adopt a Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF will be a milestone in the CBD history as it is a plan of strategic importance for global biodiversity governance for the next decade and beyond. As the host of COP15, China is willing to share with all parties to CBD its experience and best practices in global biodiversity governance and ecological conservation. China will work closely with other parties to explore how best we can promote greater progress in biodiversity conservation and contribute to global biodiversity and sustainable development. As a Chinese saying goes, People with one mind and heart have the power to move a mountain. When it comes to biodiversity conservation, we still have a long way to go. That said, I do believe if all countries work together to expand common ground and build synergies for better global biodiversity governance, there will be greater harmony between man and nature. The author is an expert on international studies. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Flood relief underway as 120,000 people evacuated in China's Shanxi Xinhua) 09:25, October 11, 2021 Aerial photo taken on Oct. 10, 2021 shows the flood-affected Yellow River beach near Lianbo Village in Hejin City, north China's Shanxi Province. More than 120,000 people have been temporarily evacuated after continuous downpours triggered floods in north China's Shanxi Province, authorities said Sunday. The floods have disrupted the lives of 1.76 million residents from 76 counties, cities and districts, according to the provincial department of emergency management. Some 190,000 hectares of crops were damaged and more than 17,000 houses collapsed, the department said. Emergency management departments of various levels have allocated 4,000 tents, 3,200 folding beds as well as cotton clothes and quilts for disaster relief. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) TAIYUAN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- More than 120,000 people have been temporarily evacuated after continuous downpours triggered floods in north China's Shanxi Province, authorities said Sunday. The floods have disrupted the lives of 1.76 million residents from 76 counties, cities and districts, according to the provincial department of emergency management. Some 190,000 hectares of crops were damaged and more than 17,000 houses collapsed, the department said. Emergency management departments of various levels have allocated 4,000 tents, 3,200 folding beds as well as cotton clothes and quilts for disaster relief. The provincial meteorological bureau said more rains are yet to come in the southern part of Shanxi, with temperatures expected to drop drastically. The provincial authorities have earmarked 50 million yuan (about 7.8 million U.S. dollars) to support the flood control and relief work. Zhang Jinye, from the rural area in the city of Hejin, is among the 200-plus villagers who have been evacuated to a nearby primary school. Classrooms are equipped with air conditioners, hot water, TV sets and beds. "Even the quilts were ready when we arrived," said Zhang, 60. On Saturday, the China National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management jointly activated a Level-IV emergency response to floods in Shanxi. The province has also issued a Level-III emergency response for natural disasters. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe. Located on the eastern end of the Loess Plateau, Shanxi is usually dry. However, the average precipitation of the province reached 119.5 mm from 8 p.m. on Oct. 2 to 8 a.m. on Oct. 7 this year, three times the normal average rainfall for October in previous years, according to the provincial meteorological bureau. A total of 63 national weather monitoring stations in the province saw the accumulated precipitation figures reach record highs. Along the lower reaches of Fenhe River, a tributary of the Yellow River, China's second-longest waterway, the maximum flow of water reached 1,100 cubic meters per second, the largest flood peak in nearly 40 years. This caused a dyke to breach on a river section in Hejin, in the city of Yuncheng, at 7 a.m. on Saturday. He Xin was among those mobilized to repair the dyke. His pants and shoes were all wet. "The floodwaters reached up to my waist. We've had to use machines to make the repair," he said. So far, the repair operation is still underway. The peak flood waters from the Fenhe River passed into the Yellow River on Saturday, but the water levels on the tributary are still high, according to the water affairs bureau of Yuncheng. Heavy rains have also damaged a 25-meter wall section of the ancient town of Pingyao, a UNESCO world heritage site famous for its well-preserved ancient architecture. Continuous downpours are the biggest threat to the open-air clay architecture with a history of 2,700 years. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) China-ASEAN TV Week to be held in south China Xinhua) 09:28, October 11, 2021 NANNING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 3rd China-ASEAN TV Week will be held from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the radio and television authority said Saturday at a press conference. The China-ASEAN TV Week will hold a series of activities including an opening ceremony, a young hosts camp, a short videos contest, and a summit on audio-visual communication. Outstanding Chinese TV series will be screened through mainstream media and online platforms in Laos and Indonesia. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. The TV Week will focus on the fruitful achievements of China and ASEAN countries in overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and deepening audio-visual cooperation, said Yan Ni, an official of China's National Radio and Television Administration. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Chinese border railway port boosts coal imports amid power shortage Xinhua) 09:33, October 11, 2021 Aerial photo taken on March 31, 2021 shows Suifenhe Railway Port in Suifenhe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) HARBIN, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- A railway port on the China-Russia border has boosted coal imports to meet the rising demand from power producers and heating suppliers in north China. The railway port of Suifenhe, in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, saw 36,600 tonnes of coal imported from Russia during the National Day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7. The daily average volume of coal imports reached more than 5,000 tonnes, up 20.9 percent compared with the average level in the first three quarters of this year, according to the Suifenhe railway station. The station has optimized the process of imported cargo transportation, such as loading and unloading operations, to improve transportation efficiency. Dust suppression measures have also been adopted to protect the environment during transportation. Thermal power still takes up a large share of China's energy output, accounting for about 70 percent of its power generation. The upcoming heating season has added pressure to the power supply in north China. The country is making all-out efforts to ensure the nation's power supply after power outages halted factory production and hit families in some regions. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) China's auto exports achieve rapid growth on the countrys road to high-quality development People's Daily Online) 09:42, October 11, 2021 China's auto companies exported a total of 187,000 vehicles in August, up 7.5 percent month-to-month and 1.6 times year-on-year, as indicated in a recent report from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Workers work on the assembly line at a factory of vehicle manufacturer BYD in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao) Statistics released by China's General Administration of Customs showed that a total of 1.32 million vehicles were exported during the period from January to August this year, up 117.5 percent year-on-year, and generating a trade surplus of 137.7 billion yuan ($ 21.35 billion), up 111.1 percent, which exceeded last year's 12-month running total. In recent years, China's automobile quality, technology, and brand services have been improving nonstop. As a result, its international competitiveness has gradually increased, and so the pace of export growth has been faster, suggested Shu Yuting, spokeswoman with the Ministry of Commerce. According to Shu, China's rapid growth in auto exports can be attributed to three factors -- the global rebound in the auto market, the significant driving effect of new energy vehicle (NEV) exports, and the increasing international competitiveness and international influence of China's auto companies. Statistically, China exported a total of 173,000 NEVs between January and August this year, up 4.5 times year-on-year, contributing about 20 percent to the growth in auto exports. In August alone, NEVs contributed 35.2 percent to overall vehicle exports. Since European markets have increased subsidies for NEVs, the market potential is huge. Now is a perfect time for China to export its NEVs, said Xu Haidong, the deputy chief engineer of CAAM. In Xu's view, Chinese auto companies operating in the field of NEVs, especially pure electric vehicles (PEVs), have had an early start compared with German, Japanese, and other foreign brands. They are obviously more advantaged in product development, quality verification, and electric batteries, as well as the layout of other industry chains. According to the latest statistics, the penetration rate for independent brands of NEVs in China is as high as 28.4 percent, which compares to 14.2 percent for traditional luxury car brands and 2.2 percent for mainstream joint venture brands. Incomplete statistics also show that China's auto companies have established 11,000 marketing outlets around the world, and the export growth rates for eight of its top 10 auto exporters have exceeded 100 percent. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Xinjiang Military Command holds live-fire training China Military Online) 10:25, October 11, 2021 A vehicle-mounted rocket launcher attached to an artillery contingent of a regiment under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command fires at mock targets during a round-the-clock live-fire training exercise on September 30, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Huang Feihao) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) China's military slams India over 'unrealistic demands' at corps commander-level talks CGTN) 10:42, October 11, 2021 China on Monday accused India of "unreasonable and unrealistic demands" and urged the country not to misjudge the situation, as the two sides held the 13th round of the corps commander-level talks on Sunday. According to senior Colonel Long Shaohua, a spokesperson for the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command, the talks were held on the Chinese side of the Moldo-Chushul border meeting point. In a statement after the talks were held, Long said China had made great efforts to promote the easing and cooling of the border situation and fully demonstrated its sincerity in order to maintain the overall situation of the relations between the two militaries. "However, India still insisted on the unreasonable and unrealistic demands, which made the negotiations more difficult," he added. China's resolve to safeguard national sovereignty is firm, Long said, and he called on India to cherish the hard-won situation in the China-India border areas and abide by relevant agreements and consensus between the two countries and the two militaries. The spokesperson also voiced the hope that India will show sincerity, take actions and work with China to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the border areas. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) In pics: Kunming ready to welcome guests for biodiversity conservation meeting People's Daily Online) 13:54, October 11, 2021 Photo taken on Oct. 10, 2021 shows the exterior of the Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center, the main venue for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), in Kunming, capital city of southwest Chinas Yunnan province. (Peoples Daily Online/Weng Qiyu) The COP 15 meeting, which is scheduled to run between Oct. 11 and 15, is ready to welcome guests from home and abroad. The press center for the meeting, which opened on Oct. 9, will serve 853 journalists from 169 media outlets based in China and foreign countries, providing coverage for the event online and offline. With the theme of Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth, the COP15 meeting will welcome 200 countries to review the post-2020 global biodiversity framework with an aim to drawing up a blueprint for biodiversity conservation in the future. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Why humanity must save nature to save itself By Beate Trankmann (People's Daily App) 14:35, October 11, 2021 (File photo) Our planet the only home we have is at breaking point. Two thirds of our earths oceans and three quarters of its land have been damaged by humans. One million species could vanish by 2050 accelerating the global extinction rate potentially hundreds of times faster than over the last 10 million years. One fifth of all nations could see their ecosystems collapse completely, according to insurer Swiss Re, due to destruction of wildlife and their habitats on which we ourselves depend. Our earth can only continue to sustain us if we protect its biodiversity: the individual, yet interconnected chain of plant and animal species that hold our world together. Every life form, however tiny, is essential to the whole. As Sir David Attenborough put it: Every breath of air we take, every mouthful of food that we take, comes from the natural world. And if we damage the natural world, we damage ourselves." Indeed, ecosystem services such as pollination of crops (or preserving water quality) are not only vital to our survival, but also powering the global economy, contributing to more than half of global GDP (up to $44 trillion), according to the World Economic Forum. The costs produced by our broken relationship with nature are rising every day. The ongoing destruction of the planets biodiversity also quickens climate change and makes us even more vulnerable to it. This is because the ecosystems such as forests providing habitats to other species also absorb our greenhouse gases. Climate change in turn, also harms biodiversity, making these two challenges two sides of the same coin. To make matters worse, damage to our ecosystems also threatens human health, by diminishing our sources of food, medicine, water and even oxygen. By encroaching into wild habitats and exploiting the creatures within them, we also risk new diseases jumping from animals to humans. Humankind can therefore only survive, let alone prosper, if our world remains biodiverse. From October 11th, world leaders will gather online for part one of the UN Convention on Biodiversity, COP-15, in Kunming. This is a critical moment to raise the level of ambition and commitments for nature. What is needed is a global rescue plan: a bold roadmap for protecting biodiversity, with new goals for the next decade that all countries support and finance. Those goals must transform not only our environment, but also our societies and economies, for COP-15 to be the breakthrough our earth needs to sustain us. As part of this compact, the UN has urged countries to commit to protecting at least 30 percent of their land and sea territories by 2030. As the host nation and leading the world for the first time into a major international agreement for the environment China has an invaluable opportunity to champion these goals and set the bar high. UNDP is well-positioned to support such efforts. As one of the biggest multilateral partners working to protect biodiversity globally, we are committed to finding sustainable ways for humanity to co-exist with nature. Working with key partners including the Adaptation Fund, the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund we currently support a US$3.2 billion portfolio in 138 countries that is invested in ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation. In China, we have cooperated with more than 10 ministries including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, along with most provinces on safeguarding biodiversity over the past two decades. Together, we have achieved important results: through new mapping and enforcement measures, Chinas fully protected terrestrial areas have expanded to 2.4 million square kilometers, about a quarter of its land mass. Through various projects, we have worked to incorporate biodiversity protection within government policies, regulations, programmes and planning. UNDP and Global Environment Facility projects, for example, helped to form the National Wetland Conservation and Recovery Schemes in 2016, and supported 31 provinces in preparing corresponding implementation plans. Between 2013-2019, UNDP and GEF helped to expand biodiversity conservation by widening coverage of Protected Areas (PAs), including 1.9 million new hectares of protected wetlands one of the worlds most critical ecosystems. By the end of 2019, Chinas wetlands spanned 53.6 million hectares, with 52 percent protected. By sharing international best practices, UNDP has also helped to strengthen the quality of PA management, such as by using Management Effectiveness Tracing Tools (METT) and supporting the formulation of management plans. In addition, UNDP cooperated with Guizhous Environmental Protection Department to set up a dedicated office for planning and managing payments for ecosystem services. The idea is to attach a price tag to nature and charge for the regulated use of ecosystem services, such as wood from forests, or fishing in the rivers, to fund the effective protection of these ecosystems and their biodiversity. This year, UNDPs global Biodiversity Finance Initiative, BIOFIN, expanded to China, as part of our international efforts to multiply resources for conservation and improve their effectiveness. Working with over 40 countries, BIOFIN aims to show how biodiversity finance can work both for people and planet. Its launch in China combines biodiversity protection efforts in Shandong Province with the financial innovations of Shanghai, furthering Chinas already significant contributions to green finance. However, our work is far from done. To build on this progress and enable even stronger biodiversity protection in China and beyond, we must enhance biodiversity cooperation between different sectors and regions, because biodiversity does not have obvious thematic or geographic boundaries. As such, solving biodiversity challenges requires coordination, alignment and consensus across sectors and areas. To enable this and more effective natural resources management, we need integrated spatial planning approaches, coordinating land, water and sea conservation. In the past, many conservation concepts have been encouraged, including integrating management of river basins, ecosystems and water resources. Consolidating these strategies will be essential, so that they support each other. Policies must also increasingly tackle biodiversity and climate change together, given that ecosystems can serve as carbon sinks. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) found that, for example, from 2001-2010, the annual carbon sequestration of terrestrial ecosystems was equal to offsetting 14.1% of China's fossil fuel emissions. This is highly significant, given Chinas 2060 carbon neutrality pledge. To ensure all this, biodiversity financing is vital. It must be expanded, to close the global USD 4.1 trillion biodiversity financing gap by 2050. Sustainable biodiversity financing tools include Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Green Finance, such as Debt-for Nature swaps and UNDPs Nature Performance Bond (NPB) offering relief on sovereign debt in exchange for certified performance in environmental activities. Given Chinas central role as a global sovereign creditor, it could play a major role in NPBs going forward. Finally, we must leverage technology to transform biodiversity protection. Innovations such as AI and big data hold great potential, such as in helping to enforce conservation measures, through real-time tracking and monitoring, as well as boosting disaster warning systems. UNDP stands ready to work with China to make COP-15 a success in delivering an ambitious, specific, and measurable post-2020 global biodiversity framework. We will also continue to support countries, including China, in making the major transformations needed to save the ecosystems underpinning our future. In the end, we need nature more than it needs us. Our world has been changing for millennia, and will continue to change with or without us. Saving biodiversity, ecosystem by ecosystem, is the only way to save ourselves. The author is the Resident Representitive of UNDP China. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Interview: Danish minister calls for ambition, global cooperation to fight decline in biodiversity Xinhua) 14:40, October 11, 2021 COPENHAGEN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- There is urgent need to tackle the challenges of biodiversity conservation, Danish environment minister has said, expecting cooperation with all UN nations, including China, to "halt the decline in biodiversity and make sure we hand over a richer nature to our children." "In order to stop the decline of biodiversity, we must all learn from each other and share best practices across borders," Lea Wermelin told Xinhua on the eve of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, which is set to kick off on Monday in Kunming, China. According to Wermelin, the Danish government's collaborative work with biodiversity researchers and the local community in the establishment of 15 new nature national parks for rewilding is an example of such "best practices." "Likewise, we welcome all suggestions from China and all other UN countries to find common solutions," Wermelin said. Meanwhile, the need for COP15 to reach an "ambitious agreement" is imperative, according to the minister. "We are in the midst of a nature crisis with the extinction of species happening at an unprecedented speed. Protecting nature and combating climate change are key priorities and now is the time to strengthen alliances and explore ways to reach an ambitious agreement," Wermelin said. "... I am hopeful for the outcome of this COP15. The world has already shown that when we commit to each other we can find solutions -- just as we have done during the COVID-19 pandemic," Wermelin added. "The Kingdom of Denmark works for a global target for 30 percent protected areas on land and in the oceans as one of our key priorities. To tackle the crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, we must also look to tools such as nature-based solutions and circular economy," the minister said. However, Wermelin stressed that the financing of any ambitious proposals reached at COP15 should be resolved at the same time. "Of course, we need the financial support to make a change. Globally we need to increase financial support from all sources to biodiversity, helping to ensure that countries are better enabled to protect and restore biodiversity for the benefit of the whole planet," Wermelin said. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the meeting is the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the topic of ecological civilization. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Finding amazing wildlife in China (People's Daily App) 15:25, October 11, 2021 This video presents a selection of fantastic animals and plants living across China. China has achieved remarkable results in biodiversity conservation. Since China set up its first nature reserve in 1956, the country has safeguarded 71 percent of its wild animal and plant species under State-level protection and 90 percent of its terrestrial ecosystem types including forests, grasslands, deserts and wetlands. China leads the world in forest resource growth and has identified about 200 new varieties of plants per annum over the past decade. With expanding space of habitats, more and more rare and endangered species unique to China have returned to the wild. China also launched campaigns to expand wildlife population through artificial breeding and then reintroducing them to natural habitats in a phased manner. Many endangered species including pandas and Tibetan antelopes have been downgraded on the list of species at risk of extinction. Teams of staff responsible for wildlife protection have made persistent efforts including feeding, assistance, patrol and rescue. China actively shares its achievements and experience in biodiversity conservation with the globe, and unremittingly contributes to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. (Compiled by Lyu Xingke) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) COP15 kicks off in China's Kunming with ecological civilization in spotlight Xinhua) 16:12, October 11, 2021 Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2021 shows the opening ceremony of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Li Xin) KUNMING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, kicked off on Monday afternoon in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," COP15 is the first global conference convened by the United Nations highlighting ecological civilization, a philosophy proposed by China. The meeting is set to be held in two parts. The first part, scheduled for Oct. 11 to 15, is held both offline and online. Representatives are expected to focus on the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to guide conservation actions worldwide through 2030. Over 1,800 participants will gather at a forum on ecological civilization as a sideline event of the meeting from Oct. 14 to 15, which will cover a range of topics including coping with climate change and nature-based ecological protection and restoration. The second part of the meeting, to be held offline in the first half of 2022, is expected to see the finalization and adoption of an ambitious and practical post-2020 global biodiversity framework. China was among the first countries to become a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which entered into force in 1993. The Convention currently has 196 parties, and the Conference of the Parties is the highest mechanism for discussing and making decisions on the Convention. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Maturing apple planting industry brings bountiful returns to farming community in northwest Chinas Gansu People's Daily Online) 16:36, October 11, 2021 Five years ago, when the local government suggested that we grow apple trees as a channel to increase our incomes, no one said yes, recalled Gyatsoman, a woman in her twenties. Today, apple planting has become a pillar industry in his hometown. Gyatsoman shows an apple in her orchard. (Photo/Wang Muyu) In the past, villagers in Cirina village in Wangzang township, Diebu county, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in northwest Chinas Gansu province made a living by growing crops such as wheat, high-land barley, and buckwheat, which generated low yields and with the earnings having been just barely enough for their continued subsistence. After an anti-poverty campaign kicked off in the locality, the local government came to realize that it was time that they changed their approach to farming in a renewed attempt to lift everyone out of poverty. It was at this point when the villagers decided to begin growing apple trees in the surrounding river valleys, which provided comparatively favorable land and climate resources for planting trees. They also acquired farming knowhow and experience from other places that already had mature apple planting industries. However, at first, the idea of planting apple trees was not widely embraced by the villagers, especially the senior residents in the community, who had thought that planting apple trees was a risky business due to a lack of supporting technologies. They also feared that the apples might not sell well. Taking these doubts into consideration, the village made a decision that cadres and Party members should be the first ones to try out growing apple trees, with all the other villagers having the choice to enter the business based on the performance of the initial apple orchards. When the villagers saw that the apple trees produced high-yield and high-quality fruits, and with the returns generated from the apples having been higher than those from other crops, they went ahead with plans to plant their own apple trees, as did the residents in neighboring villages. A signboard with a buyers information on it in an apple orchard. (Photo/Wang Muyu) To boost agricultural production, the village moved to transfer the land-use rights of 130 farmers, utilizing about 1,200 mu (80 hectares) of land in all for apple planting. It also built a storage facility and a sales center that could provide services for more than 500 farmers. The township rolled out a creative marketing strategy to boost apple sales. Based on the adopted approach, a customer could purchase apples from any grower and he or she had the option to purchase all of the apples produced by any given tree. The customer could also receive timely updated information about the selected apple trees from the grower, as well as receiving a guarantee that no chemical fertilizers or pesticides would be used in the growing of the trees, with all the apples produced exclusively for the buyer as opposed to being sold onward to secondary customers. Gyatsoman sold three of his apple trees to a customer from the city of Huizhou located in south Chinas Guangdong province. During the seven-day National Day holiday, the buyer took his family to Gyatsomans apple orchard to see their trees. They also picked the apples and brought them back home as gifts for friends and relatives. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) A media delegation visited Wuhu, East Chinas Anhui province, on October 10, as part of a media tour launched in the province to publicize its achievements during the past five years. Covering a total area of 6,026 square kilometers and with a population of 3.64 million, Wuhu has jurisdiction over one city, one county and five districts. As the second largest city in the province in terms of economic output, Wuhu registered 375.3 billion yuan ($58.2 billion) in GDP in 2020. The reporters were given a glimpse of the citys remarkable achievements in intelligent manufacturing, scientific and technological innovation, opening up and environmental protection during their visit. The media delegation poses for photos in front of Anhui Aviation Town. A reporter takes a photo of a speed transmission in Wuhu Industrial Innovation Museum. Reporters take photos of an intelligent robot in Wuhu Industrial Innovation Museum. The media delegation visits Wuhu Jiangdong Ecological Wetland Park. Wuhu Jiangdong Ecological Wetland Park The media delegation visits Anhui Aviation Town. A domestic aircraft engine showcased in Anhui aviation town Aircraft produced by CETC Wuhu Diamond Aircraft Manufacturing Co. The media delegation visits Wuhu-Xuanzhou Airport. The terminal building of Wuhu-Xuanzhou Airport Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine found to boost immunity levels significantly Some local governments in China have begun offering COVID-19 booster shots to people over 18 who have already been vaccinated amid rising evidence supporting the ability of an additional dose to improve immunity. The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region said on Saturday that booster shots will be made available across the region for adults who have been fully vaccinated for at least six months. Key groups will be prioritized during the initial stage, including people at higher risk of contracting the disease, such as workers in the cold chain, customs, transportation and health services sectors, as well as those who plan to travel abroad. In addition, essential workers in the public service sector, such as police officers, community workers, elderly care and sanitation staff, will also be given priority to receive an extra dose, according to a notice released by Guangxi's disease control and prevention center. It added that four types of vaccines will be deployed as booster shots. They are two Sinopharm inactivated vaccines, one created by the group's Beijing Institute of Biological Products and the other by its Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, one inactivated vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech, and an adenovirus vector vaccine from CanSino Biologics. People intending to get an additional shot will be given the same vaccine made by the same company. If supplies of a particular vaccine run short, other vaccines of the same type but created by a different company can be used as an alternative, local authorities said. Guangxi had fully vaccinated nearly 34.5 million people, or about 85 percent of residents above 12 years old, as of Saturday, the regional government said. Nationwide, China had administered more than 2.22 billion doses as of Saturday, according to the National Health Commission. Since mid-September, Tianjin and several cities in the provinces of Fujian, Hainan, Guangdong, Anhui, Hubei and Heilongjiang have announced the rolling out of booster shots for targeted groups. In Shenzhen, Guangdong, a community worker surnamed Xue told local media that she had opted for a third shot because she had frequent interactions with local residents and wanted to boost her immunity against the disease. Zhao Hancheng, deputy head of the city's Donghu neighborhood, said staff members at a major local supermarket, as well as those working for cold chain or seafood wholesale markets, were urged to get a booster shot. Sanya, Hainan, began offering booster shots on Tuesday. As of Saturday afternoon, over 14,100 people had received an extra dose, local health officials said. Booster shots are being adopted by an increasing number of countries as protection triggered by COVID-19 vaccine wanes after six or more months, health experts have said. Wang Huaqing, chief expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said clinical trial results released by vaccine developers have shown a rapid rebound in the amount of neutralizing antibodies in humans following a booster shot. "In addition to increased antibody levels, the spectrum of antibodies is also wider, suggesting that a booster shot will likely elicit stronger protection against variants," he told a briefing late last month. A new piece of evidence was published by Chile's Health Ministry on Thursday regarding a two-dose inactivated vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech. Clinical trial results show that delivering a third dose of the vaccine to fully vaccinated people can boost its efficacy rate against symptomatic infections from 56 to 80.2 percent, and improve the efficacy rate against hospitalizations from 84 to 88 percent, according to Chilean health authorities. People across Taiwan Straits called on to jointly achieve complete reunification President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed China's resolve to curb "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity while calling upon people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to work together for national reunification and rejuvenation. Observers and analysts said Xi's televised speech, delivered on Saturday at a commemoration ceremony in Beijing of the 1911 Revolution, was of monumental significance and a gesture of unshakable resolution to reunify and revitalize the nation. Xi reiterated that reunification by peaceful means best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including Taiwan residents, saying that the nation will adhere to the basic policies of peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" and uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. People across the Straits should "stand on the right side of history and join hands to achieve the glorious cause of the nation's complete reunification and rejuvenation", said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. "The Taiwan question arose out of the weakness and chaos of our nation, and it will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality. This is determined by the general trend of Chinese history, but more importantly, it is the common will of all Chinese people," he said. He underscored that the Chinese nation has a glorious tradition of opposing separatism and upholding unity, warning that those who forget their heritage, betray their motherland and seek to split the country will come to no good end. "They will be disdained by the people and put on trial by history," he said. The president also warned against external interference in the Taiwan question, saying that no one should underestimate the resolve, will and ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. "The complete reunification of our country will be and can be realized," he said. The speech marked the second time in three months that Xi has renewed his pledge for national reunification. In a speech delivered on July 1, he vowed to resolutely smash any "Taiwan independence" plot. Liu Xiangping, a professor on Taiwan studies at Nanjing University, said Xi's speech has pointed the way, and will offer fresh impetus to exchanges and integrated development across the Straits. He explained that national reunification and rejuvenation are two goals that reinforce each other. "The increase in China's national strength will create better conditions for the reunification, while the reunification will also provide a better environment for the achieving of China's second centenary goal," he said. Wang Shushen, an associate professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies, said the commemoration of the 1911 Revolution will help refresh the common memory of compatriots on the both sides of the Straits and boost their emotional connection. "Taiwan compatriots should realize the island's future lies in reunification and national rejuvenation. That is also the call of history," he said. In his speech, Xi hailed the 1911 Revolution, which ended more than 2,000 years of imperial rule in China, as a "towering landmark" in the national journey toward rejuvenation. He lauded Sun Yat-sen as a great national hero, a great patriot, and a great pioneer of China's democratic revolution, saying that the historic contributions made by Sun and his peers will never fade away. Meanwhile, Chinese Communists were the most steadfast supporters, loyal collaborators and faithful successors to the revolutionary cause initiated by Sun, he said, adding that under the leadership of the CPC, the aspirations held by Sun and the pioneers of the revolution are becoming reality. The president expounded on what history has shown to the Chinese people since the Revolution in five aspects. "The past 110 years have shown us that to realize national rejuvenation, the Chinese people must have a strong force to lead us forward, and that force is the CPC," he said. The CPC was chosen to lead by history and by the people, and its leadership is the very foundation and lifeblood of the Party and the country. It is the crux upon which the interests and well-being of all Chinese people depend, he said. History has also shown that the path the nation takes is of fundamental importance, and the nation must uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, deepen reform and opening-up across the board, endeavor to fulfill the people's aspirations for a better life and realize common prosperity for all, he said. He stressed the importance of the self-reliance of the Chinese people in the course of national rejuvenation and urged stronger unitya key element for the nation to overcome risks and challenges ahead. "Through courage and skill, we will overcome all major risks and challenges that may impede our path to national rejuvenation and resolutely safeguard our national sovereignty, security, and development interests," he said. China will continue to be a champion of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order, Xi said. "Aggression and hegemony are not in the blood of the Chinese people. Our people hope to successfully realize national development, but they also hope to see all peoples of the world leading happy and peaceful lives," he said. Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's ambassador to China, who attended the commemoration, said Xi's speech was a historic moment, adding that it impressed him as it reaffirmed China's commitment to peaceful reunification. "There is a very clear accent on the peaceful reunification of China in President Xi's speech, which also celebrated the importance of the republican spirit. The spirit also resonated strongly in my country as well," he said. Lu Changlin, a cardiologist and a member of the Association for Cross-Straits Health Exchange and Cooperation, who also attended the event, said Xi's speech has boosted the public's understanding of the importance of the 1911 Revolution and national reunification. "We must continue to establish various open platforms for the development of friendship between people across the Straits so as to enable better mutual understanding and recognition," he said. In recent years, Feidong county in Hefei, capital of east Chinas Anhui province, has built nine modern agricultural science and technology demonstration parks at or above the municipal level to promote the establishment of an industrial system of modern agriculture, while enabling farmers to secure jobs in or near their hometowns in addition to contributing to the vitalization of rural areas. The first phase of an agricultural science and technology demonstration park is currently under construction in the countys Qiaotouji town. With an investment of 80 million yuan (about $12.4 million), the first phase covers an area of 8 hectares and will include six plant factories and two greenhouses. The demonstration park, with a planned area of 152 hectares, involves a total investment of 1.6 billion yuan. It will integrate research and development for farming technologies, vegetable and fruit production, sightseeing, as well as the storage, sale and distribution of agricultural products. BEIJING, Oct. 11 -- Instead of misjudging the situation, the Indian side should cherish the hard-won situation in China-India border areas, said Senior Colonel Long Shaohua, spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), on Monday. The spokesperson made the remarks in a statement talking about the 13th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting. According to him, the meeting was held on October 10 at the Moldo-Chushul border meeting point on the Chinese side. The spokesperson said that during the meeting, the Chinese side made great efforts to promote the easing and cooling of the border situation and fully demonstrated Chinas sincerity of maintaining overall interests of bilateral military relations. However, the Indian side still persisted in its unreasonable and unrealistic demands, which added difficulties to the negotiations. The spokesperson pointed out that China is firm in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty. He hoped that the Indian side should avoid misjudging the situation and cherish the hard-won situation in the China-India border areas. The Indian side should abide by the relevant agreements and consensus reached between the two countries and two militaries, show sincerity and take concrete actions to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the border areas with China, the spokesperson added. Recent reports in Indian media that Chinese soldiers had been detained for "crossing the border "are purely fabricated, a Chinese military source said on Saturday. The source said that Chinese border troops conducted a routine patrol on Sept 28 in the Dongzhang area on the Chinese side of the Sino-Indian border and encountered "unreasonable obstruction" from the Indian military. The Chinese officers and soldiers took resolute countermeasures and returned after the patrol was completed. The source said the Dongzhang area is China's inherent territory and it is entirely reasonable and legal for Chinese border troops to organize patrols on their own territory. That Chinese soldiers were being detained was entirely fabricated and hyped by Indian media. The incident is a deliberate provocation and a distortion and smear campaign by the Indian side, which is a serious violation of the bilateral agreement. "The responsibility rests entirely with the Indian side," the source said. The Indian side should earnestly comply with bilateral agreements, strictly control and restrain its front-line troops, and work with the Chinese military to maintain peace and stability in the border area, the source added. Chinese and Indian troops clashed in June last year in the Galwan Valley, and China has condemned the Indian side for serious violations of bilateral pacts between the two militaries. The two countries have signed various bilateral agreements since the 1962 Sino-Indian war to prevent the situation from escalating. The most recent agreements include the Establishment of a Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs, signed in 2012, and the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement between India and China, signed in 2013. The two countries have also held several talks at the corps-commander level since last year. The 12th meeting was held in August on the Indian side, following the meeting of the two foreign ministers in July and 22nd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in June. According to the Ministry of National Defense statement, at the 12th corps-commander level meeting, the two sides had a "candid and in-depth exchange of views on resolution of remaining areas related to disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas". It said the two sides also agreed to continue effective efforts in ensuring stability along the LAC in the Western Sector and jointly maintain peace and tranquility. By Peng Jian Photo taken on May 3, 2018 shows Tiananmen Square in Beijing. [Photo/VCG] In his speech to mark the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 President Xi Jinping said the revolution led to search for path to national rejuvenation. He also emphasized aggression and hegemony are not in the blood of the Chinese people. Sun Yat-sen, the great revolutionary who played the leading role in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), said that a rising developed and rich China should be welcomed by all countries. Peace has been the overriding principle in China's exchanges with other countries for thousands of years. However, since the middle of the 19th century, Western colonial powers launched several wars against China which, along with the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, made the Chinese people realize that foreign powers were out to divide the country and the Chinese nation was facing an unprecedented crisis. These events gave rise to several movements to save the country. One was the reformist movement led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, who advocated supporting the Qing government to implement reform, and the other was the revolutionary movement led by Sun Yat-sen, who advocated overthrowing the Qing rulers and establishing a republic. In 1894, the revolutionaries formed a group and tried to lead an armed uprising in Guangzhou the following year. But their mission failed because the Qing officials got wind of their plans. To escape arrest and torture, and keep the hopes of a revolution alive, the revolutionaries fled overseas. The reformists, on the other hand, initiated reforms in 1898, but the measures lasted only 103 days before Empress Dowager Cixi, the de facto Qing ruler, stopped them. Six major figures of the reform movement were killed, and Kang Youwei and some others fled abroad. After the failed 1898 reform, the late Qing government became extremely xenophobic and supported the Boxer Rebellion in an effort to oust and "destroy foreigners", which gave an excuse to the eight-nation forces to invade China, capture Tianjin and march to Beijing. Worried that the foreign powers would colonize and divide China, Sun Yat-sen, in his article "The True Solution to the Chinese Problem", wrote that some Western powers believed that China, with its large population and rich resources, could threaten the world once it awakened, and that's why the foreign powers want to "suppress and hinder the Chinese people as much as possible". Sun Yat-sen criticized the West for propagating such views, saying the Chinese by nature are "hardworking, peaceful, law-abiding people, rather than aggressive, and if they really had a war, that would be only for self-defense". That is to say, even when China became strong, it would not pose a threat to the world. In fact, in Sun Yat-sen's view, it is the foreign powers that are aggressive and their aggression is related to social Darwinism, and by applying "the survival of the fittest in natural selection", and "the law of the jungle" to human society, the Western powers will do great harm to human beings, because it will prompt countries to believe that "might is justice" and pursue foreign expansion. Sun Yat-sen believed that humankind should shift from competition to mutual aid, because only by doing so can it achieve true peace. He had inherited the spiritual wealth of peace from our ancestors, and never let go of an opportunity to show other countries that China was a peace-loving nation. He stressed that after the revolution, China would abandon the closed-door policy of the Qing government and open foreign trade, as that would help its international commerce to grow. And he said that the peace-loving Chinese people will not invade other countries, but create business opportunities for them. Sun Yat-sen died in 1925 without realizing his dream of national rejuvenation. But the Communist Party of China, which faithfully inherited his unfinished work, has led the Chinese people through many twists and turns on the way to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is not surprising that some foreigners today claim that China poses a threat to other countries, because when China was a weak country, some foreign countries believed that once China woke up, it could threaten other countries. China is a peace-loving country, and its rise does not pose a threat to world peace. On the contrary, China has been shouldering more and more global responsibilities and increasingly contributing to global development. A rising China knows more about peace than any other country. In this regard, Sun Yat-sen's remarks on "peace" and "openness" remain significant for China's development on the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution. The author is a professor with the Institute of Modern Chinese History, Central China Normal University. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily. By Lin Yuan To further ramp up the strategic pressure on Russia, the US Air Force recently reactivated the 495th Fighter Squadron, which will be the first Europe-based US Air Force F-35A squadron. Commentators said the move was intended to intensify the strategic deterrence to Russia while putting a fig leaf on the limped F-35 fighter program. American Air Force magazine reported that the US Air Force officially activated the 495th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath in the UK on October 1 after many years of preparations. Comprising 27 fighter jets and about 60 crew members, the squadron is activated for two strategic considerations. For one thing, it intends to ramp up the strategic deterrence to Russia. The US military claimed that the Zapad 2021 joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise, with the largest number of participating troops in the exercises history, posed a strong deterrence to the US-led NATO. Reactivating the fifth-generation fighter squadron at this juncture, the US military aims to occupy a vantage point in the strategic struggle with Moscow while honoring its defense commitment to NATO allies. Its worth noting that US Air Forces two F-35A fighter jets recently test-fired the B61-12precision-guided nuclear bomb during the first complete weapon system demonstration. As the B61 nuclear bombs are mainly deployed in Europe, adding the nuclear capability to the F-35A will enhance its strategic capability and influence in the region. For another, the US wants to reverse the negative public opinions on the F-35 fighter program, which has been slammed for excessively high price, poor performance and major confidentiality risk. According to the person responsible for the program, only 51% of the F-35 fighter jets that have been delivered to the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and international clients are suitable for flight, and the older batches have reliability problems. Its foreseeable that the reactivation will further escalate the US-Russia arms race in Europe, exposing regional security to more severe tests. It is said that the US and its allies and partners will have 450 F-35 fighter jets by 2030, which will interoperate to integrate the main battle equipment of NATOs army, navy and air forces. The US also declared that the sensor installed on the F-35 can share key information with other ground, naval and air forces across domains and platforms, which will further change Europes air battle tactics. The US Army announced that it activated a multi-domain task force in Europe in mid-September to counter Russia. US military officials said the task force will bring significant capability to the commander of U.S. Army to Europe and Africa. By reinforcing military deployments in Europe and ramping up strategic suppression on Russia, the US-led NATO has dragged the European situation further down. It must be pointed out that the US and Europe have different interest demands in the European region now, hence different attitudes toward Russia. The latest developments in the Afghan situation show that Washington never makes considerations for the interests of other countries, and its promise to allies always stays on the lips only. As a result, European countries have become more cautious when dealing with Moscow. BEIJING, Oct. 11 -- A combined-arms brigade under the PLA 73rd Group Army explored operational mode of long-distance sea navigation and landing by light vessels through a recent combat landing drill in the sea areas of southern Fujian Province. Boat operators, assault troops, blasting troops and other professionals were organized into multiple mixed groups to seize the beachhead in several batches and carry out combat missions in different stages. SPAO, a subsidiary brand of E-Land, is replacing unrealistically tall and slim mannequins with more realistically-sized ones. The company said that it is the first Korean fashion brand to display mannequins that "do not distort" sizes in some of its stores. These are 172.8 cm tall for men and 160.9 cm for women, which is the average size of Koreans between 25 and 34. Standard mannequins are often 190 cm tall for men and 184 cm for women. The waists of the new mannequins also reflect real sizes, or a good 2.3 inches bigger for men and 5.9 inches for women. Other brands have switched to less size-shaming ideas. FnC Kolon launched a brand for men in average sizes in March this year, and released trousers in "realistic" lengths for the rather short legs of Korean men. They are about 10 cm shorter than the standard lengths in the industry, so there is no need to take them up. Tops such as jackets that will be sold this fall and winter will also reflect this trend, with modified sizes for shoulder widths. City busy with nucleic acid testing after holiday By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-10-08 17:24 Today is the first working day after the National Day holiday, when many citizens had to return to work with their nucleic acid test reports. Many nucleic acid testing sites across Shanghai have been busy with the tests and some medical institutions have extended the opening hours for nucleic acid testing. According to the municipal health commission, citizens can look for the nearest testing sites on apps like Suishenban and Jiankangyun to reduce mass gathering during the epidemic. At Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, the testing site saw a peak in nucleic acid test requests, most of which were from hospitalized patients and people returning to Shanghai for work. The hospital can now do 15,000 single-tube tests a day. (Photo by Yuan Jing/WHB.cn) Starting from October 5, 16 public medical institutions in Minhang District resumed their normal opening hours for testing. Nucleic acid testing in Shanghai No. 5 People's Hospital on Ruili Rd and Minhang District Central Hospital on Xinling Rd are available from Monday to Sunday. Citizens can make reservations online through the hospitals WeChat accounts or an app named "Minhang Jieyi" to reduce waiting time. At Putuo District Central Hospital, the testing is available from 8am to 10pm. The Yueyang Hospital of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine on Ganhe Road is one of those running 24 hours per day. Results can be obtained 4-6 hours after testing. For greater urgency, citizens can go to Shanghai Baoteng Medical Laboratory at 180 Zhangheng Rd, which is open from 7am to 10pm. The cost of routine testing is 60 yuan/person, and the report will be produced within 6 hours; urgent nucleic acid testing will cost 200 yuan/person, and the report will be produced after 3 hours. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Bill Gates, co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft, and his wife, Melinda French Gates, announced on Monday that they plan to divorce after 27 years of marriage. "After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decis... The vaccine is already available, but the epidemic is still getting worse. The number of newly diagnosed new crown cases in Germany has exceeded 20,000 daily, and the disease control department expects that the future will continue to "significantly incr... It is reported that the Philippine New Crown Task Force issued a statement saying that the Philippines will close the border for another month to deal with the new wave of epidemics and the surge in cases of variant new coronavirus infections. Under the ... The state's former commerce secretary has been hired by Butler University to help the Indianapolis institution develop and expand external alliances aimed at making Butler an international leader in higher education. In his new role as Butler's ambassador of global relations, Jim Schellinger is expected to work closely with Butler President James Danko, and the school's new Office of Strategic Engagement, to enhance the reputation of the 5,500-student university. "We take great pride in our top ranking in the Midwest and recognize that our rising national and global reputation will be critical to our future growth and success, including expanded opportunities for our students," Danko said. Watch Now: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops: School resource officer Cpl. Jerry Patrick Schellinger, an architect, led the Indiana Economic Development Corp. under two Republican governors from 2015 to 2020, where he worked with government and business leaders around the world to bring jobs and capital investment to the Hoosier State. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute He said he "could not be more excited to join the team at Butler," which Schellinger briefly attended as an undergraduate prior to earning his bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame in his hometown of South Bend. "It will be an honor and privilege to further the global vision and mission of this magnificent university," Schellinger said. Schellinger unsuccessfully competed for the 2008 Democratic nomination for Indiana governor. He lost in the primary to former Valparaiso City Councilwoman Jill Long Thompson, who was defeated in the general election by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels. Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region Press Release October 11, 2021 It's about time to rebuild the homes of the people of MarawiAngara It has been four years since the Marawi City siege and it is about time that the residents displaced by the five-month long armed conflict are able to rebuild their homes and their lives, Senator Sonny Angara said today. "Though we emerged victorious, there is no such thing as a war without death, damage, or destruction. While up to 1,200 individuals were killed on both sides of the siege, it was estimated that up to P17 billion worth of property and economic opportunities were lost," Angara said. More than 350,000 people were also displaced due to the conflict, though this has gone down to 126,000 according to a May 2020 United Nations report. "The biggest casualty were the hopes and dreams of the proud Maranao people," Angara said. As the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Angara reported out the committee report on Senate Bill 2420 which seeks to provide just compensation to the victims of the Marawi City siege for the damage, loss, or destruction of their properties. The bill was filed in substitution of Senate Bills 1395 introduced by Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, Senators Ronald Dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Bong Go, and Imee Marcos; and 2394 by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan and Richard Gordon. Under the bill, tax-free monetary compensation will be provided to the owners of residential, cultural or commercial structures within Marawi's Most Affected Areas (MAA) and Other Affected Areas (OAA). The MAA includes 24 barangays, namely Lumbac Madaya, South Madaya, Raya Madaya 1 and 2, Sabala Amanao, Sabala Amanao Proper, Tolali, Daguduban, Norhaya Village, Banggolo Poblacion, Bubong Madaya, Lilod Madaya, Dansalan, Datu sa Dansalan, Sangkay Dansalan, Moncado Colony, Moncado Kadilingan, Marinaut West, Marinaut East, Kapantaran, Wawalayan Marinaut, Lumbac Marinaut, Tuca Marinaut at Datu Naga. On the other hand, the OAA covers 8 other barangays, namely Saduc Proper, Panggao Saduc, Raya Saduc, Lilod Saduc, Datu Saber, Bangon, Fort at Wawalayan Caloocan. Compensation will also be provided to the owners of private properties that were demolished as part of the implementation of the Marawi Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program. While many of the infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of the roads, bridges, government buildings, health center, madrasah and even a mosque have already been completed, most of the homes of the displaced Marawi residents have yet to rebuilt. Angara noted that the residents were not immediately allowed to return to their homes due to the presence of unexploded ordnance left by the conflict. For those who were allowed a brief visit to their homes to salvage whatever possessions they had left, what they found were just rubble. The Task Force Bangon Marawi has given the green light for some residents to return to Marawi and rebuild their homes, on the condition that they are able to secure building permits. "Ngunit bukod sa marami ang nahihirapan ibigay ang kinakailangang proof of ownership para sa permit na ito, mas marami ang walang pondo para simulant ang muling pagtayo ng kanilang tahanan," Angara said. "Ito ang tinutumbok ng ating panukalang batas. Walang saysay kasi ang anumang rehabilitasyon ng Marawi kung hindi makakauwi ang mga taga Marawi. At kapag may bayad-pinsala o compensation silang matatanggap para sa property nila na nasira o nawasak, mas meeenganyo silang magsimula at itayo muli ang kanilang buhay sa Marawi," Angara added. A Marawi Compensation Board will be created to administer the distribution of compensation to the claimants. The Board will consist of nine membersat least three of whom should be members of the Philippine Bar, preferably Maranao lawyers with five years practice. The board should also have one licensed physician; one certified public accountant; one educator and one licensed civil engineer. "October 23 marks the fourth year anniversary of the end of the Marawi City siege, a very dark and bloody chapter in the attainment of self-rule and autonomy of our Bangsamoro brethren in Mindanao," Angara said. "But even the longest urban siege in the history of the Philippines could not stop the enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which we all believe opens an even brighter, more prosperous chapter not only for the BARMM region, but also for Mindanao, as well as the rest of the country. Indeed with peace shall come prosperity." The House of Representatives passed its counterpart measure earlier this month with 126 votes in its favor. Press Release October 11, 2021 De Lima urges Congress to investigate proliferation of smuggled carrots from China; says practice is a threat to PH economy in general and to local food industry workers, especially local farmers, in particular Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima called for a Senate investigation into the reported proliferation of smuggled carrots from China in local markets which has detrimental effects on the income and livelihood of local farmers, particularly those in the province of Benguet. De Lima filed Proposed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 924 stating that Senate is duty-bound to ensure that the government is strictly implementing the law against agricultural smuggling, and provide mechanisms to improve the country's policy regarding said issue to protect local farmers especially during this time of pandemic. "The selling of smuggled carrots is detrimental to the local farmers as they are being forced to compete with prices that they cannot match. This results in massive losses in income which severely affects not just the local farmers but also the local farming industry," she said. "Moreover, these smuggled carrots translate to millions of pesos in losses to our government in lost customs duties," added De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development. It was recently reported that smuggled carrots from China were being sold in various markets in the Philippines. According to Augusta Balanoy of the Highland Vegetable Multipurpose Cooperative in La Trinidad, a large volume of foreign carrots was seen in key markets across the country and their investigation showed that small warehouses near Divisoria had been releasing imported vegetables whenever Benguet prices rose. This severely affected local farmers because of the predatory undercutting of the smuggled carrots which are being sold at ?25 pesos a kilo while the wholesale price of carrots from Benguet are being sold at ?50 a kilo. If unabated, the lady Senator from Bicol said food smuggling will cripple the local food industry, making the country's economy almost totally dependent on imports. "This would place our country at the mercy of food producing-countries where they would be able to control the volume and price of goods to be made available to us," she said. In times where government should take decisive actions to prevent further loss, De Lima maintained that any form of threat to the economy should be immediately eliminated. "Local farmers are already struggling from the economic fallouts of trade liberalization but when the pandemic began, their situation worsened. The rise of smuggled vegetables only adds to their worries as they should have been the primary focus of the government's initiative to stimulate the country's economy," she said. "Such illegal practice hampers not just the livelihoods of the workers in the food and agricultural sectors, but of every Filipino in the long-run. It cripples our efforts towards self-sufficiency in local food supplies. It is not right that our people should go hungry when we are a nation of fertile land resources. This pandemic has shown us that supply crunches in basic necessities requires governments to ensure that their own local supply chains are capable of filling their own local demands. Thus, there should no longer be any doubt that the government ought to prioritize investing in domestic food supply lines through investments in agricultural technology that will promote improvements in the capacities, efficiencies and sustainability of local farmers, fishermen and food industry workers," she added in a separate statement. As such, De Lima said that Congress should formulate amendments to existing laws in order to protect local agricultural products and local farmers, and to increase their capacities and improve their capabilities and efficiencies by investing in advancements in AgriTech. "It is also necessary to strengthen trade laws and agreements, protect local producers and consumers and stabilize the price of agricultural products in the local market," she added. Press Release October 11, 2021 Opening Remarks of Senator Joel Villanueva on the 2022 budget hearing of the Department of Labor and Employment and Commission on Filipinos Overseas Isang maganda at magpagpalang araw po sa ating lahat. Today, we are going to hear the budget of the Department of Labor and Employment and its attached agencies, led by our good friend and favorite Secretary, Secretary Bebot Bello, and of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, led by Chairperson Francisco Acosta. Trabaho po ang lagi nating trabaho dito sa Senado. At sa trabahong ito, magkakasama po tayo. I believe that the third pandemic year, 2022, will be about jobs, jobs, jobs. Kung hindi po tayo makakagawa at makakalikha ng trabaho, hindi lang po kalam ng sikmura ang daranasin ng ating mga kababayan kundi baka pati ang kawalan na rin ng pag-asa. It is important to emphasize the crucial role of our offices not only in employment recovery but in job creation. Hindi lang po pagsalba ng trabaho, hindi lang po panandaliang trabaho, kundi paglikha po ng matatag at pangmatagalang trabaho ang trabaho natin. I am sure that you will all agree. Our displaced and disadvantaged workers need emergency employment. However, what they need and desire is stable and dependable regular employment. I hope that the budget of DOLE and its attached agencies will reflect that as a priority. The challenges that DOLE faced last year continue this year as thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers return to the Philippines adding to the millions of unemployed and underemployed workers. The POEA and OWWA are also here and we are very interested to know how they intend to spend their budgets especially for reintegration services and providing livelihood opportunities for OFWs who were sent home due to the pandemic. Ngayong araw din po, mayroon po tayong oportunidad na busisiin ang proposed budget ng DOLE and we are looking forward to the clarification of DOLE on pressing and timely issues like the number of jobs created under the National Employment Recovery Strategy or NERS. Pagdating naman po sa licensure examinations, only 11 out of 85 board exams pushed through in 2020 and only 29 out of 101 board exams have so far materialized this 2021. Of course, we totally understand the health risks - kailangan po talagang mag-comply sa IATF. And that's the reason why we have been reiterating our call for the PRC to look for alternative ways of conducting licensure examinations in the "new normal" kasi ang laki po talaga ng impact ninyo sa job generation. As the principal author of the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, alam po natin kung gaano kahalaga ang PRC license para makapag-apply ng trabaho, although hindi na po natin isinama sa mga covered governmental transactions ng batas ang "application for board exam fee". Naniniwala po tayo na malaki ang tungkuling gagampanan ng DOLE, POEA, OWWA, PRC at iba pa sa muling pag-usbong ng trabaho at kabuhayan ng ating bansa. Our labor policies should be flexible enough to accommodate the necessary and unavoidable changes in our workplace but also sturdy not to compromise the rights and interest of the Filipino worker. In this budget hearing, we will also tackle CFO's proposed budget and how the agency uses its funds in the execution of its mandate to provide services to Filipino emigrants and to promote and uphold the interest, rights and welfare of overseas Filipinos. I'm sure makakatulong po ang pagdinig sa budget ng CFO sa itinatayo nating Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos which seeks to remedy the "coordination issues" among agencies working for OFW concerns. Let us proceed with this budget hearing with employment recovery and job creation as our absolute priority. Maraming salamat po and God bless us all. DOH Leon Praises the Work of its Disease Intervention Specialists DOH Leon Praises the Accomplishments of its Disease Intervention Specialists October 11, 2021 National Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Day was recognized on October 1. The Florida Department of Health in Leon County (DOH Leon) is proud to have some of the finest disease detectives in the state working in its offices and the community. The DIS Unit is led by Program Manager Dale Harrison who has been working in the field of Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD) intervention for 29 years. Last year, Mr. Harrison and Disease Intervention Specialist Felicia Maddox were recognized for their outstanding work. Harrison was honored with the 2020 Tommy Chandler DIS Excellence Award and Ms. Maddox received the Tommy Chandler Honorary Recognition Award. The Tommy Chandler DIS Excellence Award is named after a DOH-Duval DIS worker who showed exceptional and sustained excellence in disease intervention. It is the highest award in Florida that recognizes the work of STD DIS staff members. This kind of recognition proves DIS are the backbone of public health. They wear many hats and take on many roles to protect Leon county residents and visitors. Whether tackling STD prevention, tuberculosis outbreak response, HIV exposure notification, or emergency response DIS bring a special set of skills and level of dedication matched by few in the field. I recently spoke with Program Manager Harrison about the trials and triumphs of working on the frontlines of public health: Q: How many people work with the DIS team in Leon County? A: Currently we have seven staff members in Leon County (including myself). Q: Why do you feel it is important to single out and recognize Disease Intervention Specialists? A: The Tommy Chandler Excellence Award was established to recognize the extraordinary work of DIS. Therefore, its very important to single out the best DIS achievements across the state. This award is a motivational tool which makes each DIS work just that much harder for the upcoming year. Q: You work with an award-winning team. What makes you especially proud to work with these men and women? A: Its amazing what we do as a program. To see the passion a person has for this work is, in a word, astonishing. As a Program Manager, it makes me feel very proud to see a DIS come into the program and exceed in all aspects which include patient care, treatment timelines, partners elicitation, and intervention with case management. In other words, to win this award you must be the best DIS out of 138 highly trained candidates. Q: COVID-19 undoubtedly shifted priorities and resources, yet the work of DIS to prevent other infectious diseases has never stopped. Say a few things about the challenges you and your team have had to overcome. How has this effected case numbers and transmission rates in Leon County? Did bad situations get worse? A: I must say working doing the COVID-19 epidemic was very challenging. Our program like other programs had to telework. We were not able to interact directly with the patients. It was an unconventional way of operating and made it very difficult to conduct precise and accurate interviews. This is where our expertise came into play. We had to learn how to interact with the patients over the phone which caused the program to do things very differently. Our cases did decrease for a while due to some providers being closed but we were still able to get patients interviewed and treated for infections through other providers, whose offices were open. The field visits had to stop which was a challenge to those patients who didnt have accurate telephone numbers. Somehow, we prevailed. We never stop the fight against STD. We just had to reimagine the mission. Q: What are some of the essential skill sets that those who work in DIS must have in order to be successful in this field of work? A: People skills. Thats a big one. Its fundamental. This skill will open doors for any DIS who wants to be successful. It helps you to communicate not only with the patients but also the providers, which is essential. Also, a successful DIS must have great intuition the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. These are skill sets that arent taught in trainings, but they will help a DIS to succeed. Q: What are the priorities for you and your team moving forward? A: One priority in STD is to highly train all the new DIS so they can be as successful as all the previous ones. Secondly, we are to concentrate on all syphilis cases, especially congenital cases. This consists of precise and accurate interviews, which we teach new DIS; treatment in an adequate timeline; and partners notification follow ups. Thirdly, we are to educate and work to reduce the prevalence of STDs, especially among high-risk populations. Q: Is there anything the communitypeople reading this article-- can do to help and support the work DIS do? A: Personally, I think if community members will Talk, Test and Treat then we can decrease our number in the community. First, talk about STDs, secondly get tested if you suspect anything, and thirdly get treated if you test positive for any STD. We must have open conversations about STDs in our community. Also, the community needs to know the severity of all STDs. These aspects will make a DIS job much easier. For more information on DOH Leon's Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Program visit: http://leon.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/clinical-and-nutrition-services/std/index.html # # # Written by: Pamela Saulsby | Public Information Officer The new restaurant is located at 7488 Hack's Cross Road. It features the Jacks Southern Charm design, which includes a large, open-concept dining room filled with natural light and a window through which guests can see their biscuits being made from scratch, porch seating with rocking chairs and a porch window. Kuwait may allow foreigners full ownership of companies in a push to attract more investments and boost the economy, Zawya reports. The plans according to Abdullah Al-Sabah, deputy director general for investment operations at Kuwaits Direct Investment Promotion Authority, aim at boosting the economy. Kuwait, Sabah said in an interview with Al-Arabiya on Sunday, is also working on the creation of four border economic zones to encourage foreign direct investments. Economic zones will enable Kuwait to achieve growth and expansion of the countrys GDP base, as the target value of total investment in these areas after four years is estimated in 322 billion dinars, he reportedly indicated. The Gulf country, Sabah also revealed in the last five years, managed to attract 1 billion dinars ($3.3 billion) worth of investments in different sectors particularly technology, health and procurement. The Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh on the Red Sea welcomed Sunday the first flight of British tourists to the resort since more than a years suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. 150 passengers touched down Saturday at the Sharm El-Sheikh international airport onboard Easy Jet from London Gatwick Airport, the first flight from UK to the resort city after British authorities moved Egypt to the amber list, a medium-risk category per anti-coronavirus safety measures, from the red list, in mid-September. Nabil Al-Mallah, the airports director, and Dr. Islam Nabil, director of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board in Sharm El-Sheikh, received the passengers with flowers, flyers, and promotional films by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Zawya reports. The UK is one of the largest tourist markets for Egypt. From 2010 to 2015, Ahram online reports, It was ranked second to fourth place among the ten largest exporters of tourists to Egypt. Sources in Egyptian Airports Company told the online Egyptian outlet that direct flights between the UK and Red Sea resorts are expected to increase gradually till they reach 20 flights a week. Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, received Monday in Rabat Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, who is carrying a written message from the transitional president of Mali, Mr. Assimi Goita, to King Mohammed VI. Speaking at a press conference following his meeting with Mr. Bourita, the Malian Foreign Minister expressed his honor to hand over to the very high attention of King Mohammed VI the message of peace, friendship, solidarity and fraternity sent to him by His Excellency Assimi Goita, Transition President and Head of State of Mali, with his fraternal greetings as well as his heartfelt wishes for happiness to the King and continued progress and prosperity for the brotherly people of Morocco. The two ministers also highlighted the deep long-standing relationship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Mali. Your browser does not support the video tag. [October 11, 2021] Radisys Showcases Connect Open Broadband Portfolio at Broadband World Forum 2021 Radisys Corporation, a global leader of open telecom solutions, today announced its Connect Open Broadband solution showcase in Booth A24 at Broadband World Forum 2021, with the event exhibition taking place October 13-14 in Amsterdam, and the online event occurring October 11-15. Radisys will present live demonstrations that enable broadband service providers to transform their networks, simplify network operations, and be prepared to meet their customers' changing needs. Radisys will demonstrate triple-play services, including high-speed internet and video streaming over Gigabit-PON (G-PON) and XGS-PON, and its Smart Home portfolio-including the Radisys Reach Smart Home Gateway (News - Alert) and customizable mobile application-along with a sampling of available sensors, cameras and other devices that work together as an integrated solution. Radisys will join other industry thought leaders in sessions exploring broadband innovation: Rajesh Chundury, VP of Customers Solutions, will present, "Advance Your FTTx Network with Cloud-Native Containerizd Solutions for PON" on October 11 at 10:30am in the virtual session and live in-person October 14 from 2:10pm-2:30pm. Chundury will also participate in the Open Networking Foundation's workshop "Taking opensource to production in broadband network with VOLTHA, a community view" on October 13, 3:00pm-5:00pm. The discussion will also feature experts from Adtran, Deutsche Telekom (News - Alert) , Netsia and Turk Telekom. The Radisys showcase will feature key solutions from its broadband and Smart Home portfolios. The demonstrations will include the Connect Broadband Access Controller (CBAC)-C (Centralized) and CBAC-D (Distributed) deployments using Radisys' RLT-1600G and RLT-1600X Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) for fiber to the x (FTTX) deployments. Radisys' CBAC software enables service providers to evolve their fiber networks with an open software solution that facilitates faster product innovation cycles, increased automation, and deeper network visibility. The Radisys Combo PON OLT features full PON port flexibility and enables broadband providers to leverage G-PON technology while also providing the option to expand their network and rollout XGS-PON deployments using the same OLT hardware at their pace and optimizing their cost model. Radisys' Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) are built with inherent efficiencies and scalability to support data, voice, video and other broadband services for residential and commercial subscribers on fiber networks. Radisys' Smart Home solutions help service providers broaden the utility of their data plans with life-enriching services and features that consumers want, to create new revenue streams and increase average revenue per user. "Radisys is delivering best-in-class devices and leading software solutions that add value to the broadband ecosystem, elevating broadband service provider offerings and enhancing their data plans," said Harris Razak, senior vice president of Broadband Access, Radisys. "Broadband World Forum 2021 is an exciting opportunity to showcase our portfolio that enables service providers to expand their fiber networks with world class solutions and leverage an open device ecosystem to create new revenue streams." To see the technology demonstrations, or to meet with Radisys' open telecom experts at Broadband World Forum 2021, contact open@radisys.com. About Radisys Radisys, a global leader in open telecom solutions, enables service providers to drive disruption with new open architecture business models. Radisys' innovative disaggregated and virtualized enabling technology solutions leverage open reference architectures and standards, combined with open software and hardware to power business transformation for the telecom industry, while its world-class services organization delivers systems integration expertise necessary to solve communications and content providers' complex deployment challenges. For more information, visit www.Radisys.com. Radisys is a registered trademark of Radisys. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211010005025/en/ [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Moscow lawmaker fined nearly $3,000 for breaching rally organization order AGN Moskva, Kirill Zykov 16:36 11/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 11 (RAPSI) Moscows Tverskoy District Court on Monday fined the Moscow City Duma lawmaker representing the Communist Party of Russia Yekaterina Yengalycheva 200,000 rubles (about $3,000) for breaching the order of holding a public event, the courts press service told RAPSI. According to case papers, the lawmaker called for participation in an unauthorized rally on her Facebook page. Earlier, the Interior Ministrys Moscow Main Directorate announced that the police would identify and arrest individuals involved in such calls as well as in the organization of illegal rallies on September 20 and 25 and participation in them. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on October 11, 2021 2021/10/11 1.President of the G20 Italy plans to hold an extraordinary summit of the G20 on Afghanistan on October 12 via video link, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the meeting. 2.State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Sixth Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Beijing on October 12 via video link. The meeting will be held under the theme of "Security and Sustainable Development in Asia in New Realities of the Post-Pandemic World". State Councilor Wang and other heads of delegations will exchange in-depth views on issues including the current international and regional situation, cooperation on addressing security threats and challenges, post-pandemic economic development and CICA cooperation in various fields. CCTV: On October 8, the 48th session of the Human Rights Council adopted the resolution on the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights submitted by China. Can you tell us more about it? Zhao Lijian: On October 8, the 48th session of the Human Rights Council adopted the resolution on the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights submitted by China. The resolution recognizes that the legacies of colonialism, in all their manifestations, such as economic exploitation, inequality within and among States, systemic racism, violations of indigenous peoples' rights, contemporary form of slavery and damage to cultural heritage, have a negative impact on human rights, and stresses the importance of eradicating colonialism and addressing the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights. Representatives of Russia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Eritrea, Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia and other countries expressed appreciation for the draft resolution put forward by China in their statements, pointing out that the Human Rights Council should work on the legacies of colonialism, an issue that denies basic human rights, violates the UN Charter, and hinders world peace and development. As we speak, the legacies of colonialism in various forms are still affecting world peace and development and having a serious negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights. The Human Rights Council, as the UN body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights, needs to pay attention to and discuss this issue. Relevant countries should implement the requirements of the resolution, take concrete measures to eliminate the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism, promote and protect human rights at home, and advance the sound development of the international human rights cause. The Global Times: We learned that the Main Part of the Fifth Committee during the 76th Session of the UNGA began recently. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, said at the meeting that China has made full payment of current UN peacekeeping assessments. Could you share with us more information? Zhao Lijian: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations. China's conviction in firmly upholding the UN-centered international system and supporting the important role of the UN in international affairs remains unchanged. Last month, President Xi Jinping attended the General Debate of the UNGA and made a key speech through video link, which sends a clear signal of China's support for the UN in playing a central role in international affairs and speaks volumes about the importance China attaches to and our support for the work of the UN. As the largest developing country, a permanent member of the Security Council, and the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, China, with a great sense of responsibility, has paid its share of UN budget and peacekeeping funds, and earnestly fulfilled its financial obligations to the UN. China recently has fully paid the assessments for all UN peacekeeping operations during the mandated period as of 31 December 2021 by the Security Council. Our real actions in practicing multilateralism has shown our support for the UN. Defending the role of the UN requires all member states to take a responsible attitude and fulfill their due obligations. Major countries in particular should lead by example. UN governance won't be possible without the underpinning of a strong financial foundation. The worrying financial situations still facing the UN are mainly attributed to some members' refusal to pay their share of budget and peacekeeping assessments. Multilateralism is about concrete actions, not mere rhetoric. Relevant countries should pay their arrears and assessments in full, on time, and without conditions to enable the UN to carry out its work. It would be a concrete step to honor their commitment to multilateralism. Maucau Monthly: Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made inappropriate remarks about China on several occasions during his recent visit to Taiwan. What is China's response? Zhao Lijian: Adhering to the one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations. It is also the prerequisite and political foundation for the development of friendly relations between China and other countries. Relevant actions of certain Australian politician seriously violate the one-China principle and send a seriously wrong signal to the outside world. China is firmly opposed to this and has lodged solemn representations with the Australian side. The remarks of certain Australian politician are completely confusing black and white and extremely absurd. Such remarks that incite confrontation, drum up the "China threat theory", grossly interfere in China's internal affairs and wantonly slander and smear China out of selfish political gain are immoral, irresponsible and find no support. We urge relevant individuals in Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias, respect basic facts, view China and its development in an objective and rational way, and stop making irresponsible remarks. Beijing Media Network: On October 8, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the US "is not hiding it and is straightforward" about pitting Russia and Europe against each other on gas issues, and that politicizing gas supplies should be avoided, or people on both sides would be adversely affected. What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: It is well-known that the Nord Stream 2 project shows energy complementarity between Russia and Europe, and would help resolve the European energy crisis. The US, however, to serve its own geopolitical interests and monopolize the European energy market, spares no effort in disrupting and hobbling relevant projects to undermine the interests of Russia and Europe and their cooperation. This wins no support. The US is adept at politicizing issues in all means and would hurt others indiscriminately, including its allies and partners, for its own interests. Such US practice is a reminder of what happened recently. The US colluded with the UK and Australia in forming the so-called AUKUS and egged on Australia to ditch the submarine cooperation project with France that had already begun. This was described as "a stab in the back" by the European side. We believe more countries, with their eyes wide open, will oppose the US hegemonic approach featuring politicization and a sense of supremacy in pursuit of self-interests at the expense of others. Phoenix TV: It is reported that the US recently claimed that it has provided more vaccines around the world than every other country in the world combined, and that unlike China and Russia and others, the US is not asking a single thing in return. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: China always maintains that vaccines, as a powerful weapon in the fight against COVID-19, should benefit more people around the world as a global public good to the maximum extent. This is what we said and what we have been doing. So far, China has provided more than 1.4 billion doses of vaccines to more than 100 countries and international organizations, and will step up efforts to provide two billion doses to the world this year. On top of the US$100 million donation to COVAX, China will donate an additional 100 million doses of vaccines to fellow developing countries within this year. In the meantime, we believe that fighting the pandemic is the shared responsibility of all countries. Countries that are strong in vaccine R&D and production, especially developed countries, should take concrete actions to fulfill their vaccine assistance commitments and increase the accessibility and affordability of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries. This is an important manifestation of their responsibility as major countries. As for the remarks made by the US side, I want to say that vaccines are used to prevent and curb the epidemics and save lives, and should not be used as a tool for political propaganda or selfish gains. It is hoped that the US could honor its vaccine aid promise at an early date, instead of offering a Barmecide feast to developing countries. China News Service: What does China expect from tomorrow's meeting of CICA Ministers of Foreign Affairs? Zhao Lijian: The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an important regional security dialogue and cooperation mechanism. Since its inception 29 years ago, CICA has made positive contributions to promoting peace and development in Asia as it conforms to the overriding trend of peace and development with commitment to enhancing mutual trust and coordination between countries. Against the background of major changes and a global pandemic unseen in a century, countries in the region face pressing tasks of maintaining security and stability and promoting economic recovery. At this foreign ministers' meeting, China hopes that all parties will make full use of the platform, step up dialogue and communication, continue to implement a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, jointly address various risks and challenges, practice true multilateralism, advance socio-economic recovery in all countries, reach more consensuses on upholding regional security and promoting common development and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. AFP: With regard to the 13th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, China said India still insisted on unreasonable demands. Could you please clarify what are those "unreasonable demands" put forward by the Indian side? Zhao Lijian: The spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army already made a statement on the 13th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, and I would like to refer you to the relevant authorities for specifics. Prasar Bharati: Regarding the 13th round of talks between India and China, a statement from Indian Army said that the Indian side made proposals for resolving the remaining areas, but the Chinese side was not agreeable and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals. What is the ministry's response to this? And, is this China's intention to make it as a new status quo which the Indian side said was caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo of last year and which is in violation of bilateral agreements? Zhao Lijian: As I just said, the spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) already issued a statement on the matter to clarify relevant facts and China's position. The remarks by the Indian side are groundless. During the 13th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, proceeding from maintaining the overall interest of the state-to-state and military-to-military relations between the two sides, the Chinese side made great efforts to ease and cool the border situation and fully demonstrated our sincerity. However, the Indian side still insisted on its unreasonable and unrealistic demands, which added difficulties to the negotiations. China is firm in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty. It is hoped that the Indian side can avoid misjudging the situation, cherish the hard-won situation in the China-India border areas, abide by the relevant agreements and consensus reached between the two countries and two militaries, and show sincerity and take concrete actions to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas with China. The Paper: Recently, when commenting on the collision of a US nuclear submarine on October 2, Russian military expert Ivan Konovalov said that US ships and submarines deployed in the Asia-Pacific region often collide with various objects and civil vessels, causing casualties and drawing criticism about their professionalism. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: We have taken note of the concerns expressed by the Russian side. Earlier, China also expressed grave concern over the accident. After this most recent incident, it took the US side five days to come up with a vague statement. Such irresponsible attitude and stonewalling and cover-up practice only make the international community more suspicious of the US intention and details of the accident. It is incumbent on the US to clarify the details of the accident and explain the following questions: First, where exactly did the accident take place? Second, did the accident cause nuclear leakage and pollute the marine environment? Third, will this accident impact the navigation safety and fishery in the area where it took place? The US side should take a responsible attitude, give a detailed account of what happened as soon as possible and make a satisfactory explanation to the international community and regional countries. Bloomberg: I'd like to ask about an official from Bijie city, Guizhou Province, who has been commended by the state security officials for reporting illegal interviews by a foreign media outlet. This is according to some media reports including social media account run by the Beijing Daily. Can the foreign ministry offer more details about that? Zhao Lijian: I don't have the specifics on what you mentioned yet and would like to refer you to relevant authorities. What I want to stress is that China has always been committed to facilitating and helping foreign journalists in their interview and reporting work in China in accordance with laws and regulations. However, we firmly oppose ideological bias against China, acts violating the professional ethics and morality of journalism, and behaviors to malign and attack China by fabricating fake news and disinformation in the name of "freedom of the press". NASA has announced the 60 teams from 22 states and Puerto Rico selected to compete in the 2022 Student Launch -- one of seven Artemis Student Challenges. The nine-month challenge, managed by NASA's Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement and held at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, provides a realistic experience for middle school, high school, and college students to follow the engineering design process NASA and industry engineers use when developing and operating new hardware. The student teams are required to design, build, test, and fly a payload and high-powered amateur rocket to an altitude between 3,500 and 5,500 feet. Teams also must meet multiple documentation and presentation milestones with NASA experts as they develop their rocket. The reports often total hundreds of pages of work by the end of the competition year. Teams in the college/university division will tackle a new task that mirrors NASA missions like the Mars Curiosity Rover. Teams must design a payload capable of autonomously locating where their rocket landed by identifying the rocket's grid position on an aerial image of the launch site, while transmitting the data back to their ground station. This must be accomplished without the use of GPS. The requirement simulates a challenge faced by NASA mission managers - communicating with spacecraft and payloads on distant planetary bodies, where use of GPS is not an option. Middle and high school teams can choose to attempt the college/university division challenge or develop their own science or engineering experiment. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will have the option of coming to Huntsville in April to complete the project or they can finish the entire project virtually - either by conducting their final flight at a local National Association of Rocketry- or Tripoli Rocketry Association-sanctioned launch, or by competing in the Design Division. Both options are outlined in the Student Launch handbook. Teams will continue to "call their shot" by predicting, months in advance of their competition flight, their rocket's ultimate altitude. When teams submit their preliminary design review package to NASA in November, they will submit their predictions and target altitudes for their competition launch. Teams also are scored in nearly a dozen other categories, including safety, vehicle design, social media presence, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics engagement. The STEM Engagement Award encourages and recognizes teams for sharing their knowledge and experiences with the next generation of engineers, scientists, and explorers. The Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement manages Student Launch to stimulate innovation and advance NASA's human exploration mission through collaboration with educational institutions and students - the Artemis Generation, who will help NASA explore the Moon and Mars. NASA's Office of STEM Engagement furthers the agency's goal of encouraging students to pursue degrees and careers in the STEM fields through multiple challenges, including Student Launch. NASA's Space Operations and Exploration Systems Development mission directorates and the Office of STEM Engagement, along with Northrop Grumman and the Huntsville chapter of the National Space Club, provide funding and leadership for the initiative. Many of the NASA and industry leaders advising the teams have an in-depth understanding of rocketry challenges because they work on the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will send astronauts to the Moon. The SLS Program is managed by Marshall. For more information about Student Launch, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/studentlaunch/home/index.html For more information about other engineering challenges NASA hosts, visit: https://stem.nasa.gov/artemis/ Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Ingenuity and inspiration drive NASA's Human Exploration Rover Challenge. And there's some fun involved, too. NASA wants to inspire the next generation of astronauts with its Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC), which invites high school and university students from across the world to participate. The agency also hopes HERC competitors provide inspiration for space exploration in using their own ingenuity to design and build rovers for the 28th annual event, which will be held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, April 28-30. On Thursday, NASA announced the 91 U.S. and international teams that will compete in the 2022 event. HERC, managed by the Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, encourages students to build upon Apollo missions while using the goals of the Artemis program to pilot human-powered rovers over a challenging half-mile course simulating the terrain of the Moon, Mars and other rocky bodies in our solar system. "We congratulate each of the teams selected to compete in HERC 2022," said Miranda Fike, senior education specialist at Marshall. "Everyone involved with the challenge looks forward to seeing the remarkably creative designs and strategies teams develop each year." This year's grueling course comprises 12 challenges and five tasks. Two drivers from each participating school must complete the challenge in 8 minutes. They must also think like mission planners, selecting tasks to complete along the path to gain the maximum amount of points available. This encourages teams to develop strategies that balance efficiency with speed to simulate real-world conditions astronauts would face in completing their space mission. HERC organizers reduced the number of course obstacles from 14 to 12 to give teams more time to focus on the five unique mission tasks, which includes collecting samples, taking photographs, or conducting other simulated science objectives. The primary objective of HERC is for teams of students to design, develop, build, and test human-powered rovers capable of traversing challenging terrain and task tools for completion of various mission tasks. Teams must also meet size and weight requirements to ensure their rovers would fit into a lander storage area. Teams earn points throughout the process with successful completion of design reviews as they develop and assemble a rover that meets all challenge criteria and accomplishing course obstacles mission tasks. Winning teams (high school and college/university) are those that accumulate the highest number of points throughout the project year in each category. "Our goal is to make real-world connections between student ingenuity and the vital work NASA is doing right now to return explorers to the Moon and prepare the way for crewed missions to Mars," said education specialist Catherine Shelton of the Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. In the event the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forces modifications to the competition - including changes to planned in-person activities - competitors and audiences will be notified. HERC reflects the goals of the Artemis program, which seeks to put the first woman and person of color on the Moon. It is one of the seven Artemis Student Challenges. NASA's Office of STEM Engagement uses to further the agency's goal of encouraging students to pursue degrees and careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. For more information about the 2022 Human Exploration Rover Challenge, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/HERC For more information about other NASA engineering challenges, visit: https://stem.nasa.gov/artemis Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Leading business solutions provider Transguard Group has further strengthened its presence in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates by adding Fatima Alsuwaidi to its senior management team as Director of Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates. A UAE national, Alsuwaidi will be responsible for continuing to grow Transguards relationships in these emirates, as well as identifying and developing new business prospects, said a statement. The continued growth of Abu Dhabi has offered Transguard some unique opportunities, and Fatima will be a key element as we explore and develop these potential avenues, explained Dr Greg Ward, Managing Director, Transguard Group. Emiratisation is a crucial part of our growth strategy, and we are pleased to be adding Fatima to the Transguard family, he said. With a background as a diplomat, a small business owner, a legal advisor for the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and a head of department for Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Alsuwaidi brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Transguard is a recognised name in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, but there are also multiple opportunities for new business. I look forward to playing a strategic role in Transguards future growth, Fatima said. Transguards market-leading presence in Abu Dhabi includes the Transguard Cash centre in Mussafah, a security team of more than 1,000 professionals, facilities management of several prominent malls and the countrys largest banks, manpower support for one of the UAEs most prominent airlines, 500 hospitality staff in some of the emirates most recognizable five-star hotels and resorts, and much more. - TradeArabia News Service Regions top real estate industry experts are taking part in the inaugural two-day virtual investor summit in being hosted by Cityscape Global, recognized as the largest and most renowned real estate exhibition in the region, in Dubai. The GCC Investor Summit, which kicked off today (October 5), will see experts put spotlight on the trends, opportunities and challenges that will shape the GCCs real estate industry in the coming year. It will drill down on regional government plans around investment, tourism, and the building of a diverse economy, as well as delve into investment opportunities, the role of tech and AI in real estate, and the GCC economy. The summit will also see the regions leading architects debate trends which will shape the future of real estate design and delivery across the GCC. Following a keynote address by Majid Saqer Almarri, CEO of the Registration and Real Estate Services Sector (RERA) at the Dubai Land Department, speakers from across the GCC and the USA will address a range of subjects from post-pandemic changes to residential, hospitality and healthcare assets, regional economic outlooks, sustainability demand and cross-border transactions. The summit will explore how technology is making cities smarter, shifting design dynamics in the GCCs architecture development, and changing the entire buying, selling and marketing experience. Can Turkan, the Founder of XPLOR, which was recently bought by Ayana Holdings, and which also sits under the Realogy umbrella, is developing future technologies that enhance customer experience and improve operational efficiency in various asset classes. He pointed out that the challenges of 2020 have spurred the industry to speed up its digitalisation drive. Saudi-based Taiba Investments Company has signed up Al Saad General Contracting Company as the main contractor for its upcoming Riyadh Hotel project being set up in the Saudi capital at an investment of SR378 million ($101 million). One of the largest real estate investment and development companies in Saudi Arabia, Taiba said the project will be implemented on a 11,073-sq-m plot owned by its subsidiary Al Aqeeq Real Estate in the Al Olaya district of Riyadh, at intersection of Makkah Al Mukarramah and Al Takhassusi roads. The 17-storey hotel will boast 302 suites, apartments, and hotel rooms, as well as a commercial centre, recreational outlets in addition to a health club and spacious car parking, stated the company in its filing to the Saudi bourse Tadawul. Taiba had recently signed an agreement with Accor for the operation of its upcoming Novotel Hotel at Madinah. The Novotel Hotel is being built on aa total area of 1,822 sq m and is located in the western side of the Saudi city. It is likely to be ready for operations in 2025.-TradeArabia News Service The Government of Dubai's Department of Finance (DoF) has announced a large number of projects worth more than AED25 billion ($6.8 billion) under the public-private partnership (PPP) portfolio. The projects will foster new partnerships between the Government of Dubai and the private sector in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a vital player in global economic development and one of the smartest and happiest cities in the world, said a Wam news agency report. The announcement was made in the presence of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, at the Dubai International Public-Private Partnership Conference (DIPPPC) being held at Expo 2020 Dubai. With the announcement, the total value of both existing and newly announced PPP projects in Dubai has exceeded AED65 billion, it said. Sheikh Maktoum said: "Dubai has set an example for the world in fostering productive partnerships between the public and private sectors to drive sustainable economic growth and the accelerated development of strategic sectors. The new portfolio of PPP projects seeks to further harness synergies between the two sectors to shape our future over the next 50-year phase in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. "Consistent with Dubais rising profile as a preferred global investment destination, the new projects provide private sector players with exceptional opportunities in vital sectors that are powering the long-term growth of the emirate. These projects will use innovative PPP mechanisms that create the ideal conditions for private sector companies to contribute to realising the vision for Dubais future," he said. Department of Finance's PPP projects portfolio includes more than 30 significant projects in the infrastructure, public transportation and urban development sectors. Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director-General of DoF, said the Government of Dubai has begun to outline the features for the next stage of innovation in financing vital government projects within the PPP ecosystem. "PPP has become the next global innovative trend for governments around the world seeking to finance their infrastructure and urban development projects," Al Saleh said. "The governments efforts led by DoF have helped create a solid foundation for building a comprehensive and integrated PPP system. DoF will continue to develop and consolidate these foundations in close cooperation with other government entities as well as private sector players who have the necessary capabilities and expertise and are keen to seize the opportunities Dubai has to offer," he added. "The Dubai International Public-Private Partnership Conference represents a key initiative for generating new public-private partnerships that will help accelerate Dubais journey to the future. It paves the way for an exchange of ideas and insights between decision-makers in both public and private sectors and the exploration of new partnership opportunities. The event also promotes innovative financing methods for partnership projects among local and international investors," Al Saleh explained. AMA International School (AMA) today announced that it has rebranded to Britus International School after receiving the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Education (MOE). The school is part of the portfolio of Britus Education, the education investment platform managed by GFH Financial Group (GFH). The move supports Britus strategy to continue the transformation of its education assets across its existing portfolio as well as plans to grow the Britus brand, which operates more than eight private schools in the region including Al-Olaya in Saudi Arabia; Al-Murabaa, Al- Rowda, Al- Fayhaa and Al-Takhasosi, AMA in Bahrain; The Sheffield Private School in Dubai, and the British International School in Tunis. In line with Britus ongoing commitment to building a world-class portfolio of education assets across the GCC region, it is undertaking comprehensive actions to enhance and upgrade education systems and to make quality education affordable to all segments of the community with an emphasis on K-12 learning and also special needs education, a statement said. Fatema Kamal, Acting CEO of Britus Education, said: Were delighted to announce our new brand in the Kingdom of Bahrain. AMA has always been one of our most important acquisitions and we have and continue to invest in its enhancement and the embedding of our ethos and culture into the School. This is also another important milestone marking the further expansion of the Britus brand in the region. With the rebranding behind us, we are now working on further key enhancements by embracing digital transformation of the Schools academic programmes, curriculums, processes and human resources to ensure our students have access to the best resources, facilities and learning tools available in the market today. Britus Education's strategy focuses on identifying and investing in high quality schools that are capable of being further improved, have strong existing student capacity with room for additional growth and fee structures that are affordable to the fast-expanding mid-market, it said. - TradeArabia News Service Aster Hospitals UAE, a leading healthcare provider, has opened a state-of-the-art Department of Oncology at Aster Hospital Al Qusais, Dubai. Bringing Asters world-class cancer healing experience for the UAE patients, the centre adds greater value to Aster Hospitals existing resources as a leading tertiary care facility to meet the needs of patients, a release said. The oncology centre offers highly specialised, advanced cancer care therapies to patients with focus on multidisciplinary treatment planning. As part of this, the centre introduces a `Tumour Board (TB), which is an integral component of the advanced treatment planning approach in cancer care. Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, and leading Indian film actress and inspiring cancer survivor Mamta Mohandas, jointly inaugurated the comprehensive cancer care centre in the presence of Dr Sherbaz Bichu, CEO, Aster Hospitals & Clinics UAE. The Department of Oncology will be led by Dr Pranay Taori, Specialist Medical Oncologist, and Dr Sivaprakash Rathanaswamy, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, along with members of the Tumour Board from around the world. With the launch of the Department of Oncology, Aster Hospitals UAE is strengthening its capability to provide specialised care to the people of the UAE, alongside existing specialties. Recent studies have shown that UAE cancer rates are five times higher in younger adults than in the US and the UK and the incidence of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and leukemia remains shockingly high. In many of these cases, early detection and surgical intervention can prove to be highly effective in stalling disease progression. We sincerely believe that the multi-disciplinary approach being introduced by Aster Hospitals would prove to be highly beneficial for patients in the UAE. Mamtas battle against cancer is an inspiration to the world, and particularly cancer patients who can learn from her courage and willpower to perhaps navigate a dangerous, uphill phase in her life and come out victorious, Moopen added. I am confident that Aster Hospitals Comprehensive Oncology Centre has the right combination of medical interventions with compassionate and personalised approach, which is what makes a difference in treating cancer patients. Frontier treatment procedures do make a huge difference in treating cancer, but each patient fights his or her own battle, and it is important to bring a human touch to any treatment that brings a world of difference, said Mohandas. We aim to provide tertiary and quaternary healthcare solutions to communities leveraging on our clinical expertise both in GCC and India. The newly instituted comprehensive oncology care unit is a value addition to our existing 150-bedded Aster Hospital Al Qusais. We commit to provide quality treatment to patients battling with cancer ensuring the best clinical outcomes. The center will provide services at par with established reputation of Aster DM Healthcares promise Well treat you well. Accentuating the digital platforms, use of technology and innovation we are on the right track of advancing the healthcare services towards excellence, said Dr Bichu. The Tumour Board facilitates multidisciplinary treatment approach since it works as a sharing platform for a number of doctors from various medical faculties to review and discuss the medical condition and treatment options for a patient, added Dr Bichu. The TB is a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting in which different specialists work together closely sharing clinical decisions in cancer care. The composition is variable, depending on the type of tumour discussed. As an organisational tool, MDTs optimise patient outcomes and improves care performance. The team of doctors will review patient history to discuss the best treatment modality for the patient. The oncology centre at Aster Hospital will provide treatment to a variety of adult and pediatric cancers such as breast, lung, liver, colon, colorectal, stomach, prostate, brain, leukemia, cervix, kidney, pancreas, esophagus, ovarian sarcomas and other common and rare cancers, among the UAE nationals, residents and medical tourists. Many of these cancers require surgical intervention, which needs to be done at an early stage to save patients life from progression of the disease. The centre offers all kinds of treatments, ranging from hormonal to immunotherapy, targeted therapy, as well as chemotherapy provided by the best-in-class available clinical expertise and medical technologies along with personalised care catering to the growing needs of patients.-- TradeArabia News Service The Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) with over $3 million in prize money will be held in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, in June 2023. Organised by Aspire, the dedicated technology programme management pillar of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the overarching advanced technology research body in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the MBZIRC is held every two years. The upcoming edition, called MBZIRC Maritime Grand Challenge, focuses on real-time solutions to maritime safety and security challenges and seeks to claim its place among the largest and most prestigious AI and robotics competitions in the world. The Challenge is open to international universities, research institutions, companies and individual innovators from all over the world. It will involve a heterogeneous collaboration among unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles, to perform complex navigation and manipulation tasks in a GNSS-denied environment. Call for registrations is now open. Commenting on the announcement, Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of ATRC, said: We are proud that MBZIRC is going global by inviting the best talent from all over the world to participate. We have set a tough real-world challenge that will push the participants to the limits of their capabilities. The event is a great opportunity to demonstrate the pioneering scientific research work that is taking place in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The challenge will show how both the entities focus on niche areas of technology, while attracting global innovators to stimulate ideas, encourage collaboration, and push boundaries in advanced technologies to find systems solutions to global challenges. For countries with long coastlines, ensuring maritime safety requires significant investment in sophisticated equipment and highly trained personnel. Using advanced robotic systems can not only help reduce costs, but also handle some of the often- dangerous tasks performed by humans. The motivation for holding the MBZIRC Maritime Grand Challenge is to take the technology out of the laboratory and test it in a real-world environment to see what is possible, said Dr Arthur Morrish, Chief Executive of Aspire. Dr Morrish underscored the two-fold purpose behind the competition: one is to focus on the important problems in autonomy of robotics while engaging the world community in a hard robotics challenge. The other is to find a solution to a real-world challenge facing the world. The challenge is for a swarm of UAVs to identify a target vessel from several similar vessels in open waters in a GNSS-denied environment, and to offload specific items from the target onto an USV in the shortest possible time using autonomous technologies. This is a new kind of kind of exercise in autonomous robotics. A nice thing about this challenge is that you tell people what you want, but you dont specify an approach to do it, Dr Morrish added. He said that this kind of a smart system will have practical application in other areas as well, especially as it can perform complex tasks of autonomous intervention in a GNSS denied environment. In line with its efforts to build Abu Dhabis R&D ecosystem, Aspire will design several grand challenges and international competitions in advanced technology to solve some of the worlds most pressing issues. Aspire also works in consultation with cross-sector industry stakeholders, universities, and research institutes to frame problem statements. Recently, Aspire has partnered with the XPRIZE Foundation to launch a global competition, titled XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion. The initiative is co-funded by Ghadan 21, Abu Dhabi's accelerator programme that is driving the emirate's development through investing in business, innovation, and people.-- TradeArabia News Service The Emirates News Agency (WAM) has signed a media co-operation agreement with the Latin American Information Alliance (AIL), a media organisation that includes 22 private television networks in Latin America and the Caribbean. This came during WAM's participation in the ENEX General Assembly, which took place at Curacao from October 7-9 with the participation of media institutions from 18 countries. The agreement, which was signed by WAM Director-General Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi and AIL Director Juan Carlos, aims to strengthen co-operation between the two sides in news and media content exchange and establish and develop a fruitful media co-operation in accordance with the regulations and legislation adopted by both sides, WAM reported. The WAM Director-General said that this agreement will enhance the UAE's media presence and spread its message, especially with the UAE currently hosting 192 countries at Expo 2020 Dubai, in addition to expanding the reach of WAM's media services and strengthening its presence as a multi-lingual media content provider across Latin America. Carlos stressed the importance of the agreement as a major stride towards establishing and strengthening co-operation between the two parties, noting that the new partnership would enhance the capacity of the Alliance's 22 television networks to provide their audiences with news on the UAE and its development in all fields. The Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) has announced new regulations to encourage family businesses to establish Single and Multiple Family Office (SFO & MFO) licences with the free zone. The regulations address the needs of family-run entities and introduce a new platform for wealthy families to set-up offshore holding companies within DWTCAs designated free zone to manage their private family global wealth, assets and investments, Emirates news agency WAM reproted. Dubai has emerged as one of the most popular cities in the world for ultra-wealthy families, after more than 2,000 high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) moved to the emirate in the first six months of 2021. The city's population of HNWIs rose 3.8 per cent to 54,000, up from 52,000 in December 2020. Speaking on the development, DWTCA Director-General Helal Saeed Al Marri said: "Family businesses are a significant segment within todays global economic landscape and are integral to the wider international investment community. Following an exceptionally challenging year, family businesses worldwide have shown extraordinary resilience and agility, and are eager to diversify and expand into new markets. "We recognise the need for a specialised legal and regulatory framework that offers distinct flexibility and fundamental benefits for setting up Single and Multiple Family Offices in Dubai, providing an environment that supports Family Offices to operate successfully." DWTCAs SFO regulations allow for offshore entities, founded directly by members of a single family, to own and manage their collective wealth, assets, businesses and investments through incorporating a new Free Zone Establishment (FZE) or Free Zone Company (FZCO), subsequently licenced to operate from DWTCAs designated free zone. The new MFO regulations cater to the growing international professional and wealth management and advisory service industry providers looking to operate and expand their market presence and management portfolios in the MEASA region. MFO licences facilitate and enable services offered to multiple families, their members, businesses, entities, trusts and foundations. Through its new regulatory framework, DWTCA is reaffirming its commitment to family businesses and Dubais position as a hub for local, regional and international family offices. The new SFO regulations follow last months agreement between DWTCA and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) to create a framework supporting the regulation, offering, issuance, listing and trading of crypto assets and related financial activities within DWTCAs free zone. The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Opening Ceremony and the Zayed Sustainability Prize (ZSP) Awards Ceremony will take place at the Expo 2020 Dubai on Monday January 17, 2022. The announcement was made during Expo 2020's Climate and Biodiversity Week (the first of 10 Theme Weeks that anchor the Programme for People and Planet) which aims to mobilise the world to take decisive action for the health of our world. Bringing ADSW's vital platforms to Expo 2020 will further demonstrate the UAE's leading role in driving action on climate change, at home, in the region, and throughout the world. ADSW, hosted by Masdar, is one of the largest of gatherings of its kind, which welcomes each year more than 45,000 participants from more than 170 countries. The week will return between January 15 and 19, 2022 and feature a series of high-level in person and virtual events. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Chairman of Masdar, said: Hosting the opening of ADSW together with the ZSP award ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai will serve to reinforce the UAE's commitment to climate action and sustainability, as key drivers of the UAE's progressive model for economic growth. The combination of ADSW's experience as a convenor with Expo 2020 Dubai's global reach will help expand partnerships, drive innovation and open up new economic opportunities. As the UAE marks 50 years of progress, with the Principles of the Fifty, sustainability will remain a cornerstone of plans for future growth, creating new knowledge, new skills, new industries and new jobs." The ADSW Opening Ceremony and the ZSP Awards Ceremony, will bring together more than 600 VIPs from around the world, including heads of state, government ministers, industry leaders and country ambassadors. During the Opening Ceremony, Dr Al Jaber will deliver a keynote speech. Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "As one of our three subthemes, Sustainability is integrated across the entirety of Expo 2020 Dubai. We aim to be one of the most sustainable World Expos in history, supporting the UAE's continued efforts to build cleaner, safer, and healthier communities for its people. As a long-standing platform for sustainability, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week has a legacy of bringing together the global community, facilitating dialogue and accelerating sustainable development. These qualities align with the aims of the Programme for People and Planet at Expo and our goal of catalysing a one-of-a-kind movement to shape the legacy that Expo 2020 leaves the world. "For the six months of Expo 2020, the world's gaze will be on the UAE. Holding the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony at Expo 2020, when the world's gaze is on the UAE, exemplifies how we can all work together to mitigate climate change." Since 2008, Abu Dhabi has provided a sustainable platform for the global community that has grown through its initiatives and events to emerge as a thought leader and catalyst that accelerates sustainable development around the world. The week will bring together policy makers, industry specialists, technology pioneers and the next generation of sustainability leaders to engage in dialogue and take action to advance the global sustainability agenda. The 2022 programme will include the ADSW Opening Ceremony, ZSP Awards Ceremony, ADSW Summit, Irena Assembly, Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum, Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) Forum, Youth 4 Sustainability Hub, and the World Future Energy Summit Exhibitions and Forums. Launched at the 2008 World Future Energy Summit by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Zayed Sustainability Prize is a tribute to his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his sustainability legacy. Over 352 million people have been directly or indirectly impacted by the sustainability solutions and school projects of the 86 recipients of the Zayed Sustainability Prize winners since the first awards ceremony in 2009. The Prize's $3 million annual fund rewards winners $600,000 in each category; the Global High Schools category is split into six world region winners, with each school able to claim up to $100,000 to start or further expand their project. The six world regions of the Global High Schools category are The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Europe & Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia & Pacific. All ADSW events other than its Opening Ceremony and the ZSP Awards Ceremony will take place in Abu Dhabi or will be hosted virtually.-- TradeArabia News Service KBR, a key procurement and construction company, has teamed up with renewable energy firm Acme Group for its breakthrough green ammonia project being built in Oman at a total investment of $3.5 billion. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will provide technology licence, engineering, proprietary equipment, catalyst, and commissioning services for a plant to produce 300 tonnes per day of ammonia. The plant will be an integrated facility using three gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar and 0.5 GWp of wind energy to help boost its annual production to about 0.9 million tonnes. In March, Acme Group had signed a deal with the Oman Company for the Development of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm to set up a large-scale facility to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia. The top renewable energy company boasts a solar portfolio of six GWp. On the contract win, Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology, said: "Energy transition driven by green ammonia is a reality and KBR will play a pivotal role in helping innovative companies like Acme establish early-mover advantages through our industry leading technology." KBR is the world leader in ammonia technology with around 50% share of licensed capacity and holds the industry records for the largest capacity plants with a single converter, best energy-efficiency and longest runs without shutdowns. Manoj K Upadhyay, Founder & Chairman, Acme Group, said: "This facility, aimed at exporting green ammonia to Europe and Asia, will be the first project of this scale." "We selected KBR technology because of its high yields and lowest energy consumption and look forward to a successful project implementation." The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region has gotten off to a great start, with Expo 2020 Dubai welcoming 411,768 ticketed visits in its first 10 days. Expo 2020 opened its doors on October 1, and figures up to and including October 10 show that visitors belonged to 175 nationalities not far off the 192 countries that are participating in the event, each with its own pavilion. One in three visitors has come from abroad, with this proportion expected to increase as international travel ramps up. Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Secretary General Dimitri S. Kerkentzes said: Expo 2020 Dubais opening week has undoubtedly been a success. The numbers we are seeing are very encouraging and demonstrate the global desire for people to reconnect with each other and to imagine a better future. A number of ticket options are open to visitors, with Multi-Day and Season Passes proving popular. One in five visitors have already visited the expo more than once, according to statistics released by the organisers. UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Expo 2020 Dubai Director General Reem Al Hashimy said: We are very happy with this wonderful turnout. The numbers achieved in the first 10 days reflect the enthusiasm of the world to attend Expo 2020 Dubai. "The coming days and weeks will be full of special events offering a visitor experience that will be purposeful and entertaining, and we look forward to welcoming many more people from around the world. Many of the country pavilions have also been impressed with the numbers of visitors so far. Commissioner General of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Pavilion Joseph K Issa said: Weve been really busy since the show opened nine days ago, with a constant flow of visitors every day. People genuinely seem interested and inquisitive about what we have to offer and we are delighted to bring a flavour of Timor-Leste to visitors, businesses and investors. Ambassador & Commissioner General of the Marshall Islands Doreen DeBrum said: This is the first time weve had our own dedicated pavilion at a World Expo, and it has been fantastic to share the best of the Marshall Islands with so many visitors. Weve been delighted with the reaction of people so far. The figures include all physical ticket-holders. They exclude representatives, delegations and guests of international participants, partners and other stakeholders, as well as Expo staff. Virtual Expo, virtualexpo.world, which launched on September 30 with three million people watching the Opening Ceremony live, has seen a further five million visits between October 1-10. Expo 2020 runs until March 31, 2022, with 200 pavilions in total for visitors to explore. As well as the attractions at each location, there are multiple daily events, with panel discussions and cultural performances.-TradeArabia News Service Sommet Education, a network of hospitality education institutes, has signed an agreement with the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) in Saudi Arabia to support the development of the Kingdom's tourism sector. Through the partnership, Sommet Education will work to develop TDF's employees and clients' knowledge, skills, and competencies in tourism, hospitality and entrepreneurship through programmes and training courses, as well as workshops, training sessions, conferences and consulting. In line with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Programme of Saudi Vision 2030, the new partnership opens a world of opportunities for TDF's employees and clients to study hospitality with globally accredited institutes, PRNewswire reported. Sommet Education CEO Benoit-Etienne Domenget said: "The positioning of Sommet Education and its institutions combining prestige, excellence and an international outlook, paired with the vision of the Kingdom for quality education, offers strong potential to build and grow the overall performance of the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia." TDF CEO Qusai Al-Fakhri said: "The tourism sector is a key driver of Vision 2030. In order to facilitate its rapid growth, it is essential to have the right talent leading the way. "Through our partnership with Sommet Education, we look forward to enabling TDF's clients and employees by providing them with the best-in-class training they need to realise their tourism ambitions during this phase in the Kingdom's history." Sommet Education is a group specialised in hospitality management and culinary arts encompassing Glion Institute of Higher Education, a leading Swiss hospitality management school, Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, ranked No.3 in employer reputation, and Ecole Ducasse, a culinary and pastry arts school. Under this partnership, Sommet Education will provide TDF's employees and clients with the opportunity to enroll in training courses for various professions, including investment, hospitality, and tourism. Programmes will be available at a variety of educational levels. The services will be available for individuals, entities, and companies working across the Saudi services sector under the supervision of TDF. The first annual Duco France, the destination-oriented travel event in Paris organised by Duco Travel Summit, is underway this week. Following the significant success of its sister event, Duco Italy, the Duco team has expanded to add this annual invitation-only niche French initiative, focused on the high-end travel industry in France. The event is being held from October 11 to 15. It is an honour to inaugurate Duco France, a niche initiative focused on promoting the excellence of French hospitality to the worlds most important travel agencies. Our commitment is to support high-end tourism in France and contribute for the best results for the destination, by bringing experts together, fostering education and keeping the curiosity alive, year-round," said Carolina Perez, Founder of Duco. Duco Frances four-day Vive La France experience celebrates Frances world of refined hospitality, showcasing the countrys diverse beauty and culture, while promoting a full immersion in French lifestyle. A carefully curated selection of the most important high-end hoteliers and travel suppliers, including icons of French hospitality, along with the most elegant boutique properties, have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the worlds top English-speaking travel advisors and travel specialists who focus on France. Attendees dive deep into a wealth of destinations within France, beginning with enriching 15-minute daytime appointments and continuing with Ducos engaging evening events. Ducos Exhibitors include Frances top high-end hotels and experiences, elite inbound tour operators as well as exclusive villa rental companies. Buyers are composed of a selection of world-class travel professionals and highly qualified frontline travel advisors who are invited and hosted by Duco. This years theme, Vive La France, celebrates the countrys deep heritage along with the splendour, allure and savoir faire which are all cornerstones of French hospitality excellence. Duco invites guests to be inspired by the irresistible French lifestyle and uncover the countrys many hidden jewels from North to South and East to West, exploring off-the-beaten path experiences from quaint medieval villages to majestic mountains, charming markets and breathtaking coastline. Duco France is a ground-breaking initiative and the first travel summit to focus on France as one single destination, highlighting the excellence of French hospitality to the worlds most important buyers. With Duco, France is on the calendar of the worlds finest travel events with its innovative approach to arranging meetings every day in a different venue. Beyond the annual event in Paris, Duco France is a channel for the year-round promotion of France. Duco Galerie was inaugurated in 2021 with an online showcase that offers insights into Duco Frances hotels, as well as hidden secrets for every region, delightful dishes, and other creative content at your fingertips. In spring 2021, Duco Virtuel, the online one-to-one meeting program, was held for the first time and has tapped into the network for a much-anticipated live event. Created by the Brazilian-Italian entrepreneur and event specialist Carolina Perez, Duco France has been designed to foster networking opportunities between top French hospitality providers and the best travel advisors from key markets such as North America, UK and Australia. - TradeArabia News Service Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africas first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator, has inaugurated its direct flight between Entebbe in Uganda and Sharjah. The inaugural flight landed at Entebbe International Airport on October 10 at 13:35pm, and was welcomed with the traditional water cannon salute and cake cutting amongst others, a statement said. Air Arabia flight G9 721 will depart from Sharjah International Airport at 09:00 and arrive at 13:35 every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The return flight from Entebbe International Airport will depart at 14:15 and arrive Sharjah International Airport at 21:00. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sharjah and Entebbe by visiting Air Arabias website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies, said the statement. -TradeArabia News Service Help India! The killings of civilians in Kashmir, especially of non-Muslims, has created fear among the minority community. According to reports, many Kashmiri Pandit families have temporarily migrated to Jammu and other states of India. Auqib Javeed | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles SRINAGAR The recent targeted killings of over seven civilians in Kashmir within a week has led to a wave of fear and migration among the minority community. On October 5, suspected militants shot dead a well-known Kashmiri Hindu chemist, Makhan Lal Bindroo inside his shop near Srinagars Iqbal Park. The area is dotted with police and paramilitary installations. However, the gunmen managed to kill him and fled from the spot. Minutes after his killing, the gunmen shot dead a street food vendor identified as Virender Paswan in the Lal Bazar area of Srinagar. The third killing of the day was reported from north Kashmirs Bandipora district, where militants shot dead Mohammad Shafi Lone alias Sonu in Shahgund village of Hajin town. Shafi was president of Sumo Drivers Association, Naidkhai, Bandipora. On October 7, two non-Muslim teachers, including a woman, were shot dead inside their school premises in Srinagar. The killing sent shock waves across Kashmir. Earlier on October 2, suspected militants shot dead a civilian identified as Abdul Majid Guru, a resident of Chattabal, Srinagar in Kara Nagar area of Srinagar city. Hours after Gurus killing, another civilian, Mohammad Shafi Dar, 45, an employee of the power department, was shot at in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar. He was taken to a hospital with a bullet wound in his abdomen and later succumbed to the injuries. The killings have sent alarm bells ringing in the security establishment, with opposition parties questioning the tall claims of tight security. Soon after the killings, the opposition parties slammed Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre for their fake narrative of normalcy post abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The targeted killing of minorities especially Kashmiri Pandits has created fear psychosis among them. According to reports, many Pandit families have temporarily migrated to Jammu and other states of India. Following the reports, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made a fervent appeal to Kashmiri Pandits not to leave their homes and allow a repeat of the nineties. On my part, I am making a heartfelt appeal to all those who will be thinking of leaving the valley out of fear. Please dont. We cant let the perpetrators of these terror attacks succeed in their evil designs by driving you out. The overwhelming majority of us dont want you to go, Omar posted on Twitter. With the onset of armed insurgency in Kashmir in the late eighties, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits left the valley and settled in different parts of the country. A majority of migrating Pandits settled in Hindu dominated Jammu region. Over three decades, different governments tried to rehabilitate and vowed to bring them back to Kashmir. However, with the latest killings, the promises of the government have hit a roadblock. During the mass migration of Pandits in the 1990s, scores decided to stay back and live in the valley despite threats. ML Bindroo, who was killed on October 5, was one among them. However, his killing has sowed fear among Kashmiri Pandits residing in Kashmir valley that some of them are now regretting the decision. Sanjay Tickoo, president of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS)an organization that primarily addresses the concerns of Kashmiri Pandits that stayed back in the valley, told TwoCircles.net that several Pandit families have already moved outside Valley due to the latest killings. The onus lies on the majority community and the Government to stop them, Tickoo said. He said they had already apprised Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha regarding the issues related to the Non-Migrant Kashmiri Pandits living in Kashmir Valley. Our pleas werent taken seriously, he said. Another Kashmir pandit youth told TwoCircles.net they have been telling their parents for many years to leave the valley and settle outside. Our parents werent convinced until now when fears have risen, he said. Now they (parents) have been talking about the migration because of the latest killings happened, the youth said, adding the senseless violence in Kashmir should stop now. On October 8, family members and relatives of the slain school principal staged a silent sit-in protest outside the civil secretariat Srinagar and demanded justice. According to reports, members of the Sikh community, the majority of whom were family members and relatives of slain school principal Supinder Kour, walked on foot from Allochi Bagh to the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. Jaspreet Singh, a 35-year-old Kashmiri Sikh, told TwoCircles.net that they still wonder why the lady principal was killed and what was her crime. The is senseless killing and will create fear psychosis among others as well, he said. Singh said that although they dont have any intention to leave the Valley but if such a situation continues, we dont have any option but to follow the path of Pandits. On Saturday, the Sikh community said that they wont attend the duty unless the government assures their protection in the valley. Addressing a press conference, General Secretary Navtej Singh of the Gurudawara Prabandak Committee (GPC) said that though there were many incidents in the past targeting the minorities yet the government didnt provide any security to the community. Singh further said that the government has failed to safeguard the minority community in Jammu and Kashmir. Amid the killings, the J&K administration decided to grant a 10-day holiday to Government employees belonging to the Kashmiri Pandit community, however, no such order came for the Sikh community. A militant group The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the killings of Bindroo and claimed he was posing as a medical professional and conducting secret seminars backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) after serving Kashmiri people for nearly 32 years. Kashmiri pandit, Satish Mahaldar who is the Chairman of Reconciliation, Return & Rehabilitation of Migrants, however, maintains that the launch of migrant distress sales portal has triggered an anti-minority feeling in some quarters, especially the Land Mafia. We had been requesting the authorities to allocate separate land so that migrants can be rehabilitated. The purpose is to drive out minorities, Kashmiri Pandits out from Kashmir & exploit the communal fissures in India, Mahaldar said in a statement. He further said that these attacks are a reminder that counter-insurgency strategies have failed. The premature and triumphalist claims about normalcy in Kashmir got exposed two months ago when it was informed to the LG office in writing by Kashmiri Pandits that there are rumours that minorities in Kashmir will be targeted. Unfortunately, the LG office & security agencies ignored our inputs, the statement added. Help India! Scores of human rights organizations, activists and scholars have written an open letter to Mangalore district administration in Karnataka seeking action against Hindutva groups for issuing threats to St. Aloysius College following the colleges attempt to rename one of its parks after late tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy. Shalini S | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles MANGALORE After a college in Mangalore, Karnataka shelved its plan to rename one of its parks after deceased tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, following opposition by rightwing Hindutva groups, scores of human rights organizations, and activists have written an open letter to Mangalore district administration to take action against several Hindutva outfits. On October 8, scores of organizations including Campaign to Defend Democracy, All India Peoples Forum (AIPF), Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and human rights activists and scholars, including Amar Jesani, P. Sainath, Anil Sadagopal, Dunu Roy, Harsh Mander, Kavita Srivatsava, Meera Sanghamitra, Nandini Sundar, Pieter Friedrich, Ram Puniyani among others wrote an open letter demanding the Mangalore district administration to take action against the Hindutva outfits Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The management of St. Aloysius College in Mangalore had earlier decided to name one of its parks in Beeri Campus after Father Stan Swamy. The decision was shelved after the opposition from Hindutva outfits. The VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell talking to The India Express branded Fr. Stan Swamy an Urban Naxal and stated that such a renaming would indirectly challenge the nations unity. Father Stan Swamy was one among several activists arrested by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Bhima Koregaon case under the stringent UAPA. Even after the European Unions and United Nations repeated advocacy for Fr. Stan Swamy and the false charges against him, he was continuously denied bail. He was denied rights to public health and medical care in jail while suffering from Parkinsons disease. Father Stan Swamys death in custody in July this year was condemned by scholars and activists who termed it as an institutional murder by the inhumane state. Opposing St. Aloysius Colleges attempt to rename the park after Father Stan Swamy, a Hindutva ideologue had said that college will be responsible if any untoward incident takes place. The Hindu right-wing groups threatened to start a protest if the college goes ahead with the plan. The open letter states that this blatantly illegal behaviour is a consequence of the free-run that is being given to these fascist organizations in coastal Karnataka. These organizations are imposing social apartheid, interfering in the private affairs of citizens and acting against the Constitutional principle of fraternity by engaging in daily acts of violence and intimidation with impunity. Members of these organizations have engaged in the lynching of minorities across the country, conducting riots and engaging in violence to push minorities into second-class citizenship, the letter reads. The open letter called for immediate actions to be taken against such criminal intimidation and urged the district administration and police to provide adequate protection to the college to ensure that there is no interference in its private affairs. 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. by Vladimir Rozanskij Awarded together with fellow Filipino journalist Maria Ressa. He directs the opposition newspaper Novaja Gazeta. Recognition dedicated to the members of his editorial staff and to the many colleagues who have died, such as Anna Politkovskaya. Muratov and his newspaper are known for their reports on relations between the Kremlin and the Chechen leadership. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, together with his Filipino colleague Maria Ressa, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2021. The assignment of the prestigious award to the 60-year-old director of the Novaja Gazeta is in recogniton for the struggle for freedom of expression as a condition for true peace between peoples. It is the first Russian Nobel after 11 years (the last one went in 2010 to physicists Konstantin Novoselov and Andrej Gejm), and recalls more than any other the prize awarded in 1975 to the leader of dissent in the Soviet era: Andrej Sakharov. For years the authorities of the USSR had confined the physicist in the city of Gorky, before returning him to freedom under the reign of Mikhail Gorbacev, himself awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. The official motivation, published on October 8, speaks of "commitment to the defense of the freedom to express one's opinions, which is an indispensable prerequisite for democracy and the formation of a stable peace." The Nobel Committee explained that "Ms. Ressa and Mr. Muratov represent at the same time all journalists who have defended their ideals in the world, where democracy and freedom of the press are facing increasingly less favorable conditions." Mr. Muratov declared that he will devolve a substantial part of the prize of about 980 thousand euros to the foundation "The circle of good", established in January this year by the Russian Ministry of Health to help children with rare diseases, confirming his well-known charitable commitment. The journalist attributed the recognition to the entire present and past editorial staff of the newspaper he directed: "It is for Novaja Gazeta, for those who died defending people's right to freedom of speech. It is for Igor Domnikov, Jura Scekocikhin, for Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya and Anna Baburova, Natalia Estemirova and Stas Markelov. This is the truth, so I think, this is their prize." Muratov also remembered the blogger and opposition leader Aleksej Naval'nyj, who has been languishing in the Vladimir lager since the beginning of the year. The eve of the awarding of the prize marked 15 years since the murder of Politkovskaya, who was investigating the links between the leadership of Chechnya and the Putin regime. The anniversary also meant the final burial of all investigations into her death, which is now beyond teh statue of limitations. The Kremlin, has praised the awarding of Muratov, through spokesman Dmitrij Peskov, who stated: "he has worked with great consistency following his ideals, to which he is devoted, with his considerable talents. He is a courageous man, and this is a high recognition, which is to be congratulated." Muratov was one of the founders in 1993 of Novaja Gazeta, of which he has been the editor-in-chief since 1995. In the Soviet years he had worked at Komsomolskaja Pravda, one of the first publications to open up to the freedoms of Gorbachev's glasnost. He joined the liberal Yabloko party for some time, also supporting another widely circulated magazine, Krokodil. The newspaper he founded and directed then distinguished itself for its many hard-hitting reports on human rights violations, especially in Chechnya, the country Politkovskaya investigated and where Muratov himself was a correspondent during the armed clashes of 1994-1995. The journalist has taken positions on many burning issues in Russian political and social life, criticizing President Putin on several occasions, such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the repression against Naval'nyj and youth protest movements in recent years. One of Novaja Gazeta's most recent notable investigations concerned the persecution of homosexuals in Chechnya, especially the extrajudicial punishments imposed on them in the Caucasian republic, documented in March. All the "martyred" colleagues remembered by Muratov found their death in Chechnya, or because of it; last March 15, after the last Chechen scandal revealed by the newspaper, a delivery boy was caught spreading poison powder at the entrance of the editorial office. Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is very close to Putin, has called for the security services to intervene against the journalists of Novaja Gazeta, which despite the attacks continues to be one of the most widely read publications by the Russian public. The recognition of Muratov brings great moral relief to many Russian media outlets, which are increasingly pressured or referred to as "foreign agents," and subject to numerous restrictions. by Nirmala Carvalho Fr Joe D' Souza, pastor at the Church of St John the Evangelist, performs the deed every year. For him, animals break all religious barriers and helped many people cope with the lockdown during the pandemic. Mumbai (AsiaNews) Fr Joe D'Souza, pastor at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Mumbai, has blessed animals on the Sunday following the feast of St Francis for more than twenty years. He does so for the animals of both Christians and non-Christians because, he explains, animals break all religious barriers. Indeed, he did it again yesterday with the pets that 12 Catholic and 10 non-Christian families brought to him. Saint Francis is known as the saint of Gods creation and the patron saint of the environment, the clergyman explained. Your creator loves you, said the clergyman as he blessed the animals. He has made you holy and has always protected you. Go in peace and may God's blessing be with you, always. "Last year churches were closed because of the COVID-19 emergency and we could not perform the deed, Fr D'Souza told AsiaNews. Animals have helped many people cope with the lockdown during the pandemic, offering companionship and filling in for those relationships that we missed so much, he added. For him, Animals are wonderful creatures of God. It is He who has given us the ability to enter into a relationship with them. Finally, So many people told me how this has helped them reduce anxiety. Animals offer us a lot without asking for anything in return. Drop in arrivals from Russia, growth from U.S., South Africa and Ethiopia as part of Operation Tzur Israel. Immigrants mostly young people. The influx never stopped, not even during the most acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. For the Israeli minister, these are "positive" figures. Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) - In the first months of 2021, Jewish immigration to Israel grew by 31%, with an increasing number of entries from the United States, France, Ukraine, Belarus, South Africa and Ethiopia, while there is a slight decline from Russia. This is what emerges from official data provided by the Israeli Ministry of Immigration and the Jewish Agency, on the eve of tomorrow's holiday in remembrance of those who undertook the journey to the "promised land". According to official statistics, again for this year the largest number of Jewish immigrants came from Russia (5,075), despite a 5% decrease in the number compared to 2020. There were 3,104 new entries from the United States, a 41% growth over the first nine months of last year. At least 2,819 new immigrants moved from France (+55%), 2,123 from Ukraine (+4%), 780 from Belarus (+69%), 633 from Argentina (+46%), 490 from the United Kingdom (+20%), 438 from Brazil (+4%) and 373 from South Africa (+56%). From Ethiopia, 1,589 immigrants were registered as part of Operation Tzur Israel, an initiative desired by the government to encourage the immigration of members of the Jewish community from the African country. Based on age, more than half of the Jewish immigrants to Israel who arrived in 2021 are under 35, with 23.4% between the ages of 0 and 17; 33.4% are between the ages of 18 and 35. 16.3% fall in the 36-50 age bracket, 13% are between 51 and 64 years old, and 13.9% are over 65 years old. The Immigration Ministry adds that 2,184 new immigrants moved to Jerusalem, 2,122 to Tel Aviv, 2,031 to Netanya, 1,410 to Haifa and 744 to Ashdod. Department head Pnina Tamano-Shata speaks of "positive" figures, emphasizing the great contribution made by Jewish immigrants to Israeli society from an overall development perspective. In a note written in English, but using Hebrew terms to refer to immigration and immigrants, the minister said, I am pleased to launch Aliyah Week for 2021 where we salute olim [immigrants] for their contribution to the State of Israel. I worked in the government to ensure aliyah does not stop for a moment also during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns because aliyah is the realization of the Zionist dream. Last year, during the most acute period of the health emergency triggered by the new coronavirus pandemic, the figure for Jewish immigration to Israel dropped by about 40%. The figure in 2020 stopped at 21,200, compared to 33,500 the previous year, an overall drop of 36.7%. by Shafique Khokhar The violence followed a row between two families over the irrigation of some fields. Two young Christians died on the spot while others were sent to hospital in critical condition. The Christian community wants justice and protection. Okara (AsiaNews) More than 20 Muslims have attacked a Christian community in Punjab. The violence followed a row between two families over the irrigation of some fields in the Okara area. When a group of young Christians went back to water their fields, Muslims opened fire with guns and rifles. Two young Christians, Yaqub Mukhtar and Haroon Mukhtar, died on the spot, while half a dozen other Christians had to be hospitalised in critical conditions. A First Information Report (FIR) was drawn up against a group of Muslims, said Indrias Mukhtar, a witness to the incident. Those named in the FIR include Muhammad Abbas, Babar, Mustafa, Shafqat, Gulzar, Qadir Gulzar, NasarUllah, Noor, Abbas Ahmad, Hassan Ahmad, Azhar Taj. In all, police registered a case against 18 people, but only two have been arrested so far. Asif Munawar, a human rights activist and member of the Jhang District Committee, visited the site of the shooting and attended the funerals. He offered his condolences to the families of the dead. We need tolerance, brotherhood and diversity in our society, the activist said. The Christian community is frightened and now demands justice. It calls on the government of Pakistan to be better protected as a religious minority and that the culprits be arrested as soon as possible. In Chak, a village near Okara, Muslims broke into the homes of some Christians in May of this year, destroying furniture and property and beating residents with iron bars. In this case the violence was unleashed by a disagreement between three young Christians who were cleaning the entrance of their church and a Muslim passing by. The causes of the fire remain unknown. Although no casualties or injuries have been reported, the area was evacuated for safety reasons. An eyewitness heard a loud explosion followed by the outbreak of a fire". The tank contained 200,000 litres of petrol. After hours of blackout over the week-end, there are supplies for at least three days. Beirut (AsiaNews) A large fire broke out early this morning in a petrol tank at the Zahrani Oil Installation, on the coast of southern Lebanon. Fire brigade teams are still working to extinguish the flames. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but no casualties nor injuries have been reported. As a precaution, the Lebanese army and civil defence have evacuated the area for fear of further explosions. The road that runs along the plant has been closed and traffic diverted to a nearby highway, which reopened after a brief interruption for safety reasons. A local farmer told AFP that he heard a loud explosion followed by the outbreak of a fire. According to Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayyad, the petrol tank involved in the accident belongs to the army and rescue efforts contained much of the fire, even though the flames continue to burn. The tank contained at least 300,000 litres of petrol, said General Raymond Khattar, head of the Fire Department of Lebanons Civil Defence agency. Now the goal is to prevent the fire from reaching other tanks or storage facilities in the surrounding area. An investigation has already been launched into the incident, which is the latest in a string that began with the devastating double explosion at the port of Beirut in August 2020. Since then, the country has been gripped by a serious energy crisis, culminating in a total, country-wide blackout over the week-end that lasted several hours, triggering a mixture of panic and resignation among the population. According to the president of the oil installation union, workers are safe and the situation is "under control". Imported fuel reserves are stored in the area, from which it is distributed across the country. Last Saturday, the Zahrani power plant, which is next to the storage facilities, was closed, like that of Deir Ammar, in the north, after it ran out of fuel. Amid widespread shortages, the shutdown cut the total power supply to below 270 megawatts, which means a major drop in the stability of the grid, causing the country-wide outage. As a result of Lebanons energy crisis, consumers have often been left with no more than two hours of power a day. To help cope with the situation, the Lebanese army donated six million litres of fuel from its own reserves, distributed among the various power plants, to boost capacity from 300 MW to 500 MW. This will allow Electricite du Liban (EDL) to operate the grid for at least three days. Meanwhile, the Energy Ministry announced that it received a loan of US$ 100 million from the central bank to buy fuel to keep power stations operating. The fire marshals office reported Wednesday that Markley had improperly disconnected his gas stove, allowing the home to fill with natural gas, and lit a candle. Markley told investigators he had disconnected the stove in preparation for a new range to be delivered Monday. Markley was in the rear bedroom of his home during the initial blast. He was able to get out from the remains of the house, where bystanders assisted him, the office reported. Thats when he realized he heard a series of gunshots outside his home in the 600 block of Kriel Drive. The 59-year-old leapt out of bed and peered outside his window. Thats when he saw police officers. It wasnt until he got to work that he realized a bullet struck his wifes car. The preliminary investigation found that Batson had confronted Evans on Friday morning about a prior dispute between the two in October over a violation notice, police said. He admitted to going to his apartment, retrieving a gun and returning to the first-floor office area and shooting both victims, police said. According to the criminal complaint, Toebbe spent months negotiating with his contacts, asking at one point if there was some physical signal that could be sent so who he thought were foreign representatives could prove their identity. The FBI then placed a signal at a location associated with COUNTRY1 over Memorial Day weekend, it said. Within days, the complaint said, Toebbe confirmed hed received the signal and was ready to go ahead with a dead drop. And so no matter whether the second Monday in October represents Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day in your particular household, theres something important happening here. Not a rejection of history. Thats the easy and misleading charge often made by political conservatives seeking to stoke white fear. Commemorative statues are traditionally reserved for those individuals we wish to celebrate in public spaces, not simply acknowledge. Rather, whats going on is clearly a broader, deeper and more accurate examination of historical figures. What is the consequence of Christopher Columbus to the people who were already living in the Americas? Clearly, terrible. Similarly, what message does it send Black Americans when we build and preserve monuments to Robert E. Lee and other leading Confederate figures who fought to keep slavery? Decades ago, we did not consider. Today, we do. This is progress. In order to build those turbines, however, we had to clear acres of old growth forest, to make the roads to build and access them, and platforms to build them on (at least they werent strip mined, am I right?). This then created runoff issues into the streams (but hey, they are on the other side of the Eastern Continental Divide, so its all those states on the Mississippi that will suffer). And I understand that the energy required to manufacture the turbines is more than they produce in their first several years, and that they are only turning a fraction of the time, which means we need wait for it coal burning plants running continuously to make up the gaps. And finally, in the greatest slap in the face to environmentalists, China (the largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the world) is building coal-fired power plants. As they Beatles said, you say goodbye, I say hello. Vietnam Airlines operates seven Vietnam Airlines operates seven flights on first day of domestic flight resumption Vietnam Airlines operated 7 domestic flights on on October 10, the first day after the resumption of domestic flights. Vietnam Airlines operates seven flights on the first day of domestic flight resumption. (Illustrative image/Photo: via VNA) To be able to board the flights, passengers must meet requirements on negative testing for SARS-CoV-2, full vaccination against COVID-19, medical declaration and adherence to 5K. Those who fly to Hanoi need to have confirmation of a quarantine facility in Hanoi before departure. The occupancy rates on Vietnam Airlines flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during the day ranged from 70 to 100 percent, but were lower on flights from other localities. All flights apply distancing seating in line with requirement. The airline strictly follows standards in aircraft disinfection and epidemic prevention rules. The national flag carrier has resumed services on the routes between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City/Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong/Vinh/Thanh Hoa/Quy Nhon/Hue/ Da Nang/Quang Nam/Dong Hoi/ Nha Trang/Tuy Hoa/Phu Quoc. Its subsidiary Vasco also resumed flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Rach Gia/Ca Mau. Huh wins Fulbright Scholar Award Through the Fulbright grant, I hope to not only deepen my academic perspective and broaden the scope of my research, but also to serve as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. BUFFALO, N.Y. Sahn-Wook Huh, PhD, associate professor of finance in the University at Buffalo School of Management, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award, one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. Later this month, Huh will travel to Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, where he will hold the Fulbright Canada Distinguished Research Chair in Entrepreneurship for the 2021-22 academic year. The grant will allow Huh to present his research at workshops and seminars at Carleton and to fund his research into the effect of prescription drug approvals on financial markets. Specifically, Huh plans to examine data from different phases of the drug approval process to see how investors behave around key events, as well as whether existing informed-trading measures can identify the presence of informed trading on public or private information throughout the process. His findings could have implications for regulators, investors and other financial market participants. In addition, Huh looks forward to fulfilling the Fulbright programs mission of fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange between people of the United States and other nations. Through the Fulbright grant, I hope to not only deepen my academic perspective and broaden the scope of my research, but also to serve as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. and appreciate the beautiful nature and culture of Canada, says Huh, who was an associate professor of finance at Brock University in St. Catherines before joining the UB School of Management faculty in 2009. A former president of the Korea-America Finance Association, Huh is a highly regarded scholar in empirical corporate finance, asset pricing, market microstructure, foreign exchange economics, behavioral finance, and the evaluation of mutual fund and hedge fund performance. His research appears in top-tier journals and has been supported by numerous grants, including awards from the Ontario provincial government and Canadian federal government. Eight of his scholarly articles have won Best Paper Awards from the Financial Management Association and other international conferences. Huhs 2021-22 Fulbright award is actually his second Fulbright. He previously received a Fulbright student scholarship in 1991-93 for his MBA studies at the University of Chicago. The Fulbright program opened up a window of opportunity for my academic career, he recalls. The scholarship was so precious, allowing me to study in a then-foreign country for the first time in my life and gain a foothold for my PhD studies later. Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 46F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A few clouds. Low near 35F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Duluth, MN (55816) Today Partly cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 21F. W winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 21F. W winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. The union denied reports that pilots were conducting a sickout or slowdown to protest the vaccine mandate. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said it has not authorized, and will not condone, any job action. Instead, the union said that it was Southwests operation that failed under pressure. The unit also is investigating Baltimore County Police officers shooting Monday of one person in Woodlawn. In that incident, county police said officers were responding to a robbery call at a 7-Eleven store, when a suspect was involved in a hit-and-run while attempting to escape from officers. After the crash, police said the suspect bailed out of the vehicle and a Baltimore County Police officer found the suspect and the two exchanged gunfire. The violence continued for months, Wang said, until she could no longer endure the beatings. At her request, her in-laws took her and her baby to stay with her parents, she said. Liu showed up once to try to seize the child but left after police arrived, Wang said. For the next month, she did not hear from him. Grant said he was proud of his accomplishments over the past 17 years and plans to stay engaged with the city as a resident, though he said he didnt necessarily agree with the councils decision to remove him. The United States would not be formally recognising the Taliban, but would be providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, announced Taliban following talks in Qatar, reported international media. The Doha talks were the first face-to-face meetings between senior representatives of the Taliban and a US delegation since American troops withdrew from Afghanistan in late August. Citing statement, the Taliban said that their discussions "went well." The statement said the US agreed to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, while the Taliban also said that they would "facilitate principled movement of foreign nationals", The Hill reported. On Saturday (local time), a State Department spokesperson said that one of the US' key priorities was the "continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of US and other foreign nationals and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment who seek to leave the country." According to The Hill, the State Department spokesperson said that "this meeting is not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy." Despite promises from the Taliban that it would not allow for terrorism to fester in the country, the spokesperson's remarks followed a deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in Afghanistan's Kunduz that killed over 40 people and injured many others on Friday -- an attack that ISIS-K later took responsibility for. The delegations of the Taliban and the US have held their first meeting in Qatar's capital Doha, in a bid to turn the "new page on their relationship". (ANI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has denied that Russia interfered in non-EU Western Balkan nations in violation of international rules. "If anyone has concrete facts to prove these baseless accusations that Russia has been violating international law in the Western Balkans or elsewhere they are welcome to present them," he said at a press conference, TASS reported. After a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Lavrov said that Russia's relationship with Serbia and its Balkan neighbours was rooted in respect of each other's interests. He slammed the EU for its "neo-colonial" approach to the region, according to TASS news agency. (ANI) Also Read: US treasury secretary hopes Congress will approve global corporate tax deal Donnelly said he had been thinking about retiring earlier, perhaps after a nice round 30 years in 2020. But the Morton Arboretum will celebrate its centennial in 2022 and he said he didnt want to miss that. And also, it must be mentioned, 2020 was anything but a typical year. Like all Chicago-area museums and cultural institutions, the arboretum closed to visitors in March due to the pandemic. When the band won the best international band award at the VO5 NME Awards 2018 - beating out the likes of the Foo Fighters, the National, the Killers and more - the sisters used their victory speech to speak out against industry-wide sexism. Este Haim told "anyone that identifies as a girl: Whenever you walk into a guitar shop or a soundcheck or a recording studio, do not let anyone that's there intimidate you, or make you feel like you don't belong there, because you do belong there." But that is not what is going on in director Katie Spelman's "Cabaret" in Aurora. Felthous' Sally is closer to what composer and lyricist John Kander and Fred Ebb first had in mind (I think). Sally is a modest talent (and, by the way, it takes a huge talent to play a modest talent). She's an arrested adult addicted to the attention and the party, refusing to believe that Berlin has turned nasty because she has no direct experience thereof. She is, this production makes clear, complicit. Just like the emcee, played with a terrifying level of emotional denial by Joseph Anthony Byrd. But all these things, of course, are more complicated than we like to discuss these days, and Felthous unpacks all of that as Sally tells us to come out from our lonely rooms in a moment when she should know that many would be safer inside. But the political times have changed since my first viewing of this piece, and that also inevitably and crucially adds a new (and grimmer) lens on Red Tapes staging. Seeing it in spring of 2010, before the Tea Party eviscerated President Barack Obamas congressional majority in the midterms, is very different from seeing it under the current administration and after the rise of Black Lives Matter. In fact, the day before the opening of Red Tapes production, Botham Jean, a black man, was shot and killed in his own Dallas home by white police Officer Amber Guyger another reminder of how vulnerable black people in America are, no matter where they are. Once a building meets all the criteria to be included on Lightfoots list, it is supposed to be inspected at least once a year. After the lawsuit between the city and owner is over, and the property is taken off the list, the building is still subject to mandatory inspections until two consecutive inspections conducted at least six months apart find no safety issues. I was appalled. This mother was not only endangering her own child, but also putting her daughters classmates at risk of catching a potentially deadly virus. Since Jasmine wears a multi-layer mask with a filter every day (and I trust her to follow all the mask rules at school), could she get COVID from one of her friends who wears a useless mask? Like all educators, Wagner is keeping close tabs on COVID-19 rates during the pandemic to make certain the school community is safe. But the data proving perhaps most daunting for Wagner these days has less to do with the virus, and everything to do with a steep shortage of essential employees needed to keep the Mount Prospect-based districts four schools up and running. The teens cousin, also 13 and from Illinois, was injured Sunday in the crash at Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Oceana County. In fact, my sister and I were sitting next to each other when they were showing my grandmothers china and crystal, my sister and I were holding hands and I got really teary, she said. They took a little bit of a break right afterward and a couple of the women who were working the phones sitting near us came over and were hugging us saying, We got so emotional watching you. For one thing, all of the cities above Chicago on the list are smaller (some of them, like Detroit, likely would be lower on the list if they had not lost such a high percentage of their population). You could argue that Chicago is most accurately compared not with smaller cities but with New York and Los Angeles, both of which have lower homicide rates. My reason is I was going to leave two years ago and decided Id stay, and so this time I made up my mind to actually leave, Sims said in a phone interview Saturday. Its going to be a difficult run this time around, and I just didnt feel like I wanted to go through with it. You just make that space so much more viable and just as a matter of volume, you end up with more wind and solar on the grid simply because you are getting larger-scale projects, you are reducing the financing costs for the private companies, and youre reducing their risk, said Mitchell, the Pritzker deputy who led energy negotiations. So when you do that, that just allows you to get much more on the grid much faster. The shooting occurred in the 18300 block of Anthony Lane in Country Club Hills, according to the medical examiner, but no details were available Monday from the office or police, including whether the victim lived in Country Club Hills or when the shooting took place. At trial, Snyder maintained that he did not solicit a reward and stated that payment was in return for the advice and consulting work that he performed, according to the memorandum. He tithed and paid taxes on the payment, which are more consistent with Snyders belief about what he was doing. 1.President of the G20 Italy plans to hold an extraordinary summit of the G20 on Afghanistan on October 12 via video link, Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the meeting. 2.State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Sixth Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Beijing on October 12 via video link. The meeting will be held under the theme of "Security and Sustainable Development in Asia in New Realities of the Post-Pandemic World". State Councilor Wang and other heads of delegations will exchange in-depth views on issues including the current international and regional situation, cooperation on addressing security threats and challenges, post-pandemic economic development and CICA cooperation in various fields. CCTV: On October 8, the 48th session of the Human Rights Council adopted the resolution on the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights submitted by China. Can you tell us more about it? Zhao Lijian: On October 8, the 48th session of the Human Rights Council adopted the resolution on the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights submitted by China. The resolution recognizes that the legacies of colonialism, in all their manifestations, such as economic exploitation, inequality within and among States, systemic racism, violations of indigenous peoples' rights, contemporary form of slavery and damage to cultural heritage, have a negative impact on human rights, and stresses the importance of eradicating colonialism and addressing the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights. Representatives of Russia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Eritrea, Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia and other countries expressed appreciation for the draft resolution put forward by China in their statements, pointing out that the Human Rights Council should work on the legacies of colonialism, an issue that denies basic human rights, violates the UN Charter, and hinders world peace and development. As we speak, the legacies of colonialism in various forms are still affecting world peace and development and having a serious negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights. The Human Rights Council, as the UN body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights, needs to pay attention to and discuss this issue. Relevant countries should implement the requirements of the resolution, take concrete measures to eliminate the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism, promote and protect human rights at home, and advance the sound development of the international human rights cause. The Global Times: We learned that the Main Part of the Fifth Committee during the 76th Session of the UNGA began recently. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, said at the meeting that China has made full payment of current UN peacekeeping assessments. Could you share with us more information? Zhao Lijian: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations. China's conviction in firmly upholding the UN-centered international system and supporting the important role of the UN in international affairs remains unchanged. Last month, President Xi Jinping attended the General Debate of the UNGA and made a key speech through video link, which sends a clear signal of China's support for the UN in playing a central role in international affairs and speaks volumes about the importance China attaches to and our support for the work of the UN. As the largest developing country, a permanent member of the Security Council, and the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, China, with a great sense of responsibility, has paid its share of UN budget and peacekeeping funds, and earnestly fulfilled its financial obligations to the UN. China recently has fully paid the assessments for all UN peacekeeping operations during the mandated period as of 31 December 2021 by the Security Council. Our real actions in practicing multilateralism has shown our support for the UN. Defending the role of the UN requires all member states to take a responsible attitude and fulfill their due obligations. Major countries in particular should lead by example. UN governance won't be possible without the underpinning of a strong financial foundation. The worrying financial situations still facing the UN are mainly attributed to some members' refusal to pay their share of budget and peacekeeping assessments. Multilateralism is about concrete actions, not mere rhetoric. Relevant countries should pay their arrears and assessments in full, on time, and without conditions to enable the UN to carry out its work. It would be a concrete step to honor their commitment to multilateralism. Maucau Monthly: Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made inappropriate remarks about China on several occasions during his recent visit to Taiwan. What is China's response? Zhao Lijian: Adhering to the one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations. It is also the prerequisite and political foundation for the development of friendly relations between China and other countries. Relevant actions of certain Australian politician seriously violate the one-China principle and send a seriously wrong signal to the outside world. China is firmly opposed to this and has lodged solemn representations with the Australian side. The remarks of certain Australian politician are completely confusing black and white and extremely absurd. Such remarks that incite confrontation, drum up the "China threat theory", grossly interfere in China's internal affairs and wantonly slander and smear China out of selfish political gain are immoral, irresponsible and find no support. We urge relevant individuals in Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias, respect basic facts, view China and its development in an objective and rational way, and stop making irresponsible remarks. Beijing Media Network: On October 8, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the US "is not hiding it and is straightforward" about pitting Russia and Europe against each other on gas issues, and that politicizing gas supplies should be avoided, or people on both sides would be adversely affected. What is China's comment? Zhao Lijian: It is well-known that the Nord Stream 2 project shows energy complementarity between Russia and Europe, and would help resolve the European energy crisis. The US, however, to serve its own geopolitical interests and monopolize the European energy market, spares no effort in disrupting and hobbling relevant projects to undermine the interests of Russia and Europe and their cooperation. This wins no support. The US is adept at politicizing issues in all means and would hurt others indiscriminately, including its allies and partners, for its own interests. Such US practice is a reminder of what happened recently. The US colluded with the UK and Australia in forming the so-called AUKUS and egged on Australia to ditch the submarine cooperation project with France that had already begun. This was described as "a stab in the back" by the European side. We believe more countries, with their eyes wide open, will oppose the US hegemonic approach featuring politicization and a sense of supremacy in pursuit of self-interests at the expense of others. Phoenix TV: It is reported that the US recently claimed that it has provided more vaccines around the world than every other country in the world combined, and that unlike China and Russia and others, the US is not asking a single thing in return. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: China always maintains that vaccines, as a powerful weapon in the fight against COVID-19, should benefit more people around the world as a global public good to the maximum extent. This is what we said and what we have been doing. So far, China has provided more than 1.4 billion doses of vaccines to more than 100 countries and international organizations, and will step up efforts to provide two billion doses to the world this year. On top of the US$100 million donation to COVAX, China will donate an additional 100 million doses of vaccines to fellow developing countries within this year. In the meantime, we believe that fighting the pandemic is the shared responsibility of all countries. Countries that are strong in vaccine R&D and production, especially developed countries, should take concrete actions to fulfill their vaccine assistance commitments and increase the accessibility and affordability of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries. This is an important manifestation of their responsibility as major countries. As for the remarks made by the US side, I want to say that vaccines are used to prevent and curb the epidemics and save lives, and should not be used as a tool for political propaganda or selfish gains. It is hoped that the US could honor its vaccine aid promise at an early date, instead of offering a Barmecide feast to developing countries. China News Service: What does China expect from tomorrow's meeting of CICA Ministers of Foreign Affairs? Zhao Lijian: The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an important regional security dialogue and cooperation mechanism. Since its inception 29 years ago, CICA has made positive contributions to promoting peace and development in Asia as it conforms to the overriding trend of peace and development with commitment to enhancing mutual trust and coordination between countries. Against the background of major changes and a global pandemic unseen in a century, countries in the region face pressing tasks of maintaining security and stability and promoting economic recovery. At this foreign ministers' meeting, China hopes that all parties will make full use of the platform, step up dialogue and communication, continue to implement a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, jointly address various risks and challenges, practice true multilateralism, advance socio-economic recovery in all countries, reach more consensuses on upholding regional security and promoting common development and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. AFP: With regard to the 13th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, China said India still insisted on unreasonable demands. Could you please clarify what are those "unreasonable demands" put forward by the Indian side? Zhao Lijian: The spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army already made a statement on the 13th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, and I would like to refer you to the relevant authorities for specifics. Prasar Bharati: Regarding the 13th round of talks between India and China, a statement from Indian Army said that the Indian side made proposals for resolving the remaining areas, but the Chinese side was not agreeable and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals. What is the ministry's response to this? And, is this China's intention to make it as a new status quo which the Indian side said was caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo of last year and which is in violation of bilateral agreements? Zhao Lijian: As I just said, the spokesperson for the Western Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) already issued a statement on the matter to clarify relevant facts and China's position. The remarks by the Indian side are groundless. During the 13th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, proceeding from maintaining the overall interest of the state-to-state and military-to-military relations between the two sides, the Chinese side made great efforts to ease and cool the border situation and fully demonstrated our sincerity. However, the Indian side still insisted on its unreasonable and unrealistic demands, which added difficulties to the negotiations. China is firm in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty. It is hoped that the Indian side can avoid misjudging the situation, cherish the hard-won situation in the China-India border areas, abide by the relevant agreements and consensus reached between the two countries and two militaries, and show sincerity and take concrete actions to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas with China. The Paper: Recently, when commenting on the collision of a US nuclear submarine on October 2, Russian military expert Ivan Konovalov said that US ships and submarines deployed in the Asia-Pacific region often collide with various objects and civil vessels, causing casualties and drawing criticism about their professionalism. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: We have taken note of the concerns expressed by the Russian side. Earlier, China also expressed grave concern over the accident. After this most recent incident, it took the US side five days to come up with a vague statement. Such irresponsible attitude and stonewalling and cover-up practice only make the international community more suspicious of the US intention and details of the accident. It is incumbent on the US to clarify the details of the accident and explain the following questions: First, where exactly did the accident take place? Second, did the accident cause nuclear leakage and pollute the marine environment? Third, will this accident impact the navigation safety and fishery in the area where it took place? The US side should take a responsible attitude, give a detailed account of what happened as soon as possible and make a satisfactory explanation to the international community and regional countries. Bloomberg: I'd like to ask about an official from Bijie city, Guizhou Province, who has been commended by the state security officials for reporting illegal interviews by a foreign media outlet. This is according to some media reports including social media account run by the Beijing Daily. Can the foreign ministry offer more details about that? Zhao Lijian: I don't have the specifics on what you mentioned yet and would like to refer you to relevant authorities. What I want to stress is that China has always been committed to facilitating and helping foreign journalists in their interview and reporting work in China in accordance with laws and regulations. However, we firmly oppose ideological bias against China, acts violating the professional ethics and morality of journalism, and behaviors to malign and attack China by fabricating fake news and disinformation in the name of "freedom of the press". The 3rd China-ASEAN TV Week will be held from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the radio and television authority said Saturday at a press conference. The China-ASEAN TV Week will hold a series of activities including an opening ceremony, a young hosts camp, a short videos contest, and a summit on audio-visual communication. Outstanding Chinese TV series will be screened through mainstream media and online platforms in Laos and Indonesia. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. The TV Week will focus on the fruitful achievements of China and ASEAN countries in overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and deepening audio-visual cooperation, said Yan Ni, an official of China's National Radio and Television Administration. China will continue to shorten the negative list for market access this year, as part of the country's ongoing efforts to optimize its business environment and introduce greater opening-up, according to analysts. The government's intensified efforts to revise the nationwide negative list have shown the country's firm determination to expand market access and build an efficient, fair and unified domestic market, they said, which will also help inject new impetus into the economy and foster high-quality development for the long run. The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic regulator, unveiled on Friday the latest draft version of the negative list for market access. The draft list for 2021 indicates areas where investment is prohibited or restricted; all other areas are presumed to be open. It now comprises 117 items, compared with 123 in the 2020 version, according to the NDRC. The NDRC posted the full text of the draft negative list online to seek public opinion from Oct 8 to 14. Pang Chaoran, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the draft is part of the country's ongoing efforts to continuously deepen reforms and expand opening-up. Pang said a unified negative list for market access in all regions will help China build a high-standard market system that is open and competitive, providing a driving force for high-quality development. "The government's continued efforts to shorten the negative list will help further ease the market access in a wider range and in larger fields," he said. "More efforts are also needed to continuously implement the commitment to 'one list for the whole country' and relax market access in fields such as services and consumption." Citing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Pang said the government should also ramp up efforts to improve the systems and mechanisms for the market allocation of production factors, promote the building of a high-standard market system and form a unified, efficient and well-regulated domestic market featuring fair competition. NDRC data show that China unveiled and revised the negative list for market access for three consecutive years, 2018 to 2020, and the number of items on the list has been reduced by nearly one-fifth. Cui Weijie, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said China's continued efforts to improve market access are conducive to expanding opening-up at higher levels and creating the new "dual circulation" development pattern, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while the domestic and foreign markets complement each other. "Continuously shortening a nationwide negative list is key to fostering high-quality development over the long run," Cui said. "As China is transitioning to a new stage of high-quality development, the country needs to continuously deepen reforms and opening-up as well as build an efficient, fair and unified domestic market." Leading executives of multinational companies have also expressed their confidence in China's market, while speaking highly of the country's continued efforts to improve the business environment. Samson Khaou, executive vice-president of Dassault Systemes Asia-Pacific, said the French industrial software company has been dedicated to the China market over the past decade and will expand its investment in China over the next five years. "China represents a high-potential-growth country and market for us. We're going to accelerate the investment (in China)," he said. Silver Fern Farms, New Zealand's leading processor, marketer and exporter of meat products, is also looking to continuously increase its investment in China. Alex Wang, Silver Fern Farms' manager for China, spoke highly of China's continued efforts to improve the business environment. "Seeing the Chinese market's rising growth potential and local people's growing need for red meat, we're confident about our future growth in the China market," he said. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) signals the start of a new ambitious and practical post-2020 global biodiversity framework, opening a new chapter in terms of global biodiversity governance, a Chinese official said on Sunday. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) is set to be held from Oct. 11 to 15 in China's southwestern city of Kunming, Yunnan province. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the meeting is the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the topic of an ecological civilization. "Building a shared future for all life on earth is not only the theme of COP 15, but also a beautiful wish for our future." Liu Youbin, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at a news briefing held Sunday in Kunming. "Biological diversity is critical for human wellbeing and is the foundation upon which human civilization has developed and depends." He said that the Chinese government had attached great importance to the protection of biodiversity. Liu said that China, as the host of COP 15 conference, has proposed and implemented a number of measures to protect and restore biodiversity. Over the years, China has developed a protected area system with a focus on national parks, and set up the ecological conservation red lines. Efforts have been made to improve legislation, regulation and enforcement in terms of biodiversity conservation. "China has played an active part in fulfilling its commitment to international conventions and global biodiversity agenda. The awareness and participation of our society in biodiversity conservation has increased." Liu said, "The decline of biodiversity has been basically controlled and the stability of the ecosystem has been obviously improved." According to David Cooper, the deputy executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, participants for the first part of the meeting are expected to review the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" and draw a blueprint for biodiversity conservation in the future. The second part, to be held in person in the first half of 2022, will see broad and deepened negotiations toward an ambitious and practical framework. "This framework will actually replace the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which guided our implementation for the last 10 years," he said at the news briefing held Sunday in Kunming. He also expects that a Kunming Declaration will be adopted at the first part of the meeting, saying it will help "build political momentum on the importance of biodiversity conservation" and demonstrate that the "loss of biodiversity is not waiting for us." Speaking of the challenges in terms of biological diversity, he particularly mentioned the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, saying it "has affected both the health of people and biodiversity." He also pointed out that to better protect biodiversity, more efforts are needed to respond to the climate change. "We need to strengthen our efforts to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, since the current commitment of 2030 is not likely to achieve that goal." "That's why we need to take early actions and ensure that we have political momentum, to respond to these difficult challenges." He said, "We must ensure that all stakeholders are engaged in protecting nature and enhance cooperation among governments." Speakers: Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment Zhang Zhanhai, chief engineer and spokesperson of the Ministry of Natural Resources Li Chunliang, deputy administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration Chairperson: Chen Wenjun, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO Date: Oct. 8, 2021 Chen Wenjun: Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference being held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The SCIO is holding this press conference today to issue, introduce and interpret a new white paper titled "Biodiversity Conservation in China." This is the first white paper on biodiversity conservation issued by the Chinese government. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, the white paper introduces the policy ideas, important measures and progress of biodiversity conservation in China, as well as China's initiatives in practicing multilateralism and deepening global biodiversity cooperation, and its contributions to the world. At about 14,000 Chinese characters, the white paper consists of three parts: preface, main body and conclusion. Among them, the main body includes four parts: Harmony Between Humanity and Nature, Increasing the Efficiency of Biodiversity Conservation, Improving Biodiversity Governance, and Further Global Cooperation on Biodiversity Conservation. The paper is published in eight languages: Chinese, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese. These versions have been published by the People's Publishing House and Foreign Languages Press respectively, and will be distributed in Xinhua bookstores across the country. In order to help everyone accurately and deeply understand the content of the white paper, we have invited Mr. Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment; Mr. Zhang Zhanhai, chief engineer and spokesperson of the Ministry of Natural Resources; and Mr. Li Chunliang, deputy administrator of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, to attend today's press conference. They will introduce relevant information and answer your questions. Now, I will give the floor to Mr. Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of ecology and environment. Zhao Yingmin: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. I am very glad to have the opportunity to introduce to you the newly released white paper "Biodiversity Conservation in China." I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you, friends from the media, for your long-term care and support for China's biodiversity conservation work. Biodiversity provides humanity with rich and diverse production and life necessities, a healthy and safe ecological environment, and unique natural landscape culture. It is a significant foundation for the survival and development of mankind, and is related to the well-being of mankind. We once had a slogan for the International Year of Biodiversity: "Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life." This sentence vividly illustrates the relationship between us and biodiversity, and the importance of conserving biodiversity. With population growth and expansion of human economic activities, global biodiversity is facing serious threats. According to a global assessment report released by the United Nations in May 2019, human activities have altered 75% of terrestrial environment and 66% of marine environment, and a quarter of the world's species are at threat of extinction. On Sept. 18, 2020, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity launched the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-5). The report stated that despite the progress in many areas of biodiversity conservation, nature is still suffering heavy blows, and the global biodiversity situation is still deteriorating. China has a vast territory, in terms of both land and seas. Its geomorphology and climate are complex and diverse, nurturing a rich and unique ecosystem, and species and genetic diversity. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. China's traditional culture has accumulated abundant wisdom in the protection and utilization of biodiversity. As one of the first parties to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, China has always attached great importance to biodiversity conservation, and continuously promoted the conservation of biodiversity with creative and up-to-date measures. It has achieved remarkable progress on a distinctively Chinese path of biodiversity conservation. The white paper "Biodiversity Conservation in China" comprehensively summarizes that, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and with the goal of building a Beautiful China, the country actively adapts to the new situation and new requirements, and has been continuously improving the measures for biodiversity conservation and making innovative ways in this regard. It systematically expounds, from four aspects, on the ideas, actions and effects of China's biodiversity conservation that aims to promote harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, between individuals, and between individuals and society, and create a virtuous circle for all-round development and sustained prosperity for all. The 15th meeting of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-15) will be held soon. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has also entered its "Decade of Action" to achieve global goals. At the same time, China has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarked on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects. The international community is standing at the historic juncture of protecting biodiversity and realizing global sustainable development. At this time, it is of important practical significance to release the white paper "Biodiversity Conservation in China" and introduce China's ideas, plans and actions in the field of biodiversity conservation to the international community. It aims to enhance the international community's understanding of China's biodiversity conservation, and contribute Chinese wisdom to global biodiversity conservation. Looking back on the past and forward to the future, the international community must work together in biodiversity conservation. China will continue to increase its biodiversity conservation efforts and actively participate in global biodiversity governance. China will work with the international community to discuss new strategies for global biodiversity governance, and embark on a new course of the post-2020 global biodiversity governance that is more just and reasonable, and where each will do their best. That's all for my introduction. Next, the three of us will answer your questions. Thank you. Chen Wenjun: The floor is now open for questions. Please identify your media outlet before raising questions. You are here: China China's Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) on Monday earmarked 80 million yuan (about 12.4 million U.S. dollars) from the central natural-disaster relief fund to support relief work in the flood-hit provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. More than 120,000 people were temporarily evacuated in Shanxi after continuous downpours triggered floods, the provincial department of emergency management authorities said Sunday. The China National Commission for Disaster Reduction and MEM have activated a Level-IV emergency response to floods in the two provinces. The two authorities have dispatched a working team to the affected areas to help the localities with disaster relief work. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe. Flash U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday that she hoped U.S. Congress would approve a key pillar of the global corporate tax deal agreed by some 136 countries and jurisdictions. "I am confident that what we need to do to come into compliance with the minimum tax will be included in a reconciliation package," Yellen said on ABC's "This Week," referring to a spending package being negotiated by the White House and Democratic lawmakers. "I hope ... that it will be passed and we will be able to reassure the world that the United States will do its part," she said. Yellen's remarks came after the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced on Friday that a major reform of the international tax system has finalized, which includes a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent. "This is really an historic agreement. It's something that is very important for American workers to stop what's been a decades-long race to the bottom on corporate taxation, where countries try to cut their taxes to attract our businesses," Yellen said. "And this agreement to place a halt on how low tax rates can go so that all of us have the opportunity to collect tax revenue from successful corporations, and not just from workers. This is really something we need to make globalization work," she added. The global corporate tax deal will also reallocate more than 125 billion U.S. dollars of profits from around 100 of the world's largest and most profitable multinational companies to countries worldwide, ensuring that these firms pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and generate profits. The deal will be delivered to the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers meeting in Washington D.C. on Oct. 13, then to the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rome, Italy at the end of the month, according to the OECD. However, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Republican Leader Mike Crapo and House Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Kevin Brady have blasted the deal, which has the support of the Joe Biden administration. "Rather than securing an agreement that would provide certainty and immediately eliminate digital services taxes, the Administration has instead used this global forum to advance its short-sighted domestic tax agenda," Crapo and Brady said Friday in a statement. "By doing so, the Biden Administration is putting politics over progress and surrendering the fate of the U.S. economy to our foreign competitors," they said. You are here: World Flash Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Sunday condemned a recent deadly bomb attack targeting worshippers in northeastern Afghan city of Kunduz. In an address to an open session of the parliament, Qalibaf said the Afghan authorities are duty-bound to ensure security for the Afghan people, calling for punishing those behind the tragic event and implementing necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency reported. Qalibaf warned that sowing religious and ethnic discord is a new security project "carried out by U.S.-backed terrorist groups." The explosion occurred on Friday while worshipers were praying at a mosque in the Bandar-e-Khanabad area in Kunduz, killing scores of people and injuring more than 140 others. The Afghan branch of the Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. Life Legal Defends Pro-Life Speech Against Newsom Power Grab NEWS PROVIDED BY Life Legal Defense Foundation Oct. 11, 2021 SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 11, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Life Legal filed a lawsuit in federal court today challenging a new California law that will suppress pro-life speech outside abortion mills. Using the threat of COVID as an excuse, the Legislature enacted a breathtaking restriction on speech that will ban core First Amendment activity in numerous locations across California. The law, SB 742, was signed by Governor Newsom on Friday. While SB 742 started out as a bill to restrict protests concerning COVID vaccines, it was amended to cover every location where any type of vaccine is provided. Planned Parenthood, Family Planning Associates, and other abortionists dispense STD vaccines, including Gardasil, which makes them "vaccination sites" for the purpose of the law. The law makes it a crime to approach within 30 feet of another person who is within 100 feet of a "vaccination site" for various purposes, including obstructing, which is already illegal, and "harassing" a term the legislature has redefined to include everyday free speech activity. SB 742 defines "harassing" as "knowingly approaching, without consent, within 30 feet of another person or occupied vehicle for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling with, that other person in a public way or on a sidewalk area." This contorted -- and unconstitutional -- definition of criminal harassment is only found in this statute. Other California laws define harassment as "seriously alarming, seriously annoying, seriously tormenting, or seriously terrorizing." This is what most people think of when they think of harassment -- NOT handing a leaflet to someone, providing education and counseling, or holding up a sign. Life Legal is filing the lawsuit on behalf of pro-life sidewalk counselors who regularly speak with women entering "vaccination site" abortion clinics, and who provide literature and display signs offering help with abortion alternatives -- all activities that may be illegal under the new law. Creating no-approach zones around every abortion facility, drug store, stand-alone health clinic, and supermarket in the state is unconstitutionally overinclusive and overbroad," said Life Legal Chief Officer Katie Short. "In an age of unprecedented incursions on freedom, this law is an unheard-of restriction on core First Amendment activities, and we are confident that the federal court will strike down SB 742." About Life Legal Defense Foundation Life Legal was established in 1989, and is a nonprofit organization composed of attorneys and other concerned citizens committed to giving helpless and innocent human beings of any age, and their advocates, a trained and committed voice in the courtrooms of our nation. For more information about the Life Legal Defense Foundation, visit www.lldf.org. SOURCE Life Legal Defense Foundation CONTACT: Alexandra Snyder, 202-717-7371 Last month, an American content creator who was well known in Christian circles for his poems and podcasts, posted on social media that he was no longer a Christian. I was angered and a bit confused by his post. I never foresaw the possibility of someone who was essential in the growth of my faith making such a statement. However, after praying about my response to his post and having a conversation with a good friend about it, I realized that an Instagram post doesnt tell the entire story. As a result, I was more compelled to pray for the person and trust Gods leading in their life than to go on a social media rant about it. This situation, however, caused me to reflect upon how difficult it is to believe to the very end. That it doesnt matter how well taught in doctrine or cultured in Christian living we are. Unbelief unaddressed can cause us to depart from the faith. Which suggests that we are Unbelievable. Unbelievable (Un-belief-able) Unbelief is a very difficult subject to comprehend as it challenges our understanding of Gods gift of salvation to mankind. How do we make sense of unbelief considering Jesus promises in his I am statements in the book of John? If they were truly with us (Jesus) surely this would never have happened to them? As I have matured in the faith, I have realized that there is more to ones story of unbelief. That the aftermath of unbelief is an accumulation of years of prayers rejected, the seemingly unrewarded nature of righteous living, the weariness of denying oneself, and conflicts within the body of Christ (church). Whether we give into unbelief or not, we confront these issues frequently. I believe that we all have the capacity for unbelief. Unbelief is consistent with our need for evidence. I dont believe that anyone desires to give in to unbelief; but they do. Why? Unreasonable (Un-reason-able) gospel Belief in the gospel is hard and cannot be comprehended with human understanding. The gospel justifiably imposes itself on the wisdom of man, promising life to those who believe in it. Yet, it doesnt exempt us from the harshness of this world. We are not exempted from the embarrassment of not knowing the answer to an unsaved colleague question about the bible (gospel). Nor the hostility of our environments (Home, work and sometimes church) plagued by perpetual violence, mistrust, and disrespect. Nor the pain of betrayals, heartbreaks (break-ups), and not having to do what is desirable concerning our sex life. The Gospel demands a lot from us and if doubt has its way, it can cause us to yield to unbelief. Doubt nurtured makes unbelief more desirable than it should be. I believe that unbelief is the last resort for persons who just dont believe in the gospels anymore. So how should unbelief be addressed? Honesty Thomas was very honest about his unbelief (John Chapter 20 verses 24-29). He made it clear to the disciples that for him to believe in Christ resurrection certain criteria had to be met. The foreshadowing of Jesus death and resurrection and the disciples report of this happening was never enough for Thomas to believe. There must be honesty when wrestling with unbelief. It matters little if you are a theologian or an average churchgoer, it is most prudent to confess your unbelief. Thomas story demonstrated to me that its only Jesus (Holy Spirit) who can rescue us from our unbelief. I must commend the content creator for being honest with his fans about his headspace concerning Christianity. His honesty prevented some of his followers from being misled by his recent convictions pertaining to the faith. Although, the way he communicated his unbelief made me realize that honesty must be supplemented with humility in dealing with it. Humility Doubt may be the source of ones unbelief, but it is matured and sustained by pride. Thomas in his pride was very determined that he wasnt going to believe until his criteria were met. One would argue that unbelief should encourage us to be more intentional in searching for truth; but pride causes us to reject the truth that isnt aligned with our convictions and reasoning (criteria). Pride propels us to be impatient in our wrestle with unbelief. Our need for answers now and our dissatisfaction with the truths that we do know, has the tendency to make the words of other doubters and false prophets seem wiser than they should. However, humility offers more help with our unbelief than we give it credit for. Humility encourages patience in our search for truth. Humility propels us to be genuine in living out our faith while wrestling with unbelief. It communicates to those looking out that though I may not know the answers, I am willing to believe in the trustworthiness of Gods word while I search. I will admit that this is difficult for one to do alone. For this reason, the body (church) is needed. The church is needed to help, pray for, show mercy to, and if necessary, rebuke those who wrestle with unbelief. The struggle with unbelief will get frustrating; but its deceptive to think giving into it offers more peace. Jesus cares about your unbelief. Cast it all on him, for he promised to guide us into all truths by his Spirit (John chapter 16 verse 13). "Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Market published by Trends market research (TMR), forecasts that the global market is expected to garner $XX Million by 2025, registering a CAGR of XX% during the period 2018- 2025.The industrial machinery sector is expected to dominate the global CNC market during the assessment period. Europe is expected to be the leading contributor to the global revenue during the forecast period. Click Here to Get Sample Premium Report @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3632 Evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning technology has led to development of applications that notify the status of a machine to operators/supervisors on their PCs or smartphones. Various government initiatives, for instance, Make in India by the Indian government and Made in China 2025 by the Chinese government, support the establishment of manufacturing units in their respective nations. Automation Boosts Markets Growth Rising concerns about reducing operational costs are being witnessed in several industrial sectors, consequently demanding large-scale automation. Such demands for automating various industrial processes is primarily driving the global computer numerical controls (CNC) market. This mainly because of reduction in overall manufacturing time and decreasing chances or human error to occur by using the CNC machines, consequently making them highly preferred. You can Buy This Report from Here @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/3632/Single Rising environmental concerns regarding reduction of industrial carbon footprint has led towards computer numerical controllers being increasingly used in place of manually operating machines. Doing this has resulted into improved efficiency being achieved by businesses working in the industrial domain, thereby being beneficial to the global computer controls (CNC) market. CNC machines are used in automotive, aerospace and defense, power and energy, construction equipment, industrial, and several other sectors. Increasing efforts to cut down on expenses incurred in employing operators for individual machinery are expected to augment the CNC machines market over the forecast period. Request For Report Discounts @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/3632 Major Key Players Several market key players are adopting different strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations for technologies and new product development. For instance, in 2016, Fanuc Corporation collaborated with Cisco (a player in the digitization market), Rockwell Automation (a player in the industrial automation market), and Preferred Networks (a player in the artificial intelligence solutions market) for the development and deployment of the FIELD system." Spirulina Extracts Market Overview: The main function of spirulina is to raise the energy level and provide antioxidant protection to the food product and others products. Spirulina extracts available mainly in three colors such as blue, red and yellow. Blue spirulina extracts is used to make other three colors. Spirulina extract ingredients are used in food products, feed, cosmetics, fine chemicals, colours, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and bio-fertilizers. In all countries the food regulatory bodies has mandated to use of food color owing to its is harmfull for hiuman body. For example, food regulatory body, in Japan has banned the use of food color chemicals. In future instance, the global spirulina extract market is expected to grow with single digit compound annual growth rate. In 2016 the global spirulina extract market was valued at US$ XX Mn and by the end of the assessment year (2026), it is estimated to touch a value more than US$ XX Mn growing at a value CAGR of XX% throughout the period of forecast. Global Spirulina Extracts Market Segmentation: Global Spirulina Extracts Market can be segmented on the basis of Application: Soft drinks Confectionary Dairy & fruit Meat and savory oil and fats Vegetables Others Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3621 Spirulina Extracts Market: Dynamics Increasing awareness pertaining to harmful effect of the chemical food colors is projected to enrich the adoption of sprirulina extracts during the forecast period. Moreover, increasing government regulation for clean label food production is also anticipated to a major favorable factor which could aggrandize the global spirulina extracts market over the slated time period. As well as enhancing in the development in the packaging innovation and food colour extraction techniques is estimated to further boost up the growth of spirulina extracts market. High cost of production of natural colors in comparison to synthetic colors, is projected to the major factor which can hamper the sales of spiruline extracts during the forecast period. Moreover, spirulina extracts are less stable in comparison to synthetic color and high intensity of light is also effect the colour made by spirulina extracts, thus these factor may hinder the global spirulina extracts market throughout the forecast period. Spirulina Extracts Market: Regional Outlook Europe is projected to be dominate in the global spirulina extract market owing to increasing awareness of natural color products. North America is estimated to the second largest market due to increasing awareness of the adverse effect of the synthetic extracts. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are projected to grow with noteworthy CAGR over the forecast period owing to regional government has banned the import & export of the synthetic extract, which will further boost the demand of spirulina extracts market by the end of 2026. Spirulina Extracts Market: Key Players Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/3621 The key players for the global Spirulina Extracts Market are following: Sensient Technologies Corporation Hansen A/S Naturex S.A. DDW The Color House DIC Corporation Research Methodology: TMR surveys a number of companies in order to estimate the data covered in the report through triangulation methodology. A detailed market understanding and assessment of the drive and application segments covered in the study. The research methodology also includes interviews conducted for various industry leaders by the research experts. This helps the researchers to match their previous findings with the ones confirmed from various resource persons. The report focuses on analyzing the supply-side approaches and keeps a track of that of the demand-side so as to make sure the findings are true. The global market scenario has been derived by consolidation of regional market overviews. Full View of Report Description: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/spirulina-extracts-market Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Tenecteplase Drug Market Research Report, by Application (Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, DVT), Dosage(Intravenous Dosage, Intracatheter Instillation ), End-User (Hospitals & Clinics, Surgical Centers, Research Centers)-Forecast Till 2027 Tenecteplase drug is a recombinant enzyme used as a blood thinning agent. It is also called as clot buster, it dissolves the blood clots or clumps so that the blood could flow normally. Tenecteplase drug is mostly used to treat patients having heart-related diseases. Key factors, that favors the growth of this market are an increase in the rate of hypertension patient, increasing number of deep vein thrombosis cases, early aging and sitting for long period of time cause blood clotting. According to the American Heart Association 2017 report every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S has a heart attack. American College of Cardiology 2018 report states the death rate related to high blood pressure (BP) from 2005- 2015, has increased by 10.5%. To Get Free Sample Copy visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6401 Additionally, the report states that coronary heart disease (CHD), which accounts for 43.8% is the main cause of deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the United States (US). Whereas, heart failure (HF) (9.0%), high BP (9.4%), stroke (16.8%), and other CVDs (17.9%) are other causes for deaths in the country. Furthermore, the report expects that by 2035, over 130 million adults in the US, around 45.1%, will suffer from some form of CVD. As a result, the overall costs of CVD are estimated to touch the valuation of USD 1.1 trillion by 2035. Therefore, the hike in the rate of cardiovascular diseases is projected to stimulate the tenecteplase drug market growth in the years ahead. Key Players Tenecteplase Drug Market The key companies present in the worldwide tenecteplase drug market include Genentec Inc., Gennova pharmaceutical, Merck Ltd., Hisun USA, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Crunchbase Inc., Rewine pharmaceuticals, Emcure Pharmaceutical, and others. Industry Update July 2018 Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has been granted a patent in the United States (US) for its latest tenecteplase drug, to treat ischemic strokes. Segments Tenecteplase Drug Market The worldwide tenecteplase drug market has been segmented on the basis of application, dosage, and end users. The tenecteplase drug market, with respect to application, is considered for myocardial infarction, stroke, DVT. As per dosage, tenecteplase drug market can be broken down into intravenous dosage and intracatheter instillation dosage. The end-users in the market are hospitals and clinics, surgical centers, research centers. Regional Analysis Tenecteplase Drug Market The key markets for tenecteplase drug include Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa and North America. North America has been estimated as the biggest market for tenecteplase drug, on account of the rising innovations in clinical practice and surge in myocardial infection. The region also benefits from increasing access to stroke treatment, supported by the sophistication of healthcare infrastructure in the region. An article by CDC in 2015 suggested that in the United States (U.S.), close to 350,000 to 900,000 cases of Venous thromboembolism (VTE) are estimated annually. These statistics point towards the high potential of the tenecteplase drug market in North America. Europe is the second most profitable market for tenecteplase drug, with the chief reason being the increase in incidents of stroke. The United Kingdom (UK) Organization has identified stroke as the 10th primary cause of death globally, with 34,883 mortality cases found in the UK alone in the year 2015. As a result of a surge in hypertension as well as high blood pressure, the stroke cases are on the rise in the region, elevating the market position of tenecteplase drug. Established as the fastest-expanding region in 2017, Asia Pacific is one of the strong contenders in the worldwide tenecteplase drug market. The market growth in the area is the result of the surging prevalence of hypertension, evolving lifestyle, and rising cases of cardiac diseases. The Australian Bureau of Statistics said in 2015 that roughly 4.1 million people in the country suffered from high blood pressure. These rising cases of high blood pressure, along with other mentioned factors, works in favor of the regional market. The Middle East and Africa markets performance has been mediocre compared to other regions. The region accounts for the lease share of the global tenecteplase drug market due to the presence of low health expenditure as well as economically backward countries. But the market can expect some growth in the future with the increasing cancer care programs within the Middle East region. To Browse Complete Report visit https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/tenecteplase-drug-market-6401 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Contact Us: Market Research Future Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Scenario Endocrine pancreas cancer and exocrine pancreas cancer are two types of pancreatic cancer. These cancerous cells become more malignant when they migrate to the other part of the body through blood. It is one of the least treatable forms of cancer around. According to the WHO, cancer was the leading cause of the total number of deaths globally in 2015 and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer was the twelfth most common type of cancer in the same year. The factors that cause pancreatic cancer are cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco. According to the study done by Cancer Research UK, looking at the lifestyle factors found that out of three pancreatic cancer, one may be linked to smoking. Additionally, around seven out of ten cases of chronic pancreatitis are due to long-term heavy consumption of alcohol. ALSO READ @ https://www.medgadget.com/2019/10/pancreatic-cancer-market-trends-size-share-treatment-drug-pharmaceuticals-and-healthcare-analysis-therapy-and-geography-analysis-growth -shares-and-insights-research-up-to-2023industry-growth.html Key Players for Global Pancreatic Cancer Market Some of key the players in the market are Pharmacyte Biotech Inc. (US), OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (US), Oncolytics Biotech (Canada), Diffusion Pharmaceuticals (US), Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US), Sun BioPharma, Inc . (US), Midatech Pharma PLC (UK), Eli Lilly and Company (US), Celgene Corporation (US), F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Switzerland), Amgen, Inc. (US), Novartis International AG (US) ), Clovis Oncology (US), and others. Segments for Global Pancreatic Cancer Market The Americas dominate the global pancreatic cancer market owing to well-developed technology, increasing patient with cancer, high health care spending, and increasing government support for research development. Furthermore, increased RD activities and the concentration of major companies have fueled the growth of the market in this region. Europe holds the second position in the global pancreatic cancer market owing to the government support for research development and availability of funds for research. This is expected to continue to drive the European market over the forecasted period. For instance, countries like Germany and France are increasing investment in the healthcare domain. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing pancreatic cancer market owing to the presence of rapidly developing healthcare technology, huge patient population, and high healthcare expenditure. Moreover, increasing demand for new treatment methods in countries like India and South Korea is likely to emerge as the fastest growing market across the globe. On the other hand, in the Middle East and Africa, pancreatic cancer has become a huge problem due to limited screening, ignorance of diseases, and poor access to treatment. Segments for Global Pancreatic Cancer Market Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Market Growth is segmented on the basis of types, treatment, and end user. On the basis of the type, it is segmented into endocrine pancreas cancer, exocrine pancreas cancer, and others. On the basis of the treatment, it is segmented into chemotherapy, surgery radiation therapy, targeted therapy, biologic therapy, hormone therapy, and others. Furthermore, the chemotherapy is segmented into antimetabolites, anthracyclines, taxanes, and alkylating agents. The targeted therapy is sub-segmented into tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. And the hormone therapy is sub-segmented into estrogen-receptor modulators, aromatase inhibitors, and others. On the basis of the end user, it is segmented into hospitals clinics, research institute, and others Get Complete Access of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pancreatic-cancer-market-1638 . Related Reports RELATED REPORTS Vertigo Treatment Market Research Report - Global Forecast till 2027 Pain Relief Medication Market Research Report - Global Forecast till 2027 Orthopedic Braces Market Research Report - Global Forecast till 2027 About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research Consulting Services. - Over 85 million bottles with the iconic image of the series will hit the market before the premiere of volume 2 of part 5 on December 3 on Netflix. -A It is a special edition that will have international reach, with distribution in 60 countries. - Estrella Galicia is a Spanish brewery with over a hundred years of history that shares the values A ofA A "La Resistencia" with the Netflix series. CORUAA, Spain, Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The brewery Estrella Galicia will dress its new special edition with labels that pay homage to La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), the Netflix series that has captivatedA viewers around the world. In the next few days, 85 million bottles of Estrella Galicia with this image will reach the brand's international market. Consumers in a total of 60 countries around the world will be able to get hold of the special La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) edition. The brewery points out that "Estrella Galicia has lived the success of the NetflixA series as our own. The integration of the brand has been on a large scale and the fans of La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) have fully identified with the values of La Resistencia, the motto of our brand." This action is another step forward in the notoriety and global positioning strategy of Estrella Galicia, launching powerful differentiating proposals, such as this launch of the special edition which pays tribute to La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) by Netflix. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1655811/Estrella_Galicia_Beer.jpg A Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1655810/EG_Especial_logo.jpg A A A A Change starts at home a ClA de Peau BeautA believes that everyone has a role to play in improving access to quality education, especially in the face of today's global challenges. TOKYO, Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --A The past year and a half has brought on considerable change and uncertainty in the world a school-age children have been especially impacted with global lockdowns affecting their education and ability to attend school. ClA de Peau BeautA, the global luxury skincare and makeup brand, is reaffirming their commitment to advocating for education by launching a STEM-focused game to help reignite excitement for learning amongst young children. Based on the belief that the key to a more radiant future lies in unlocking the power of girls through education, in 2019 ClA de Peau BeautA began its partnership with UNICEF and launched its philanthropic initiative, 'The Power of Radiance', as a vehicle to recognize the efforts of individuals who have taken action to drive positive change in their communities through education, skills development and empowerment. This year, ClA ! de Peau B eautA's 'Power of Radiance' program will take the brand's global vision to a local level to galvanize change in communities around the world. During the pandemic, more than 180 countries faced temporary school closures. According to a study conducted by UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Bank, pandemic related school closures and the lack of education continuity could lead to a loss of $10 trillion in labor earnings over current students' working lives [1]. When it comes to more near-term effects, students have faced increased anxiety about school a especially young girls. A study by UNICEF shows that COVID-19 increases psychosocial stress and mental health issues of girls, affecting their ability to learn[2]. This year, ClA de Peau BeautA has taken inspiration from the 2021 'Power of Radiance' Award Recipient, Al yona Tkachenko, and her track record of achieving results in furthering STEM education. Tapping into Ms. Tkachenko's hands on experience with kids and what keeps them engaged with learning, ClA de Peau BeautA has created an educational tool that can be accessed in and out of the classroom to get girls excited and comfortable with STEM subjects again. Alyona Tkachenko is recognized as the initiator of Hour of Code in Kazakhstan a bringing the program to her country to inspire students, especially girls to learn programming. "I am a firm believer that when children are having fun or enjoying themselves, they are able to learn better. STEM is often stigmatized as a subject, so I am thrilled to see that ClA de Peau BeautA is harnessing creativity and technology to help bridge that gap to excite young students," said Alyona Tkachenko. "I'm honored to have been this year's recipient of the 'Power of Radiance' award and humbled that my own experience has served as inspiration for this year's program." "With education continuity in crisis, we are delighted to take the spirit of 'The Power of Radiance' program and create tangible, meaningful change through inspiring young girls to explore STEM subjects through play. We have seen the power of teaching STEM subjects in a fun and engaging way through Alyona's experience and success in her own community. We hope to inspire others to play their part and join us in paving a way for a more radiant and equal society," said Ms. Yukari Suzuki, Chief Brand Officer of ClA de Peau BeautA. Events will be held by ClA de Peau BeautA's regional markets where educators, parents, and children will be invited to learn more about the importance of STEM education and explore the STEM game. This year's 'Power of Radiance' program seeks to galvanize change in local communities and inspire individual students to explore STEM subjects in a language they are familiar with: play.A The 'Power of Radiance Awards' program grant will be funded from global sales ClA de Peau BeautA's The Serum. For more details, please visit: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/int/powerofradiance-2021.html. About ClA de Peau BeautA ClA de Peau BeautA, the global luxury brand from Shiseido Co., Ltd., was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. ClA de Peau BeautAA means the key to skin's beauty. The philosophy of the brand is to unlock the power of a woman's radiance by harnessing makeup technologies and advanced skincare from around the world. Forever guided by an exquisite aesthetic sensibility and intelligence, ClA de Peau BeautA has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within. Available in 22 countries and regions worldwide. ClA de Peau BeautAA Official Website: www.cledepeau-beaute.comA ClA de Peau BeautAA Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledepeaubeaute/ About Alyona Tkachenko Ms. Tkachenko became interested in STEM through studying physics and math, as well as working with tech companies early in her career. She wanted to spread awareness and expand access to STEM education in her home country so she co-founded, Love to Code, a programming training center for children. While advocating for Love to Code's mission to give every kid in Almaty and eventually in all of Kazakhstan an opportunity to learn coding, Alyona launched a social initiative called Kazakhstan's Hour of Code to bring more attention to the subject of coding and Computer Science. Since it first launched, Kazakhstan's Hour of Code program grew from 60,000 students to 350,000 by 2019. The Hour of Code program has quickly become the largest STEM initiative in Kazakh stan aintroducing over 500,000 Kazakhstani girls to STEM and training more than 200 female teachers on STEM curriculum. Alyona also co-founded Nommi, a Kazakhstan-run secure connectivity startup, that provides fast LTE data for remote workers across the globe. Nommi has expanded and signed corporate agreements with some Fortune 500 Companies. She is the first female tech-founder from Central Asia to make the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List (2019). [1] https://blogs.worldbank.org/education/how-could-covid-19-hinder-progress-learning-poverty-some-initial-simulations [2] https://www.unicef.org/eap/media/7146/file/Issue_Brief%3A_Issue_Brief%3A_COVID-19_and_Girls%E2%80%99_Education_in_East_Asia_and_Pacific.pdf Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1634764/image.jpgA Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1283638/Logo_Logo.jpg A Critics of the Malloy administrations energy policies say consumers who spent thousands of dollars to convert to natural gas have little to show for their investment now that gas prices are spiking. As prices fluctuate, with gas and oil taking turns as the more expensive heating fuel, family-owned oil dealerships say that was always their point: Markets, not government, dictate commodity prices. The spray paint reminded him of the vandalism of a granite statue of Christopher Columbus in Middletowns Harbor Park. Around 2016, one or more people crossed out the description of Columbus as discoverer of America and wrote the words looter, murderer, and genocidal on the statues base, the Middletown Press reported. Even within Connecticut, the inverse correlation between vaccination and new cases is on full display. According to state data, many of the Connecticut municipalities with the lowest rates of vaccination are in the eastern half of the state. Sure enough, so are a majority of the 37 towns and cities that currently qualify for the states red alert status. The states two eastern counties, New London and Windham, are the two that still have high COVID-19 transmission, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As city officials struggle to respond to the problems in the jails, a sense of futility has taken hold, according to interviews with seven current and former detainees and seven jailers, most of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss workplace problems. One said he has stopped confiscating weapons even though stabbings have doubled compared with last year because doing so would require him to use force in an area where he is likely to be alone with dozens of detainees, with no guarantee of immediate backup. Normal Station is a neighborhood dominated by students. The neighborhood resides south of the railroad tracks that dissect campus. With the capital investment is a host of new amenities, pushing the community hospital forward and giving it a chance to keep Southeastern Virginia patients in its system. The center also has cutting-edge equipment, enabled through joint ventures with Riverside Health and the University of Virginia. A partnership with Virginia Oncology Associates also allows more clinicians to see patients on site. Her son, Sam McGowan, said in an emailed statement: My mother dedicated her life to the creator, her family and her people. She loved people and loved sharing our rich heritage/culture with others. She traveled for over 50 years teaching people our traditional culture and did so with love and respect always looking at others (through) the creators eyes, even through difficult times due to racial tension and indifferences. My mother knew the importance of our children and Mother Earth. How we must live in harmony always looking seven generations to the future to ensure that the earth was taken care of to provide for the future generations. "The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas," said a defence ministry statement. (Representational image: AFP) New Delhi: The 13th round of India-China Corps Commander meeting to resolve the 17-month long stand-off in Ladakh failed to make any breakthrough with New Delhi blaming Beijing for not agreeing to "constructive suggestions" and also failing to provide any forward-looking proposals. "The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas," said a defence ministry statement. However, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Western Theater Command spokesperson Senior Colonel Long Shaohua said that India's "unreasonable and unrealistic demands" added difficulties to the negotiations. He said that "the Indian side should avoid misjudging the situation and cherish the hard-won situation in the China-India border areas." The breakdown in talks means that for the second straight year India and China will keep their troops at forward locations during harsh winter in Ladakh. Winter deployment in Ladakh is particularly difficult due to low oxygen, tough terrain, freezing temperatures which dip to below minus 20 degrees Celsius and bone-chilling winds which make survival extremely difficult. In addition, road access also gets affected for a brief period of time and taking supplies to forward areas is a logistics nightmare. The eight-hours-long talks between Indian Armys 14 corps commander Lt. Gen. P.G.K. Menon and his Chinese counterpart on Sunday held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point focussed on resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. India has asked for complete disengagement of Chinese troops from all friction points in Ladakh from Hot Springs to Depsang plains where Chinese troops are preventing patrolling by Indian soldiers. However, China has been refusing to discuss Depsang plains and is not recognising it as a friction point. "The Indian side pointed out that the situation along the LAC had been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo and in violation of the bilateral agreements,'' said the defence ministry. It was therefore necessary that the Chinese side take appropriate steps in the remaining areas so as to restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western Sector, India said. This, India pointed out, would also be in accordance with the guidance provided by the two foreign ministers in their recent meeting in Dushanbe where they had agreed that the two sides should resolve the remaining issues at the earliest. "During the meeting, the Indian side therefore made constructive suggestions for resolving the remaining areas but the Chinese side was not agreeable and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals," said India. The two sides have agreed to maintain communications as well as stability on the ground. "It is our expectation that the Chinese side will take into account the overall perspective of bilateral relations and will work towards early resolution of the remaining issues while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols," said India. Chinese Western Theater Command spokesperson said that during the meeting the Chinese side made great efforts to promote the easing and cooling of the border situation and fully demonstrated Chinas sincerity of maintaining overall interests of bilateral military relations. "However, the Indian side still persisted in its unreasonable and unrealistic demands, which added difficulties to the negotiations," he said. He added that China is firm in its resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty. During the 12th round of Corps Commander talks in August both sides had agreed to pull back from Gogra. Before Gogra, Indian and Chinese troops had disengaged from Galwan Valley and banks of Pangong Tso in Ladakh. GVMC has built eight shelters, including one exclusively for women at TSR Complex. The shelters are located at Bhimnagar, Bhupeshnagar, Maharanipeta, Peda Waltair and Butchirajupalem, DC file photo VISAKHAPATNAM: Senior civil judge and secretary of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Buli Krishna on Sunday said that DLSA would stand by the inmates living in shelters provided by GVMC towards fulfilling their rights and in getting Aadhar cards and other facilities. Participating in a meeting commemorating the World Homeless Day at Gandhi statue here, he said that the corporation was a role-model for other districts in creating facilities for the homeless. GVMC has built eight shelters, including one exclusively for women at TSR Complex. The shelters are located at Bhimnagar, Bhupeshnagar, Maharanipeta, Peda Waltair and Butchirajupalem. We are planning to set up eight more shelters in the city, of which two will come up at Pendurthi and Simhachalam, said project director of Urban Community Development, GVMC, K Srinivasa Rao. Funds are drawn from National Urban Livelihood Mission and GVMC spends Rs 6 lakh on each shelter annually. Food is served every evening since most of them go out in the morning for their livelihood. The staff at shelter homes help inmates in getting Aadhar cards, pension, ration card and other welfare measures sanctioned by the government. Rao said they also unite the inmates with their family members if they have left their home following differences with their children. Shelters for the homeless came in handy during the lockdown when they accommodated guest workers from different states who had no home or money to eat. Vijayawada: The war of words continued in the social media between the ruling YSR Congress and the opposition Telugu Desam, the two parties accusing each other of halting of YSRC government flagship mega housing programme through a high court order on Friday. Curiously, the main petitioner Podili Siva Murali claimed he was in no way connected to the petition. He made the statement via a video clip released on Sunday and this got circulated on the social media platforms. Earlier, TD supporters had released a video on such platforms, saying the YSRC government is not in a position to complete the mega housing programme and hence filed a petition through a party sympathiser, Siva Murali. The TD said that the YSRC was behind the petition in the High Court. The Navaratnalu-Pedalandiriki Illu scheme was stayed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on October 8, on the basis of a petition filed in the name of Siva Murali and 128 others. Siva Murali released the selfie video saying he is from a poor family of Nayee Brahmins residing in Tenali. He said community elder M. Malleswara Rao took his signature by promising to provide him a house site under the mega housing scheme. He and other Nayee Brahmins gave their Aadhaar cards and other documents for the housing applications. He and his mother as also several others got the housing sites and he was readying the site for house construction, he said. Siva Murali said he didn't know why he was mentioned as the main complainant in the petition against the housing scheme filed in the high court and affirmed that he has no connection with the petition. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Codifying the collapse of the Demos' Russian collusion conspiracy By Mark Alexander I am obliged to record two cable news programs each evening, both of them from Fox News because I am already inundated with Leftmedia "journalism." Those programs are Bret Baier's "Special Report," mostly for his panel discussion, and "Tucker Carlson Tonight," because occasionally his monologues are interesting. Fortunately, much of the hard news they cover, our team has already analyzed in more detail hours earlier in our mid-day editions. Thus, two hours of recorded programing is generally reduced to about 30 minutes of watch time. Monday night, there was an unexpected interaction between highly respected journalist Brit Hume and Bret Baier's former college roommate, Steven Hayes, regarding Joe Biden's corruption. As you may know, in 2019 Hayes and former National Review writer Jonah Goldberg cofounded The Dispatch which devolved into a Never-Trump platform in 2020. For that reason, we fired Goldberg from our columnist lineup about the time the ChiCom Virus pandemic was heating up ... and apparently when Goldberg's chronic case of Potomac Fever was full on. Goldberg is one of Barack Obama's DC neighbors, and thanks to Jonah and his ilk, we now have Biden, BO's legacy fulfiller. But Hayes never was completely mired in Goldberg's rabid and arrogant anti-Trump ditch. With that as a backdrop, in a panel conversation about Facebook's recently exposed bias and corruption , which has had an enormous impact on The Patriot Post's social media reach, Hayes declared how proud he was that The Dispatch was a Facebook fact-checker . Then, out of right field, Hume asked Hayes if they had fact-checked the fact-checkers who buried the Hunter Biden laptop story last October, revelations that exposed Joe Biden's quid pro quo pay-to-play scheme with the Red Chinese and Ukrainians. Recall that the Leftmedia and their Big Tech First Amendment suppressors conspired in what was an unprecedented mass-media blackout of clear evidence exposing Joe " Big Guy " Biden's schemes as VP to collect big bucks in return for meetings with the Chinese and using his influence with Ukrainian officials. In late 2019, Democrats attempted to impeach Trump for asking Ukraine to complete its investigation into the Bidens. In other words, they tried to impeach Trump for what Biden actually did as vice president: insist that Ukraine discontinue its investigation of Hunter Biden or lose its U.S. funding . That was the second of the Demos' coup d'etats. Hayes responded: "We didn't do a straight-up fact-check on the Hunter Biden story in part because there wasn't enough information in those early days to do a definitive fact-check. That's part of the role of fact-checkers, determining what's factual so that you're correcting facts rather than trying to correct opinion." Right. In other words, Hayes, et al. colluded with the Demos and their laptop suppression campaign. Ironically, that was centered on the completely erroneous claim that the laptop content implicating Joe Biden was part of a Russian disinformation campaign , and that allowing it into print would therefore be unethical. We now know that assertion was completely contrived in order to spike the laptop bombshell before the election. For the record, any media outlet that does not own up to its part in this lie, including The Dispatch, should never be trusted again. I note the "Russian disinformation" claim was ironic because the Demos' first campaign to dethrone Donald Trump , hatched before he was elected president, was a deep-state coup conspiracy between senior Obama CIA and FBI principals and two key Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama . That first well-organized coup d'etat attempt involved fabricated claims that Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. That fabrication is finally being exposed for what it was: a web of lies. This is too little too late. But we were on the case with what turned out to be very accurate assessments of that conspiracy all along. This would include our 2017 assessment of Clinton's role in the Fusion Russian collusion to use the fake Steele dossier to justify the entire investigation into Trump and his campaign. This plagued his presidency until Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded in 2019 what the rest of us knew all along: The accusations were fabricated . But the investigation into who cooked up that conspiracy has not been tied off. The latest indictment handed down by Special Counsel John Durham's investigation of that conspiracy, that of Clinton-connected lawyer Michael Sussmann , starts to tie together some conspirators. Recall that Durham was appointed by Trump AG William Barr in May 2019 to investigate the origins of the Russian collusion hoax. Once it was clear Durham would bring criminal charges, potentially against the principal conspirators , a month before Trump left office Barr elevated Durham to special counsel , ostensibly protecting his investigation from political manipulation. However, I don't believe that any indictments to come will lead to consequences for the primary co-conspirators, Clinton and Obama, and by extension, Biden. That, despite the fact that their fingerprints are all over the crime scene . However, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), who was undeterred in his pursuit of the truth behind the collusion fabrication, concludes: "The [Sussmann] indictment is damning, full of shocking details showing how the Clinton campaign operatives and lawyers resorted to illegal and immoral methods to concoct false allegations against the Trump campaign and feed them to the FBI and the media. Obviously, many more people need to face justice, but it's gratifying to see Durham begun to unravel the web of lies and deceit that surrounded the Russian collusion hoax." Investigative journalist John Solomon notes: "Slowly over five years, the Russia collusion story has been exposed for what it was: a three-legged political dirty trick in which highly credible figures with deep law enforcement, intelligence and news media ties were paid by the Clinton campaign to flood the FBI with unproven allegations that Trump was secretly colluding with Russia to steal the election from Clinton." Of the corrupt complicity by a handful of key FBI managers, former federal prosecutor Trey Gowdy observed: "More FBI employees have been indicted than members of the Trump family. More people connected with the Clinton campaign have been indicted than members of the Trump family. But the biggest indictment of all may wind up being the FBI itself." Now, almost a year after Trump lost his 2020 reelection bid a loss largely due to the Democrats' final solution to dispose of Trump, their bulk-mail ballot fraud in several pivotal states Durham's investigation may lead to significant additional indictments if Biden can't find a way to suppress the investigation. The foundation of the Demos' collusion conspiracy started to crumble with the indictment last year of former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith . It was Clinesmith who lied in order to set up the bogus FISA warrant to investigate Trump campaign national security adviser Carter Page. We now know Trump was right about the illegal FISA warrant that was used to justify the " Crossfire Hurricane " investigation. FBI Director Chris Wray has admitted the Page surveillance was illegal . We can reasonably conclude that Clinesmith conspired with high-ranking principals, including FBI Director James Comey and CIA Director John Brennan , to set up Trump. There is little doubt that Clinesmith, based on his sentencing leniency , provided state's evidence to Durham in order to assist his investigation into the key conspirators. Comey and Brennan should both be indicted , but it's doubtful that these two experts at using cutouts to cover their trail will be directly tied to the conspiracy. Will Durham codify the collapse of this conspiracy? We will see... Last year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared: "The Russians were there [in 2016] and they are there now 24/7 trying to interfere in our election, but they're not the only ones. We take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. And sadly, the domestic enemies to our voting system and ... our Constitution are right at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with their allies in the Congress of the United States." Pelosi concluded that they are "enemies of the state." Nancy Pelosi can protest all she wants, but it is she and her fellow Democrats who habitually and boldly violate their constitutional oaths and thus are the true enemies of American Liberty . And under the leadership of the Biden/Harris regime , they have excelled in their disregard for that oath. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Fifty-five years of Star Trek a cultural vector and Hollywood cash-cow (Part Five) By Mark Wegierski Note: This article was not prepared, approved, licensed, or endorsed by any entity involved in creating or producing the Star Trek television series or films. Rick Berman and Michael Piller, often seen as the leading successors to Roddenberry, are unlikely to let such a lucrative cash-cow as Star Trek disappear. It was said that by the 1990s, at any given time of the day or night, there was some episode of Star Trek running somewhere on television in North America. Close to a hundred Star Trek-based formulaic novels and other books are published every year. The franchising of Trek products is virtually endless. There are probably hundreds of thousands of hardcore Trek enthusiasts, mostly in North America, and probably millions of more casual fans around the world. The fact is that Star Trek alone probably comes close to representing somewhere around one-third (or even close to half) of popular interest in the entire genre of science fiction. And Star Trek has a fan-base with a degree of intensity among a considerable number of enthusiasts perhaps unmatched by any other film or television show. This is certainly one reason for some "more serious" SF fans' resentment of the phenomenon, which they sometimes derisively term as "the Blob." Also, various elements and expressions from Star Trek have deeply infiltrated into the general pop-culture, reaching persons who may been only vaguely aware of the phenomenon. For example, the phrase Beam me up, Scotty! is sometimes popularly used as a term for expressing the completion of a well-rendered task in the workplace. One may indeed wonder what the future of Trek holds. Voyager ended in May 2001. There was a flurry of speculation before the premiere of the new Star Trek series, Enterprise, in September 2001. Enterprise is set 150 years before the events of TOS, in the Star Trek future-history. There was much speculation about possible "new show-concepts before the premiere. DS9 had worked out the "space-station in a trouble-spot" idea pretty thoroughly. Voyager had carried out "the perilous voyage home" idea. Some had suggested that "Star Trek: Earth" -- set on the Earth of the 24th century was the way to go. One could also have had a space-station in another, artfully-created, highly interesting trouble-spot. There was a faction of fans that there were supporting the idea of a Captain Sulu ship. The premiere of Enterprise finally arrived with much fanfare. The show introduces numerous innovations into the Star Trek future-history most notably that humans were under Vulcan tutelage for close to a hundred years. The previously constructed future-history was also disrupted, when First Contact with the Klingons already occurs in the first episode. And there was, obviously, no return to the Old Klingons from TOS. The central figures in the new series are the human Captain, who chafes at the Vulcan restrictions, and his subcommander and Science Officer, a Vulcan babe with a superior attitude. Other notable figures are the female Japanese linguist, the jovial alien doctor, a young white U.S. Southern officer, a young Black officer, and an English officer. The premiere introduced the main backstory of the series, a struggle against an alien race that accepts massive genetic enhancements as part of a temporal Cold War. Given that the mode of time travel shown is the vortex (and that there has already been a time travel film involving them Star Trek: First Contact) hints strongly that the nefarious time-travelers are in fact the Borg. Ones impression of Enterprise is that it is certainly less politically-correct than TNG or Voyager. Some of that is obviously due to the fact that it is considered to be set 150 years before TOS, in the future-history chronology. The soft rock intro theme, Faith of the Heart had annoyed some fans. It was probably chosen in an attempt to widen the audience, hoping, for example, that more women would tune into the program. It may have been an attempt to demonstrate that the show has an emotional core beyond the techno-gadgetry. The new Trek series, however, has not been as popularly successful as the previous ones, and has ended in May 2005, after four years. Some have suggested that the franchise will be orienting itself toward such products as elaborate interactive videogames, and the MMPORPG (massively-multi-player online role-playing game), a virtual Internet-based interactive environment. The MMPORPG is said to be a perfect fit with the fan-base which is already known for the vast amount of fan-fiction it produces. Nevertheless, the newest Star Trek movies (the first two directed by J. J. Abrams) which are set in the Star Fleet Academy days of Kirk and Spock, introducing a whole new set of young actors in the iconic roles of TOS -- have been a great success. However, with the evil time-travelers premise it could itself be seen as an alternative-Trek. That this could be considered as being loyal to the canon (i.e., to the earlier established background of Star Trek) seems questionable. The latest iteration of Star Trek, Star Trek: Discovery, has pushed the envelope even further in terms of political-correctness and wokeness and the displacement of straight white males from the universe. The new series Star Trek: Picard, has been better received. There has also arisen a poorly-received comedy animated show, Star Trek: Lower Decks. As one of Hollywood's hottest properties, it is unlikely that any aspects more clearly congenial to traditional notions of nation, family, and religion will ever be allowed to be significantly featured in (or to slowly infiltrate into) the Star Trek phenomenon. And the notion that such an evolution would even be theoretically possible appears remote. If the future becomes increasingly polymorphous, what are we going to be able to say to young people who want to surgically alter themselves to look like Star Trek aliens? Mark Wegierski is a Toronto-based science fiction and Star Trek aficionado. Home University of Exeter expert advises on Imperial War Museums ground-breaking new Second World War and Holocaust exhibition A University of Exeter expert has helped to develop the Imperial War Museums ground-breaking new Second World War exhibition. Professor Richard Overy was part of a team of academics who advised on the exhibition, which will bring unseen objects, untold stories and unheard voices together to help visitors to understand the most devastating conflict in modern history. The exhibition, which opens on 20 October, spans two floors and occupying over 3000m2. The 30.7 million project sees IWM London become the first museum in the world to house dedicated Second World War Galleries and The Holocaust Galleries under the same roof, examining the Holocaust not as an isolated event but as fundamental to the course and consequences of the Second World War. There are 3,500 items and personal stories from over 80 countries on display. The new galleries bring together significant new acquisitions and loans, alongside items from IWMs collections, including: The first piece of wreckage of the USS Arizona, sunk at Pearl Harbor in 1941, ever to be displayed outside of the United States Objects showing the role of Einsatzgruppen mobile execution units in the Holocaust, including forbidden photographs of mass shootings and the medal awarded to Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski for his time spent overseeing the execution of Jews in Riga and Minsk Extraordinary historical documents such as the rare birth certificate of living Holocaust Survivor Eva Clarke, one of very few people to be born in a concentration camp who survived past liberation The personal collection of 18-year old RAF air gunner Billy Strachan, who sold his bicycle and saxophone to pay for a voyage from Jamaica to Britain and attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant following 30 completed missions The headphones worn during the International Military Tribune at Nuremberg by Hans Frank, the German politician and lawyer who served as head of the German Government in Nazi-occupied Poland during the Second World War A deconstructed life-size 1940s house that brings to life the devastating impact of the Blitz on ordinary British lives A section of concentration camp barrack that is likely to be the last remaining part of Velten, a sub-camp of Ravensbruck and Sachsenhausen, on public display for first time in UK history IWMs Second World War Galleries will highlight how the Second World War affected people from all over the world from London, Russia and New Zealand to the Philippines and China telling the vast extraordinary stories of ordinary people. The Holocaust Galleries tell the individual stories of some of the six million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust through over 2,000 photos, books, artworks, letters and personal objects from jewellery and clothing to toys and keepsakes. Professor Overy served on the museums academic advisory board for the Second World War exhibition. The board were asked to review layout, exhibits and documents. Professor Overy said: These exhibitions mark a departure from the earlier galleries, with more coverage, particularly of other theatres of war, and more in-depth analysis based on the latest historical research. They are visually striking. They will both be important attractions in the next few years for a new generation of visitors and it was an honour to be involved. Diane Lees, Director General of Imperial War Museums said: The Second World War and the Holocaust will soon pass out of living memory, leaving us without the first-hand testimony of veterans, eyewitnesses and survivors. IWMs new galleries, which have been nearly six years in the making, will preserve their stories and ensure that the world never forgets what they experienced. With a recent YouGov poll demonstrating that 93% believe the Second World War and the Holocaust are relevant to learn about today and 78% think that genocide is currently happening in the world, the opening of these galleries has never been more significant. IWM Londons Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries open on 20 October. Entry is free, but prebooking general museum visit tickets via IWMs website is highly advised. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. President Tsai Ing-wen said her administration would not "bow to pressure" from Beijing in response to China's calls for "reunification" on Sunday. Tsai stated the country is willing to do its share to contribute to the region's peaceful development but would not jeopardize its independence during a rally celebrating Taiwan's National Day. Taiwan says it will resist China's reunification pled A display of Taiwan's defense assets, including armored vehicles, fighter planes, and helicopters, was also part of the celebration on Sunday. In a speech marking the 110th anniversary of the revolution that destroyed China's last imperial dynasty, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated on Saturday that "reunification" with Taiwan "must be fulfilled in a peaceful manner." According to Ma Xiaoguag, a spokeswoman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Tsai's address incited conflict and misrepresented facts. Per UPI, Taiwan's defense ministry said China has lately intensified encroachments into Taiwan's airspace, with scores of Chinese military jets flying into the Taiwan air defense identification zone last weekend. There was a widespread alarm after China sent a record-breaking number of fighter planes into international airspace near Taiwan. Taiwan has increased its unofficial relations with Japan, Australia, and the United States in the face of perceived threats, despite predictions that China may be capable of a "full-scale" invasion by 2025. Following Tsai's National Day address, various weapons, including missile launchers, armored vehicles, fighter planes, and helicopters, were showcased in Taipei. "There should be absolutely no illusions that the Taiwanese people would bow to pressure," Tsai said, adding that her country will not "act rashly," Sky News reported. On the other hand, Tsai's statement was seen to have "incited confrontation" by Beijing, which demanded that the two nations be "reunified." "This speech advocated Taiwan independence, incited confrontation, cut apart history, and distorted facts," China stated after nine hours of silence. Read Also: Russia Sends More Gas to Europe To Ease Escalating Energy Crisis; Is Vladimir Putin Using Supply as Weapon? President Tsai Ing-wen upgrades military forces to strengthen defense Chinese President Xi Jinping stated on Saturday that reunification with Taiwan "must be accomplished," and that it could be done peacefully. However, polls suggest that the majority of Taiwanese people support the current quo. Tsai has made upgrading the island's military forces a priority to strengthen its defenses and deterrence, including developing its own submarines and long-range missiles capable of striking deep into China. Beijing refuses to recognize Taiwan's government is set to vote on proposals to boost defense expenditure by $8.59 billion over the next five years, on top of the $16.76 billion it now spends. The island has also increased its unofficial connections with nations such as Japan, Australia, and the United States, the latter of which just joined the new Aukus security alliance with the United Kingdom, which Beijing has branded as "extremely irresponsible." According to Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Policy Research, the Taiwanese government has kept its missile capabilities hidden from the public eye in the past to avoid looking provocative. Some analysts speculated that China's growing military presence in Taiwanese airspace, which has alarmed international leaders, may be interpreted as a warning to Tsai ahead of Sunday's parade. The 1st of October was also China's National Day, followed by the Golden Week holiday, as per The Independent. Related Article: Joe Biden, China's Xi Jinping Agree To Hold Virtual Summit; US Argues Establishing "Guardrails" Amid Growing Contest Between Two Powers @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As the hunt for Brian Laundrie continues, a North Port police officer has raised concerns about his assertions that he left their home and headed to a wildlife park. North Port police spokesperson Josh Taylor told NewsNation reporter Brian Entin on Friday that Laundrie's parents' statements have "a lot of oddness" to them and that part of their narrative "simply didn't make sense." He added the North Port police are collaborating with the FBI to locate Laundrie, who went missing on September 1 after returning home on a cross-country trip with his fiancee Gabby Petito. Police claim there's "oddness" in Brian Laundrie's case On September 17, Laundrie, 23, was reported missing by his parents, who said he walked to the adjacent Carlton Reserve and never returned. Petito's corpse was discovered at a campground in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming two days later, and her death was declared a homicide. However, as dozens of officers from the FBI, North Port Police Department, Florida Wildlife Commission, numerous sheriff's offices, and K9 search and rescue teams explore the area for him, some survivalists have questioned Laundrie's ability to survive in a nature preserve for almost three weeks. Although Brian Laundrie's parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, informed authorities that their son left the house on September 14, they waited three days to report him missing, as per Daily Mail. Family attorney Steven Bertolino claimed in a statement last week that the Laundries were wrong and that Brian really departed the residence on September 13. Per NY Post, Brian Laundrie had been questioned about Petito's disappearance when the couple was on a cross-country trip, but he had hired a lawyer and refused to participate. Petito's body was discovered at a Wyoming campsite on September 19, nearly three weeks after Brian came home without his 22-year-old girlfriend. Police have now been chastised for allowing Brian, the only person of interest in the investigation, to flee. Taylor, on the other hand, maintained that officers did everything they could. Read Also: Afghanistan Bombing Kills At Least 55 Worshippers Inside Afghan Mosque In Deadliest Attack Since US Withdrawal Dog the Bounty Hunter discovers "terrifying" material on Brian Laundrie's social media During his search for the fugitive fiance of deceased hiker Gabby Petito, Dog the Bounty Hunter discovered "terrifying" material on Brian Laundrie's Facebook page. On Friday, the reality TV personality, who joined the search for Laundrie last month, revealed his discoveries to The Sun, expressing his worries that Laundrie may be a "serial killer." When it comes to tracking down fugitives, Dog stated that he primarily depends on social media accounts. According to Dog, he pays close attention to the books that a fugitive reads. He said that Laundrie enjoys "serial killer books." Dog feels Laundrie "didn't just become a killer overnight" but rather as a result of a series of "demonic" encounters. While investigators have identified Laundrie as a person of interest in Gabby's killing, he has not been labeled a suspect. In an Instagram post, the fugitive stated that he and Gabby had read Chuck Palahniuk's horror satire novel 'Lullaby.' Lullaby is a 2002 book about writer Carl Streator, who is writing a piece about crib death when he finds a curious link between the deaths of the infants and his own wife and child. Streator accidentally memorizes the rhyme and goes on to kill people over small annoyances. On his social media sites, cyber sleuths have uncovered a series of creepy artworks. One disturbing image depicts a man wearing a wolf mask and wielding a blood-soaked knife. Related Article: Brian Laundrie's Father Joins Police in Search For Son as New Details of Fugitive's Movement Emerge @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said on Taiwan's national day that the island will oppose any attempts by China to reunite the two countries. Taiwanese Tsai's Comment During Taiwanese National Day In a recently published article in MSN News, Tsai made these remarks during a commemoration on October 10th, marking the conclusion of a landmark week in Chinese-Taiwanese ties, which saw a record number of Chinese military aircraft fly into Taiwanese airspace and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to reunite China and Taiwan. Tsai cautioned that Taiwanese-Chinese ties are "more complicated and flexible than at any previous time in the last 72 years." China's military intrusions into Taiwan's air defense zone, she said, had a significant impact on national security and aviation safety. In response to repeated threats from Chinese officials, Tsai has said that she would continue to strengthen the island's military defenses. President Tsai said that the Taiwanese people will "not bend to coercion" while promising no "rash measures" from Taiwan, according to a report published in Reuters. Read Also: Chinese Warplanes: Fighter Jets, Nuclear Capable Bombers Enter Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone Chinese Newspaper Accuses Taiwanese President of 'Arrogance' The Chinese official tabloid The Global Times blasted Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's National Day address, accusing her of "arrogance" for declaring Taiwan will not succumb to Chinese coercion, according to a published article in Newsweek. Tsai said the more progress a nation makes, the more pressure it faces from China. As a result, she wishes to warn all of her fellow residents that they do not have the luxury of lowering their guard. She also said that "no illusions" should be held that the Taiwanese people would submit to Chinese coercion. Taiwan's independence has long been a source of contention between the two countries. China has offered Taiwan a "one nation, two systems" autonomy model, similar to the one used with Hong Kong. All major Taiwanese parties, however, have opposed the concept, particularly in light of China's security crackdown in Hong Kong. Beijing Does Not Recognize Taiwan's Government A Chinese news outlet said that what the DPP is doing is a profound betrayal, and it stems from the same place as their denial of Chinese identity, referring to the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan. The DPP government has given up its right to strategic adjustment in favor of political risk with only short-term gains and little prospect of long-term success. According to the editorial board, the DPP lacks the power to reverse the "one-China" policy, the party's rhetoric is "nonsense by international standards," and "the entire world" understands China is serious about reunification, according to The Guardian. Tsai's address comes as tensions have risen after China's "provocative" military flights near Taiwan, which the US has condemned. Su Tseng-chang, Taiwan's premier, warned reporters that China has been indiscriminately engaging in military aggression, endangering regional stability. Meanwhile, the United States expressed worry about the military action, saying that it is disruptive, risks miscalculations, and jeopardizes regional peace and security, according to State Department spokesman Ned Price, who reaffirmed the US's "rock strong" commitment to Taiwan on October 3. Related Article: China Violates Airspace of Taiwan Nearly 150 Times; Biden Administration Warns the Communist Country @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Roaming the streets of Singapore is the new robot police that rounds like regular police officers but can do it 24/7. Some residents have accepted it, but it has hit a nerve that the government is watching more. The robot drones enforce rules and regulations in Singapore's streets and restrict illegal activities, wrong parking, and dispersing large groups. But the constant surveillance has not been accepted by the majority who call it dystopian and feeling too monitored. New robot police Xavier roams the streets of Singapore Robotic Xavier is a constantly on the move surveillance system with seven cameras to remind the populace to avoid breaking the rules. Even those placing bikes in illegal places reported the Daily Star. One of the functions is to enforce strict COVID-19 protocols, especially when social distancing is forgotten, like when a small crowd gathered to watch a chess game played by two seniors. Standard protocol instructions of three feet social distancing, and any gather of more than five are dissuaded in the streets. Its seven cameras scan everything. Locals worry about dystopian future Frannie Teo, a Singaporean local, expressed doubts that Xavier is doing anything beneficial like a Hollywood movie. Images of AI-enabled robots bringing in the dystopian nightmare made her shiver at the thought of being watched, noted Stars Alert. The deployment of Xavier has struck a chord with digital rights activist Lee Yi Ting, as the country is increasingly critical of what people do daily. Those living in the country are feeling to self-censor themselves than those in western countries, she added. Also, what is worse than having the government watch everything everybody does is not the problem. People are not complaining and accept the reality of being monitored by Singapore's new robot police. Read Also: Uncontrollable Killer Bots in the Making? Autonomous Assault Military Robot Can Track, Fire At Targets For a small island that is about half of London's size, there are a total of 90,000 cameras all over that watch every move. If the surveillance cams have not caused friction, a facial recognition system will identify and locate everyone wherever they go, cited a Massive Updates. Robot police force to aid Singapore's aging workforce One of the reasons the system is needed to keep track of everyone's whereabouts is that the aging population is getting more, and younger people are not enough to guard the island. But Lily Ling of the Singapore Food Agency approves Xavier's deployment to keep apace of illegal street vendors. The robot will improve monitoring on the street and is a crackdown even with a minor law enforcement detail. One of the advantages of the agency's use of robots is that it takes many officers to cover the island at all times, which cannot be 24/7. But if the robots are used extensively, fewer patrols are needed to be done. The government issued a press release to give locals an idea of how the system works to be understood and avoid questions. The system will be programmed by public officers based on community regulations and use artificial intelligence to go about its beat autonomously avoid hitting anything with a sensor to guide its path. All the patrols are done automatically by the machine's artificial intelligence too. Using the Xavier is critical to plug the gaps where more officers are needed. All the operations are controlled via a central control, where Singapore's new robot police are connected. Related Article: Putin Reveals Platform-M Robotic Combat Tanks Used in Belarus War Games for the First Time; Will This Replace Armed Troops? @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Taliban Jihadis were seen at an amusement park last October 9, had the hardcore Islamists after the August 31 deadline now passed. For the past month, the Jihadis have been busy terrorizing Afghans and fighting ISIS-K, but now they spent leisure enjoying the rides in the park. Most were taken aback at the images of hardened Jihadis going on the different rides while holding rifles. These Jihadis reportedly enjoyed their time doing these unusual activities, and those who came to Kabul for the first time were likewise amazed since it was their first park experience. Jihadis spends downtime in amusement park Images of the Taliban with their automatic weapons were all over the park, taking rides on a merry-go-round and even a pirate ride ship that swung back and forth, reported the Sun UK. The day trip where countless fighters visited Qargha Reservoir theme park is one popular waterside theme park frequented by families before the takeover. Many of the Jihadis would be scowling or threatening Afghans with terrible punishments. This time, they were carefree and laughing, jesting, and eating snacks for once, not the typical day of an enforcer, the Fast Newz. Afghanistan is still under Taliban rule after overran the government in August and became its rulers after the Biden administration capitulated the Capital of Kabul. Once the Taliban Jihadis took over and began a rule of terror, they imposed brutal laws, cruel hangings, getting whipped, chopping off heads, and the hangings almost similar with the dark ages, which the amusement park is a far from contrast. Read Also: Taliban Terrorist Seen Celebrating in Leaked Video After Hoisting Severed Head of Afghan Soldier But, even for the brutal Jihadis, they can feel the stress of their cruel activities. This time their leaders allowed their members to enjoy their downtime in one of the best amusement centers while carrying their weapons. Battle-hardened Taliban fighters take a day off to visit the amusement park at Kabul's Qargha reservoir https://t.co/c02Rk4rsuZ pic.twitter.com/RTNYtWwtRQ Reuters (@Reuters) October 9, 2021 The fighter favored the US-made weapons over their older arms, and these were the same guns used by the Western-trained Afghan army and police force. They explored every nook and cranny throughout the amusement park, but one fighter had the crazy idea to pose like he had a halo, noted the YRT News. Even a hardened Talibs needs downtime One of the militants, Halimi, 24, spoke that he liked going to Kabul and the Qargha reservoir theme park. He was elated that they were welcome for a change and enjoyed the brotherly approach to them. Furthermore, he added that they won, and the Americans fled, which is the best thing. Halimi met his cousin on their day off at the park, even going for a picnic as a celebration of their victory, citing Reuters. Other photos had the terror jihadis on a break, stopping in the fairground riding their rusty pickup trucks, as their faces could not hide the excitement before entering the park. Other members opted for the peace and tranquil lakeshore sand, and some were children and young men. Other militants rode horses like it was a holiday. Most of the time, it is not all fun for the Taliban Jihadis, and many are stuck policing and securing the areas they control. They are never at rest as the Sharia is enforced with lethal consequences. Outside the amusement park is the real world with ISIS-K, wreaking terror in Kabul and other cities. Recently, a mosque was bombed by the notorious IS group that killed 50 people. Related Article: Taliban Insurgents Hung Bodies of Criminals as the Latest Expression Strict Penalties Under Their Regime @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An alleged theft by spies who stole the data to make Sputnik V under the auspices of the Kremlin the information acquired came from the multinational pharmaceutical company, Oxford/ AstraZeneca that served as the initial template. The blueprint acquired by the spies is responsible for creating the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which Moscow calls malarkey. Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine information stolen by Kremlin Sources informed ministers of the loss, as the vaccine blueprint was gotten through espionage by Kremlin affiliated spies, which allowed Russia to fast track its vaccine research to compete with the west, reported the Mirror UK. Had it not been for the theft, it's a factor that allows the Kremlin to make its homegrown COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Sun UK, it was a foreigner who got the valuable blueprint in person. Damian Hinds, Security Minister, did not confirm the report related to the theft of the formula but mention that cyber espionage was getting closer to home. Hinds said that there is more activity at the state level, which supports cyber espionage to steal industrial and economic secrets, and these cyber-attacks are happening again and again. He will not comment on the case because it lacks details, and the threats have become more complex and on a larger scale than before. Furthermore, he added that espionage has changed over the years and getting more complicated. There is a need to improve ways to protect against it. The spies who stole the data to make Sputnik V, he said, be faced with improved measures. Read Also: Another COVID-19-Like Pandemic May Happen in 60 Years? Researchers Anticipates the Probability Russian president get Sputnik V vaccine Vladimir Putin remarked he was inoculated with Sputnik V and asked other Russians to get the vaccine for their protection. Although there has been no approval for use abroad, 70 countries have disregarded it, noted the DW. In September 2020, data from two early clinical trials were done in Moscow, later published in The Lancet, a British Journal. The study demonstrates that the Russian vaccine is the same as the Oxford jab is safe and effective. According to the vaccine developers who collected the necessary data, said the jab would assist in working on the immune to produce the antibodies. In the studies, all the subjects were okay and had no major health issues. Once the vaccine stimulated the generation of antibodies, this gave the impression it was effective enough to stop a COVID-19 infection. Sputnik V vaccine trials remain unconclusive Many western scientists called the findings okay, but the results did not entirely convince them if the vaccines would work. They cited the trials weren't conclusive enough to be used on Russians. Allegedly, there were only 76 subjects tested, with half inoculated with volunteers who were in good health, and all in their 20's to 30's too. Scientists did trials in two Moscow hospitals to evaluate the Sputnik V vaccine at the Burdenko Hospital and Sechenov University Hospital. According to one official of the World Health Organization, last Friday, the agency was close to deciding on the problems of the Russian vaccine. But no date is set for emergency use. Fadela Chaib said the issues are going to be resolved soon. The Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko noted a week ago, clearance for vaccine use is almost done. The charge that spies who stole the data to make Sputnik V were in cahoots with the Kremlin is not proven, with the vaccine almost ready for distribution. Related Article: Researchers Say the Unvaccinated Can Get Reinfection From COVID-19, Disregard Natural Immunity in Favor of Immunization @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ten years ago, on October 5, the American business magnate, developer and investor Steve Jobs died fighting cancer. Despite his untimely death, many recognized Jobs as one of the most influential people in the tech industry. Elon Musk himself tweeted his regret not to have been able to talk with the visionary. Even after his death, the Apple co-founder is still impacting many lives. Investors and software engineers continue to look up to him as a source for inspiration on success and creativity. One of these fans is definitely Musk. Is Elon Musk the Next Steve Jobs? Tesla Succeeds Apple's Legacy Early last week, Twin Birch co-founder Sawyer Merritt tweeted a message saying: "decade after Jobs' death, has Apple traded magic for profit?" The tweet was accompanied with a Yahoo article about Jobs. Musk responded on the post, saying, "I wish I had the opportunity to talk to him." A sentiment possibly close to regret. I wish I had had the opportunity to talk to him Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2021 According to Cnbc, Google co-founder Larry Page once tried to introduce Musk and Jobs at a party. Musk joked, "I did try to talk to him once at a party and he was super rude to me. But I don't think it was me, I think it was par for the course." Unfortunately, based on the tweet, Elon Musk never got his second opportunity to talk with Steve Jobs. In his 2018 interview with Autobild.tv, Musk said he admired Jobs. After all, he boosted Apple's growth by attracting people with top talent and earning their loyalty. Musk said he tries to do the same with Tesla. Musk noted that "the ability to attract and motivate great people is critical to the success of a company, because a company is just a group of people that are assembled to create a product or service," per Cnbc. Read Also: Elon Musk Wants to Build His Own Electric Supersonic Jet: Can He Do It? Steve Jobs' Legacy After His Death Musk's admiration for the late investor is understandable. Steve Jobs is recognized as one of the greatest pioneers who revolutionized technology. The inventor also lived a pretty exciting life. Here are five interesting and wild facts you didn't know about the Apple co-founder. 5. Steve Jobs' foster parents promised his biological parents he would go to school. Unfortunately, Jobs ended up as a college dropout. 4. Steve Jobs met Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak when they were both in high school. 3. Steve Jobs was a pescatarian and later became a fruitarian. This means he spent most of his life eating only ate fish, and later moved to fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables. 2. He was pushed out of Apple in 1985. He then purchased animation studio Pixar and eventually rejoined Apple as CEO in 1997. 1. Steve Jobs grew his net worth to over $1 million at the age of 23. The number grew to $250 million at 25. He had a net worth of $7 billion before his death in October 2011, per Forbes. Related Article: Giga Texas Is Truly Massive! Viral Video Shows Size of Tesla's New Headquarters Google has recently ended their free unlimited storage for high-quality photos and videos. In addition to this, Google is now only allowing free 15GB storage capacity. If you are worried about your Google Photo storage as well as your photos and videos, then don't worry. How-To Geek shared four ways to download Google Photo albums to your desktop easily. Google Photos Download: 4 Easy Steps to Save Albums on Your Desktop How-to geek shared that "Google Photos" is the best storage place to save and back up your photos and videos. Keep in mind that "Google Photo" albums are only downloadable from desktop and mobile sites. This process is not available for iPhone and Android applications. To download albums from Google Photos on your desktop, follow these steps: 1. Using "Google Chrome," type in the URL bar: photos.google.com. 2. Choose the album you want to download. 3. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner. From the menu icon, select "Download all." 4. A new tab will open, then you will start to download a ZIP file of all the photos and videos you have on the Google Photo album you have chosen. Lastly, after downloading the files, unzip the folder to see the contents inside. This process will help users secure offline backups just in case Google Photos will be unavailable. Read Also: Instagram Toxic to Teenage Girls: IG Blamed for Eating Disorder of Teen Girls 5 Amazing Features in Google Photos Aside from the storage capability of "Google Photos," PCMag shared numerous features of "Google Photos." While the feature ended its unlimited storage capacity, it still has a lot to offer. 5. Print a book Keep in mind that printing is not free of charge. According to PCMag, this feature costs around $10 to $75 depending on the number of photos users wish to print. Aside from this, it also varies on whether users choose a soft or hard album cover. In addition, Google will just email the finished photo book. 4. Archive Images Just like in Gmail, "Google Photos" also contains an archive folder. To use this, head to "Utilities" then select "Move photos to archive." 3. Recover Deleted Photo or Videos Same with tech giant Apple's trash album, "Google Photo" has the same feature. Keep in mind that after a couple of months, deleted photos or videos will be erased forever unless users click the empty trash option, which deletes all files instantly. To check the deleted items, head to left navigation on the desktop, then select "Trash." 2. Create Animation, Collage and More Under the "Utilities" section, several tools will appear. The said tools include making collages, image rotation, as well as animation. 1. Save Device Storage Through Back Up and Sync, "Google Photos" will automatically upload and store any photos from the user's phone. In addition to this, the app will delete the stored version on the device to free up some space. To do this, head to "Settings," then choose "Manage Device Storage," and tap on "Free up space." A verification prompt will appear to ask for confirmation to remove all the backed-up photos from the device. Meanwhile, if users want to upgrade their "Google Photo" storage capacity, they can do so through Google One's website. The upgrade plan starts at $1.99 per month for 100GB of storage. Related Article: Google Pixel 6 Leak Reveals Display, Camera Setup, Power Specs Following a congressional hearing alleging that its products post harm towards children, Facebook is introducing several new features aimed at better protecting its younger users, including prompting teens to take a break using its photo-sharing app, Instagram, and "nudging" teens if they are repeatedly viewing content that is harmful to their health. Facebook Critics Doubtful of Platform's Update Facebook, the California-based company co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg, also plans to give additional restrictions on Facebook updates for adults of teens on an opt-in basis, allowing parents and guardians to monitor what their children are doing online. These measures follow Facebook's announcement late last month that it will put its Instagram for Kids project on hold. However, the platform's critics are not impressed and are doubtful of the effectiveness of the company's new objective. The public announcement came after Facebook's own research study showed that an overwhelming amount of youngsters are experiencing negative effects on Facebook. The platform is also accused that it allegedly has a VIP list of high-profile users that go against its rules. As reported by Adam Smith of The Independent, The Executive Director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Josh Golin, expressed his opinions and said that introducing controls to help parents monitor their children and teens would not be as effective as it could be since many would just opt to create multiple secret accounts to buy more time spent in their desired social media platform. Golin strongly believes that the Instagram project for kids created by Facebook should be canceled. Furthermore, he also doubted whether nagging kids to take a break or move away from Instagram or Facebook would be useful, unless unfollowing everything. He also stated that the social media app must demonstrate how they will implement it and provide evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of these features. Last week, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook data scientist, testified before the Congress, accusing the company of failing to make changes to Instagram after internal research revealed that it was causing harm to some teenagers, and of being dishonest in its public fight against hate and misinformation. Read Also: Facebook Stock Price Crashes After Whistleblower Appears: Is It a Good Time to Invest on FB? Facebook's Efforts The Facebook update and the Instagram changes were highlighted by Facebook's Vice President for global affairs, Nick Clegg. CBS News reported during the State of the Union interview with Dana Bash, Clegg said that they are continuously and constantly trying to improve their products. "We cannot, with a wave of the wand, make everyone's life perfect. What we can do is improve our products, so that our products are as safe and as enjoyable to use," the Facebook exec said. Unfollow Everything Developer Banned In related news, the company behind the biggest social media platform has banned developer Louis Barclay, who was behind the extension known as Unfollow Everything, as per Business Insider. According to the report, the extension removes a users' news feed by unfollowing everything on the platform, making them stay much less on the app. Nevertheless, Barclay said he was sent a cease-and-desist letter by Facebook in July, and that he was forced off the platform completely. Related Article: Facebook Data Breach 2021 Exposes Personal Info of 1.5 Billion Users: 2 Tools to Check If Your Data Have Been Leaked The performance "Yungeunreung Yajo" / Courtesy of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation By Park Ji-won Poster for "Joseon Royal Tombs Festival" / Courtesy of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation The 2nd Joseon Royal Tombs Festival, a celebration of royal court culture and heritage from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, will run until Oct. 24 at six different royal tomb sites around Seoul and Gyeonggi Province and via online platforms. Jointly hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, the festival offers various participatory events for visitors at UNESCO-designated tombs, including the Royal Tomb of Sejong in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province; Donggureung (East Nine Royal Tombs) in Guri, Gyeonggi Province; and Seonjeongneung in Seoul. Under the title "Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty," the festival is happening at 40 tombs in 18 locations where Joseon kings and queens are buried. The U.N. organization added the sites to its world heritage list in June 2008 to protect their legacy as a symbol of "honoring the memory of ancestors, showing respect for their achievements, asserting royal authority, protecting ancestral spirits from evil and provided protection from vandalism as well as outstanding natural beauty." To avoid the spread of COVID-19, the festival provides events in which visitors participate individually. Visitors receive gifts and can collect different stamps at Donggureung as well as Seooreung in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. They can also sample ambient noise recordings and videos of wind and rain made in Geonwonreung, Guri. Performances inspired by historical events and the tombs will be also showcased at the sites and online. The opera "I am from Joseon" made to promote Hongneung in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, the joint tomb for King Gojong and Queen Min, will be projected on a screen set near the tomb and streamed on YouTube. The musical centers on King Gojong who sent a court musician to the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago to open the Joseon Pavilion. The performance "Yungeunreung Yajo" revolves around the visitation of King Jeongjo and his mother to the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado, and the observation of military drills in 1795. The prince was locked in a rice chest and starved to death by order of his father King Yeongjo. For those who want experience a night visit to Seooreung, they can apply via Naver for a free VR set and kit for making a lamp to be used when walking. People enter the headquarters building of French bank Societe Generale outside Paris in January 2008. AP-Yonhap By Anna J. Park The Supreme Court ruled on Monday in favor of French lender Societe General, which had filed a lawsuit against the National Tax Service (NTS) in 2016 claiming it was slapped with excessive taxes. From 2013 to 2015, the NTS levied a 2 billion won ($1.7 million) education tax on the French bank. But the bank filed a lawsuit demanding the NTS return 145 million won which had been overpaid in the tax calculation. The regional tax office refused to return the money on the grounds that a different tax calculation should be applied from what Societe General claimed, prompting the French lender to take legal action. "The original trial's judgment misconstrued the meanings and calculation methods stated in the Enforcement Decree of the Education Tax Act, which was revised in 2010 and 2011," the Supreme Court's decision read. Since 2009, financial and insurance companies have been obligated to pay a quarterly education tax, calculated as 0.5 percent of their profits from trading stocks, bonds and foreign exchange derivatives. As the tax is imposed every three months based on a complex set of rules, it has been the source of many legal disputes over its proper calculation. But some argue that the imposition of an education tax on financial companies violates a principle stipulating that an earmarked tax should be imposed only on related beneficiaries of the tax's purpose. The top court's ruling in favor of Societe Generale is the latest in a rising number of legal victories by foreign firms against the NTS. According to data compiled by ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Chung Il-young, the NTS has lost more than three out of 10 cases over the past five years against foreign nationals or foreign firms. That means the NTS lost 31.67 percent of its legal cases against foreign nationals or foreign firms during that period. Last year, the NTS lost 202.3 billion from lawsuits against foreign plaintiffs represented by six local big law companies, which is more than seven times the amount it lost in 2019 through similar such legal disputes. BlackRock's sign hangs above its building in New York in this 2018 file photo. Reuters-Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk BlackRock did not add its signature to a letter sent last week by APG Asset Management and 22 other members of Climate Action 100+ to Korea's Presidential Committee on Carbon Neutrality, warning the government and businesses about their "insufficient efforts" in the country's transition to net-zero emissions. The world's largest asset manager is a major shareholder of some of the top Korean companies, such as Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Naver and LG Chem. However, the name of one of the most important members of Climate Action 100+ was absent from the list of signatories in the letter disclosed Monday, in contrast to APG and three other leading institutional investors BMO Global Asset Management, EOS at Federated Hermes and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management that are engaging with Korean companies through the global investor-led initiative, which aims to ensure that the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters take action on climate change. In the letter, the signatories emphasized their influence on the global capital market, introducing themselves as institutional investors responsible for some $6.7 trillion in assets under management and actively engaging with Korean companies on climate change. In particular, APG, which is said to have invested 10 trillion won ($8 billion) in domestic companies, plans to carry out shareholder engagements directed at these top Korean companies through Climate Action 100+. These engagements will begin later this year and urge them to make visible efforts to reduce their carbon emissions. "Investors are engaging constructively with South Korean companies to help them make a successful transition to net-zero emissions, mitigate climate risk and protect long-term value," APG Head of APAC Responsible Investment & Governance Park Yoo-kyung, who led the recent letter campaign, said in a press release. Before sending the latest letter, the Dutch pension fund sent a separate letter to the Korean government in August to express its concerns about private coal-fired power plants under construction here. It also sold its entire stake in the Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) last year, citing the state-run company's construction of coal plants in Vietnam. The 23 signatories to the recent letter reiterated the fact that private coal plants will put assets at risk of becoming stranded and unprofitable, due to low utilization rates and the extra efforts necessary to offset the emissions incurred. "For many of the companies we are engaging with, the outcome of national South Korean policy on energy and climate change is critical to the achievement of their net-zero ambition," the letter reads. BlackRock's absence, however, could limit the impact of the letter and APG's planned involvement in the management of local companies. The world's largest asset manager has faced questions from environmental activists about its own environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategies. Earlier this year, it was accused of investing in an Indonesian palm oil producer that faced allegations of seizing land from local farmers. Gettyimagesbank Experts mixed on partial lifting of economic penalties By Kang Seung-woo As ever-tightening U.S. sanctions have yet to achieve its policy goals, a discrepancy between South Korea and the United States in their respective views on whether to continue full implementation of economic punishment against North Korea is coming to the fore. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said earlier this month that the time was ripe for the consideration of sanctions relief, the latest move by the Moon Jae-in administration to engage the North on denuclearization. However, the U.S. State Department stressed the need to fully implement United Nations (U.N.) Security Council sanctions on the "rogue" state a few days later, a sign that the Joe Biden administration will not partially lift sanctions anytime soon in order to restart denuclearization talks that have been deadlocked since the collapse of a Hanoi summit between the U.S. and North Korea in February 2019. "There has been a rift between Washington and Seoul over sanctions on North Korea for quite some time. But more broadly, the two countries seem to be at odds over policy on North Korea writ large. The South Korean government has been more vocal about the need to relax sanctions on North Korea in recent weeks," said Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst now with the Rand Corp. U.S. Naval War College Professor Terence Roehrig also said, "There is definitely disagreement in Seoul and Washington over sanctions relief, and I doubt the Biden administration is going to change that position anytime soon." He added: "The administration's agenda is occupied by many other issues and there is little political incentive to offer a conciliatory proposal to North Korea." Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong speaks during a National Assembly audit session, Oct. 1. Yonhap However, even diplomatic observers are mixed on the efficacy of the U.S. sanction-driven policy toward Pyongyang. "An end-of-war declaration should be the first confidence building initiative with North Korea. Assuming Pyongyang is amenable, which I think they will be, then the U.S. and the ROK, with the DPRK can come together possibly also including China to announce this decision on, after 68 years, finally declaring an end to the Korean War," said Joseph DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy to the six-party talks. President Moon Jae-in proposed declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War in a speech at the U.N. last month and Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, responded positively. "After that, assuming Pyongyang would agree to resume denuclearization talks with the U.S., the subject of lifting sanctions can be broached, in the context of a willingness to discuss the lifting of post-2016 sanctions in return for a moratorium on missile launches and a halt to the production of fissile material," he noted, adding that once that's established, denuclearization negotiations could be pursued on an action-for-action basis. Roehrig expressed a similar view, advising that policymakers in both countries must shift their planning to what might actually be achievable goals. "Despite the recent attention given to a proposal for a peace declaration, I doubt this possibility is as important to North Korea as some measure of sanctions relief," Roehrig said. "For any type of dialogue to resume, some concessions on sanctions will need to be offered by South Korea and the United States. But this need not be a giveaway and can be part of a careful negotiation strategy that seeks a calibrated, diplomatic approach in a step-by-step manner for policy goals that can actually be achieved." On the other hand, some analysts believe it is premature to consider sanctions relief amid North Korea's serial hostile behavior. "All sanctions are not alike. U.N. resolution sanctions are mostly responses to North Korea nuclear and missile violations of U.N. resolutions and can be altered by a vote of the U.N. Security Council. U.S. sanctions cover a wider range of misbehavior, including criminal activity and human rights violations. U.S. sanctions would not be applied if North Korean ended its abhorrent actions," said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst and senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation. "North Korea has not ceased its violations of U.N. resolutions nor of U.S. laws. Therefore, sanctions relief should only be implemented when Pyongyang has improved its behavior or as part of a negotiated settlement, not as an inducement to merely return to dialogue." A new type of anti-aircraft missile, developed by North Korea's Academy of Defence Science, is seen in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency, Oct. 1. The North test-fired it the previous day, according to the agency. Korea Times file North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during the event marking the 76th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, according to its Korean Central News Agency, Sept 10. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the need for improving people's livelihoods, as he held a lecture to mark the 76th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party, state media said Monday. He delivered the message during his "important" speech, titled "Let us further improve party work in line with the demands of the period of fresh development of socialist construction," according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim said that the party has defined the "the popular masses' independence" as the essence of the socialist construction and urged officials to serve the people like "God," it added. gettyimagesbank By Lee Hyo-jin Pregnant women are uncertain whether or not to get COVID-19 vaccinations, as some doctors have been giving advice that contradicts the government's message as well as insisting that the vaccination of mothers-to-be should undergo more extensive review. The government has recommended that pregnant women get inoculated, saying that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the potential risks. Beginning Oct. 18, they will be administered with an mRNA vaccine Moderna or Pfizer. After the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) began to receive reservations starting from 8 p.m. on Saturday, some 990 eligible recipients made vaccine appointments during the first four hours. According to the KDCA, a total of 731 pregnant women have been infected with the virus in the country as of August, among whom about 2 percent have developed serious illnesses, more than six times that of women aged between 20 and 45. "U.S. studies show that infected pregnant women have had three times higher risk of hospitalization, 2.9 times higher risk of treatment using a ventilator, and 1.7 times higher fatality rates, than other women," said KDCA commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong at a briefing, Oct. 4. Given such data, the health authorities have categorized pregnant women as a high-risk group for COVID-19. The KDCA also said that the COVID-19 infection of pregnant women poses bigger risks of premature deliveries and babies with low birth weights. On the other hand, Korea's Medical Association to Ensure Safety of COVID-19 Vaccinations, consisting of 150 doctors, called on the government to cancel its vaccination plans for pregnant women and children aged between 12 and 17. People are being observed for possible side effects after receiving a coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination center in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Oct. 7. Yonhap A medical worker take a sample from a man for a coronavirus test at a makeshift testing center near Seoul Station, Monday. Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin Concerns are rising over increased infections following the recent long weekends, adding uncertainties to the government's envisioned plan for a gradual transition to a "Living with COVID-19" strategy. The administration is gearing up to adopt a strategy of co-existing with the coronavirus, under which people would be able to return to "normal life" gradually, as the health authorities plan to focus more on the treatment of critically ill patients, rather than controlling daily new cases. Although detailed plans have yet to be unveiled, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said that Nov. 9 is likely to be the start date for the transition. "We believe that 70 percent of the population will be fully vaccinated by the fourth week of October," she said during a National Assembly audit, Oct. 8. Considering that two weeks are required for vaccine recipients to acquire immunity, Jeong said the second week of November may be the starting date for the transition. The government will launch an expert committee in preparation for the shift to "Living with COVID-19" and hold its first meeting Wednesday. Members of the committee will include experts from four sectors health, the economy, education and self-governance. They will discuss how the country should carry out the transition to a "new normal" and introduce a roadmap as early as the third week of October. These plans, however, may face problems, as increased private gatherings and travel during the long weekends may worsen the current wave of infections. Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks during a COVID-19 response meeting held at the Government Complex Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap Hikers enjoy mountaineering at Mount Seorak in Gangwon Province, Monday, as autumn is in full swing and leaves have been changing color. As autumn is usually the peak season for Mount Seorak, some 26,000 hikers visited the mountain on Sunday despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, putting public health authorities on alert over the possible spread of infections. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo The state-run overseas aid agency has decided to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan for next year by nearly 80 percent due to uncertain conditions there following the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the Taliban's subsequent takeover of the country, according to a lawmaker, Monday. Rep. Tae Yong-ho of the main opposition People Power Party cited a document submitted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), saying that it had initially planned to provide a total 4.72 billion won ($3.95 million) in 2022 for six official development assistance (ODA) projects, designed to support war-torn Afghanistan. They included fresh water development, vocational training and other capacity-building projects. However, the budget has been slashed to 1.05 billion won. Taking a closer look, KOICA planned to spend 1.22 billion won for fresh water development, but this was readjusted to 50 million won, while the budget for technical and vocational education and training also saw a huge cut from 3 billion won to 683 million won. The aid agency was also supposed to spend 160 million won on improving gender equality and gender mainstreaming, which was reduced to 80 million won. KOICA said in the document that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and conditions for its projects and follow government policy toward Afghanistan. "It is necessary to cut aid to Afghanistan, with the Taliban now in control," Tae said. "Humanitarian assistance should be provided in consideration of the diplomatic situation, and the possibilities of implementing potential projects." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was planning to spend 18.3 billion won on the Central Asian country, but the Taliban's brutal human rights violations and "rule by fear" have increased calls for the ministry to reconsider its plan. By Lee Hyo-jin A human rights committee under the National Police Agency (NPA) has recommended the law enforcement authorities to reduce the number of riot police deployed to a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile base in the southeastern county of Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province. "As the current number of riot police there can lead to a violation of the protesters' freedom of assembly and demonstration, the authorities should actively take necessary measures," the committee said during a regular meeting held late September. The NPA committee consists of 13 members 12 external members and one police officer from the audit and inspection division. The committee further asked the authorities to submit additional data, based on which it can judge whether the police are guaranteeing the protesters' freedom of assembly and demonstration. The THAAD missile battery system was deployed in 2017 to better respond to rising North Korean missile threats. But local residents and civic activists have long opposed the deployment citing environmental and other reasons. They have staged multiple rallies blocking the delivery of construction equipment and supplies to the base, often resulting in the use of force by riot police to disperse them. The law enforcement authorities, who define the rallies as illegal, have been mobilizing hundreds of police officers to counter the demonstrations. The two sides have clashed over 40 times this year alone. Main opposition People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, center, holds hands with the party's presidential contenders ahead of a Supreme Council meeting at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju, Monday. From left are former Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor Won Hee-ryong, former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min, Lee, Rep. Hong Joon-pyo and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. Yonhap Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, left, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) presidential candidate, speaks to DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil during their visit to the National Cemetery in Daejeon, Monday. Yonhap Opposition party accuses Lee of masterminding suspicious land development project By Jun Ji-hye Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, who was selected as the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Sunday, faces an uphill battle ahead of the presidential race, as he barely managed to avoid a runoff election eking out a majority of 50.29 percent of the votes cast in the party's primaries, contrary to expectations that he would have an easy win over his rivals. Lee's 50.29 percent, garnered through the party's 11 primaries held over the last month, was followed by support of 39.14 percent for former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon. As the governor won over 50 percent of the votes, he escaped a runoff and directly became the party's presidential candidate. His failure to get an overwhelming majority came amid a snowballing land development corruption scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, which has recently become the hottest issue in the country, with accusations from the opposition parties that Lee was responsible as mayor of the city at the time. Lee Nak-yon's appeal against the primary results is also adding to his difficulties, giving Lee Jae-myung the two important tasks of being cleared of any involvement in the scandal and unifying all party members to win the presidential election, slated for March next year. Hours after Lee's victory, the Lee Nak-yon camp announced its decision to appeal the result, questioning the party's decision not to count votes given to two other candidates who dropped out midway through the primaries Chung Sye-kyun and Kim Du-kwan. Members of Lee Nak-yon's camp in the Democratic Party of Korea hold a news conference at the National Assembly, Monday, appealing the results of the party's primaries and calling on its leadership to carry out a runoff between Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yon. Yonhap Reps. Sul Hoon, Hong Young-pyo and other party members who worked for the Lee Nak-yon camp held a news conference Monday, claiming that Lee Jae-myung would have got only 49.32 percent of the total votes if those in support of Chung and Kim had had been counted toward the total. Thus, a runoff should take place between Lee Jae-myung and runner-up Lee Nak-yon, they said. "We will mobilize every possible means to realize a runoff," Rep. Hong said during a radio appearance the same day. "The Lee Jae-myung camp has stressed the need for all party members to become one team. Toward that end, this task should be resolved first." Supporters of Lee Nak-yon, calling the primary a "rigged election," organized a protest in front of the party headquarters in Seoul. If the controversy over the primaries is prolonged, it could cause a serious setback to Lee Jae-myung's election campaigning as he needs unity more than ever to win the presidential election. Mindful of these concerns, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil said the party had confirmed Governor Lee as its presidential candidate, attempting to turn down the appeal from the Lee Nak-yon camp. During a visit to the National Cemetery in Daejeon, Monday, accompanied by the governor, Song told reporters that the primary was conducted in accordance with party rules approved by all members. Regarding the issue, an official from the Lee Jae-myung camp said, "We expect the Lee Nak-yon camp to soon accept the primary results as they know that the upcoming presidential election will not be easy even if we are one team." Political observers, however, said the former prime minister's appeal of the result will be a superficial issue, noting that a more important and thorny matter facing the governor is the land development scandal. In the third and last vote by the general public and party members, the results of which were also announced Sunday, Lee Nak-yon garnered a surprise win over Lee Jae-myung by a large margin 62 percent to 28 percent. The governor's defeat was attributed to the corruption scandal surrounding him. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has accused Lee Jae-myung of masterminding the suspicious land development project in Daejang-dong in Seongnam in 2015 when he was mayor. The scandal has been centered on questions and suspicions over how a newly established small asset management firm, Hwacheon Daeyu, raked in massive profits. Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a media conference at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap By Arthur I. Cyr The Afghanistan aftermath drama is underway, featured center stage in the always-intense theater known as the United States Congress. Generals Mark Milley and Kenneth McKenzie, respectively chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commander of the U.S. Central Command, testified before Congress on Sept. 28. Each had recommended leaving a residual security contingent in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of U.S. and other forces. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, another military professional, reinforced the testimony. This is important given the rapid, sweeping Taliban victory. Additionally, Milley is quoted by name in several new books about the Trump administration, including one coauthored by the ubiquitous Bob Woodward of Watergate revelation fame. Columnist Peggy Noonan provides details in a recent column in "The Wall Street Journal." All of this raises important questions about behavior of senior military officers. This in turn reintroduces General George C. Marshall. People regularly referred to Marshall as "a dedicated public servant," a term no longer in vogue. As chief of staff of the U.S. Army, Marshall did essential work to get a dangerously unprepared America at least partially ready for World War II, and then led the mammoth organizational effort required for victory. He later served as secretary of state and secretary of defense during the trying post-war years, when the Cold War and Korean War both began. Marshall longed to lead the Normandy invasion but that mission went to his protege Dwight Eisenhower. FDR considered Marshall indispensable in his existing role and stated publicly he could not go to sleep at night if the general were out of the country. Ever the good soldier, Marshall apparently never directly pressed his desire with the president. Roosevelt shrewdly, skillfully finessed the matter. Marshall did his duty, consistently focused on the nation's interests, not his own. Along with extraordinary executive ability, Marshall demonstrated great diplomatic and political skill. Following Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Imperial Army surrounded American forces in the Philippines under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, intensely disliked and mistrusted by fellow officers and more widely in Washington. President Roosevelt nevertheless did not want this prominent individual to become a Japanese prisoner and ordered his evacuation to Australia. Marshall followed up carefully to ensure that media and public, at home and abroad, knew that this was not MacArthur's decision, and that the government of Australia provided a supportive and warm welcome. The ultimate professional, he never let personal opinion of MacArthur interfere. The ultimate executive, he devoted the time necessary for operational success. We rarely discuss Marshall today, reflecting in part his notable modesty, which stands out in Washington anytime. Marshall himself put very little personal information in the public record, and never wrote memoirs. Doubtless, he feared in part inadvertently revealing classified and personality matters about those years best kept private. In addition incredibly from a contemporary perspective the record is clear he felt that patriotic citizens should not benefit financially from government office. For Marshall, public service was literally just that. Fortunately, Forrest Pogue authored a masterful comprehensive biography of this monumental leader. Paul Volcker, who as head of the Federal Reserve broke the back of devastating stagflation later in the 20th century, is a more recent example of great competence, dedication and modesty. There are others. General Milley qualifies as dedicated public servant. However, his public revelations while still in uniform constitute a grave error. Arthur I. Cyr ( ) is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War" (NYU Press and Palgrave/Macmillan). By Anne-Marie Slaughter WASHINGTON, DC September marked a new year in the Jewish calendar, for schools around the world, and in the realm of diplomacy, with the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. New years are duly met with new resolutions, which tend to involve renewing one's commitment to specific goals. But while it is usually individuals who engage in this practice, organizations or even nation-states can do the same. In fact, the idea of a New Year's resolution is one way to understand U.S. President Joe Biden's UNGA speech on Sept. 21. The United States, he said, is "opening a new era of relentless diplomacy; of using the power of our development aid to invest in new ways of lifting people up around the world; of renewing and defending democracy." He anchored these goals in values that were "stamped into the DNA" of the U.S. and the U.N.: "freedom, equality, opportunity, and a belief in the universal rights of all people." And he invoked respect for human dignity, individual potential, and "the inherent humanity that unites us." Biden's speech offered a broad set of resolutions to renew American leadership in the world on issues including health, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, counterterrorism, conflict prevention, developing-country infrastructure, food security, equality, and anti-corruption. He made clear that these goals will be pursued within a framework of both universalism and multilateralism. But there was something missing from the speech. For resolutions to stick, they must be grounded not only in visions of the future but also in honesty about the past. Biden has been clear about many of the biggest problems facing the world, and he has resolved that the U.S., along with its allies, will play a leading role in addressing them. But he should have signaled a genuine departure from past practice by expressing a greater willingness to learn from America's own recent failures. For example, when touting the U.S. contribution of $15 billion to the global pandemic response and 160 million vaccine "doses of hope" for others around the world, Biden could have acknowledged that over one-seventh of the 4.7 million reported COVID-19 deaths globally were in the U.S. America's disproportionately large share reflects its own inability to fight the coronavirus for most of 2020. To this day, stark political divisions continue to ensure that pockets of the country remain breeding grounds for new variants to emerge. Moreover, when Biden spoke about his administration's admirable and genuine commitment to dealing with climate change, he could have acknowledged that the U.S. bears a disproportionately large share of responsibility for the problem. It has been a leading source of greenhouse-gas emissions for over a century, and its flawed political system has prevented it from committing to international agreements for longer than four years at a time. When Biden raised the issue of America's "forever wars," he could have acknowledged that those wars killed far more civilians than soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even as the U.S. was leaving Afghanistan, American drone operators mistakenly killed an aid worker and seven children. When Biden described corruption as a "national security threat" that "fuels inequality, siphons off a nation's resources, spreads across borders, and generates human suffering," he might have added that the billions of dollars the U.S. poured into Afghanistan and Iraq provided fuel for the very corruption he condemns. And he could have acknowledged that the U.S. government knew as early as 2011 how corrupt the Afghan government had become, but decided not to expose or prosecute bad actors. The reason to be more honest about these issues is not to wallow in America's flaws and failings. Rather, it is to recognize the complexity of the problems America confronts, and its own complicity in them. By making clear that the U.S. understands just how hard it will be to make progress, and that much will depend on it changing its own behavior, Biden can signal an intention to move beyond rhetoric. After George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police in May 2020, many U.S. companies and institutions issued statements condemning systemic racism, as if the problem was simply "out there," floating in society. But as many people of color were quick to point out, addressing the problem requires that leaders acknowledge and confront the racism within their own organizations. The same logic applies to nation-states that have set their sights on global problems. Another reason for being more honest is to lead by "the power of our example," as Biden put it in his inaugural address. Although his UNGA speech never mentioned China and explicitly disavowed any intention of seeking a new Cold War, it drew a clear line between the (admittedly imperfect) democracies that seek to uphold the U.N.'s values and the authoritarian states that violate them at will. That line does not divide countries full of good people from countries full of bad people, or good governments from bad (after all, plenty of democracies are badly governed, including in cities, states, and parts of the U.S. federal government). Instead, the distinction is between countries that are dedicated to individual rights and those that are not. China, as its constitution makes clear, is explicitly committed to a socialist system, placing power and ownership in a collective of the people. Yet, in practice, the key difference between free countries and unfree countries lies in the people's ability to hold their government to account, and thereby narrow the gap between what governments say and what they do. A new year, whenever and however we mark it, should be an occasion for assessing that gap with radical honesty, and for using that assessment to guide a renewed commitment to professed ideals. If our leaders did that, the annual UNGA would look very different. Anne-Marie Slaughter, a former director of policy planning in the U.S. State Department, is CEO of the think tank New America, professor emerita of politics and international affairs at Princeton University, and the author of "Renewal: From Crisis to Transformation in Our Lives, Work, and Politics (Princeton University Press, 2021)." This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). By Chyung Eun-ju and Joel Cho Chyung Eun-ju Joel Cho Independent counsel should probe death of sexual abuse victim The military's investigation into the suicide of a female Air Force master sergeant who suffered from sexual abuse has ended with just a slap on the wrist for the perpetrators. On Thursday, military prosecutors only indicted 15 out of 25 service members who had been booked over their alleged involvement in the case, dropping criminal charges against the other 10 citing a lack of evidence. What's more, the Defense Ministry's inspection team failed to indict military police or prosecutors at the 20th Fighter Wing who initially dealt with the sexual harassment report submitted by the victim, identified only by her surname Lee, despite accusations that they neglected the findings. Dozens of Air Force officers are due to face disciplinary action on charges including attempts to cover up the case. The inspection team indicted the head of the Air Force Headquarters Military Police Division, but he only faces a charge of submitting a false report related to the case rather than being responsible for the botched investigation. That means that nobody will be indicted for mishandling the victim's initial report before her death on May 22. Lee reported being sexually harassed by a male master sergeant after a dinner in March. But her report was not dealt with properly, apparently because of the military's deep-seated practice of going easy on sexual abuse. President Moon Jae-in apologized for the case and promised justice for the victim, but the military has betrayed its commitment to a thorough investigation resulting in stern punishment. The victim's father called for an independent counsel to investigate the death of his daughter, saying he could not trust the military's action. Given that the female officer may not have taken her own life had the Air Force responded properly to her initial report of sexual harassment, it cannot avoid responsibility for her wrongful death. It's imperative then to consider extraordinary measures, including the appointment of a special prosecutor and the firing of Defense Minister Suh Wook, holding him accountable for the botched investigation. Lee should prove his caliber as presidential contender Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung was elected presidential candidate for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), late Sunday, by garnering 50.29 percent of the total votes in the party's primaries. With a majority of support, he snatched the party's ticket for the presidential election slated for March next year, without a runoff. It is Lee's second presidential bid since he was defeated by President Moon Jae-in in the primary contest in 2017. Lee faces numerous challenges ahead in his bid to win the crucial election. First, despite earlier expectations of a landslide victory, he barely eked out a slight majority of votes in the primaries, after his rival Lee Nak-yon beat him with 62.3 percent of the votes in the third round of electorate voting. Lee Nak-yon camp called for a runoff, claiming Lee failed to win a majority, garnering only 49.32 percent of the votes, a demand rebuffed by the party's election committee. The former prime minister even indicated the governor could possibly be imprisoned ahead of the election due to his alleged involvement in a massive land development scandal. Such a "judiciary risk" will likely continue to haunt Lee in the presidential race. Governor Lee has been attempting to dodge the buck by dubbing the development project in Seongnam a corruption scandal mainly involving members of the opposition People Power Party (PPP). Yet Lee should bear in mind that his humiliating defeat in the third round of electorate voting indicates the need for him to deal with the issue more seriously and humbly. Among other things, he should proactively cooperate with the prosecution's investigation of the scandal. As he has become the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Lee should come up with a package of policies and visions for the nation and people. Lee has been pursuing "universal welfare" as a major presidential campaign pledge that features providing a universal basic income to all citizens, thus easing economic inequality by boosting justice in distribution. Lee also needs to come clear on the lingering suspicion surrounding his family affairs and relationship with an actress. Opponents have been denouncing Lee's policies as "populism." He should explain this to the people. Lee also needs to offer up his vision so that the nation can sharpen its competitiveness in preparation for the forthcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution and level up its state prestige since entering the rank of advanced countries. Recent polls show that more than a majority of the people want a change in power, meaning Lee stands less of a chance of winning the presidential election in competition with the PPP, whoever its candidate may be. Given this, he should submit more specific and feasible policies in various areas, such as real estate in particular. Lee also needs to clarify his vision toward the peace process on the Korean Peninsula in light of the floating of the idea of an inter-Korean summit and a declaration to end the Korean War. In his speech at the U.N. General Assembly this year, President Moon Jae-in emphasized that the declaration of an end to the Korean War is an important starting point for making a new order of "reconciliation and cooperation" on the Korean Peninsula, and urged the international community to join forces in supporting an end-of-war declaration. By Yang Moo-jin In his speech at the U.N. General Assembly this year, President Moon Jae-in emphasized that the declaration of an end to the Korean War is an important starting point for making a new order of "reconciliation and cooperation" on the Korean Peninsula, and urged the international community to join forces in supporting an end-of-war declaration. Immediately after President Moon's remarks, North Korean vice foreign minister Ri Thae-song said on Sept. 24 that an end-of-war declaration would be "premature," but on the same day, Kim Yo-jong, who holds the title of the vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, acknowledged the necessity and significance of the declaration, saying that it was an "admirable idea." On Sept. 22, the U.S. State Department said that the U.S. is ready to meet with North Korea without preconditions, and urged North Korea to respond positively. China also expressed its support for an early end to the state of war on the Korean Peninsula and expressed its position that it would fulfill its due role as a party in the Armistice Agreement. At this point, I would like to examine what meaning the pursuit of an end-of-war declaration has as a political declaration to end the state of war on the Korean Peninsula. First, the end-of-war declaration is a very meaningful measure as a gateway to peace for the two Koreas, and as a catalyst for negotiations on denuclearization. Concluding a peace treaty in order to establish a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula has been planned since the time of the Armistice Agreement, and was agreed upon by the leaders of the two Koreas in the Panmunjeom Declaration in 2018. The end-of-war declaration, a political declaration in the process of going toward a peace treaty, can serve as an important momentum for dialogue. In addition, the end-of-war declaration could provide political momentum as a facilitator for denuclearization. North Korea has demanded the removal of military threats and security guarantees as conditions for denuclearization. The end-of-war declaration can serve as an initial measure to these demands. Some people express concerns that North Korea might not implement denuclearization measures after the declaration, but the series of processes involving the end-of-war declaration and the peace treaty, as well as the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and North Korea, cannot be separated from the denuclearization process, and a virtuous circle of denuclearization and the establishment of peace can be created with an end-of-war declaration. Second, the declaration to end the Korean War is a useful step in that it makes it possible to promote mutual trust without more economic costs or a radical shift in military affairs immediately. The DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesperson's statement (July 2018) put considerable emphasis on how important that declaration was: "As for the issue of announcing an end-of-war declaration at an early date, it is the first process of diffusing tension and establishing a lasting peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and at the same time, it constitutes the first factor in creating trust between the DPRK and the U.S." At that time, North Korea appeared less interested in the ongoing stalemate. As North Korea appreciates the value of the end-of-war declaration as a confidence-building measure, we might finally be able to find common ground through the next dialogue. Some say that the end-of-war declaration would weaken the South Korea-U.S. alliance and lead to calls for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea. As mentioned earlier, the end-of-war declaration won't cause an immediately radical shift in military affairs. Further, the armistice agreement will be kept until the peace treaty will be signed. Regardless, an end-of-war declaration saying that U.S. forces remain in Korea is a matter that the South Korea-U.S. alliance must decide as part of the consistent position of our government. Third, the end-of-war declaration will keep North Korea from being able to justify nuclear development and the creation of military tensions. The Permanent Representative of the DPRK to the United Nations said in the U.N. General Assembly (Sept. 27) that "DPRK-U.S. relations are not merely the relations between unfriendly countries without diplomatic relations but between belligerent countries that are legally in a state of war." He argued that "it is because our state is growing (a) reliable deterrent that can control the hostile forces in their attempts for military invasion." Once the Korean War is officially declared over, the notion of there being "belligerent countries" becomes meaningless. Therefore, the end-of-war declaration could weaken the justification and basis for further conflict or advancement of North Korea's nuclear capacity, contributing to the maintenance of the stability on the Korean Peninsula. In terms of peace on the Korean Peninsula and improvement of inter-Korean relations, consistent efforts irrelevant to the interests of any political group are needed. The government should continue with pursuing the end-of-war declaration until the end of its term. Besides the restoration of the inter-Korean communication lines, I hope that North Korea takes one step further and responds to the discussion on the end-of-war declaration with a future-oriented perspective. Yang Moo-jin (yangmj@kyungnam.ac.kr) is a professor at the University of North Korean Studies and the vice chair of the Korean Association of North Korean Studies. He is also a standing committee member of the National Unification Advisory Council and a policy consultant at the Ministry of Unification. LG Chem CEO Shin Hak-cheol speaks during a virtual press conference in this photo taken in July. Courtesy of LG Chem By Yi Whan-woo LG Chem said Monday that it will build two technical service centers one in the United States and one in Europe as part of efforts to better serve its customers and partner companies worldwide. The two service centers, costing 120 billion won ($100 million) combined, will be responsible for offering solutions on product development, quality improvement and other technical issues concerning petrochemical products made by LG Chem. The construction of the two facilities will be completed, and they will be fully operational, by 2023. "They will certainly help us enhance our global market position," the petrochemical unit of LG Group said, noting that the U.S. and Europe combined account for more than 20 percent of its global customers. The company also said that the facilities will be critical to form a four-way service network linking Korea and China, as well as the U.S. and Europe. Since 1995, LG Chem has been operating a technical service center in Osan, Gyeonggi Province. Currently it is building a second one in the eastern Chinese region of Huadong, which is expected to be completed by next year. The U.S. service center will be located in Ohio, which LG Chem assessed as "an optimal location" for convenience in logistics and transportation. The U.S. state is also home to many LG customers, such as auto parts manufacturers and interior design product suppliers. The service center will be a three-floor building on 7,600 square meters of land. A wide range of equipment will be ready, as well as teams of experts on compression and injection molding, plus 70 researchers, to meet the specific demands of customers. Frankfurt in Germany has been picked to host the European service center, after considering its convenience in terms of transportation and its accessibility to regional customers. The city is home to LG Chem's European sales headquarters, too. The service center will have relevant equipment, experts and researchers in accordance with customer demands. LG Chem in the long term plans to nurture the Korea service center to oversee international technical support. The China service center will focus on helping to stimulate the regional economy, job creation and cooperation with regional communities. The U.S. and Europe centers will be used to recruit skilled workers and expand LG Chem's lineup of eco-friendly products. "The technical service centers indeed will be essential for us to take the initiative in the global market," LG Chem said. Meanwhile, LG Chem will spend 60 billion won in the U.S. to produce acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a highly functional plastic. The plant will be in Ohio, with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons once constructed in 2023. The company logo of Samsung Electronics is seen at the entrance of its promotional center in Seoul in this file photo. The tech giant is among the Korean companies affected by a series of international measures on cross-border trade and tariffs. Korea Times file By Yi Whan-woo A series of toughened international measures on cross-border trade and tariffs are posing challenges for major Korean companies that rely heavily on exports. The measures include a digital tax to be implemented by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. government's request for global chipmakers to disclose secret business information, the European Union's first-ever carbon border tax plan and Japan's trade curbs exclusively targeting Korea. The affected companies include: Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, POSCO, Hyundai Steel, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). Concerning the digital tax, Samsung Electronics, along with SK hynix, will be subject to a 15-percent tariff to be imposed on multinational enterprises from 2023 according to the OECD tax scheme announced on Oct. 8, in order to return more profits made by these business groups to the countries where they operate. Samsung Electronics is already facing pressure from the Joe Biden administration, as it is fated to hand over sensitive business information, such as the types of technology nodes it utilizes, the target revenue of its semiconductor business, inventory levels, management planning strategies and the types of materials used in its semiconductors. Announced in September, Washington's request comes as U.S. President Joe Biden is moving to reclaim America's leadership in the global chip industry and enhance the global supply chain with allied nations amid a row against China. The Korean tech giant's quandary comes after it managed to find alternative supply routes for key tech materials other than Japan, following Tokyo's export ban on such materials since 2019 in a diplomatic tit-for-tat with Seoul. "Samsung Electronics is perhaps the most affected Korean enterprise amid the changing diplomatic and business circumstances," said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University. Introduced in July, the EU's carbon tax plan intends to levy border taxes on relevant imports from Korea's steel, shipbuilding, cement, aluminum and electricity industries, collectively labelled as "carbon-intensive" sectors. The tax plan is expected to start in 2023 with a transition period. If they fail to meet conditions proposed by the EU, Korea's steelmakers are estimated to pay billions of dollars in additional taxes a year from 2030. "Such an amount will be more than the operating profits of the major steelmakers," an industry source said, adding that POSCO and Hyundai Steel will need to come up with an alternative manufacturing method to replace blast furnaces that emit high levels of carbon dioxide. POSCO has been using blast furnaces for 40 to 50 years, while Hyundai Steel has been using them for about 10 years. The domestic shipbuilding industry is known to have emitted some 208,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year, with 60 percent coming from the manufacturing process. With Europe being their major market, HHI and DSME have joined forces with other domestic shipbuilders to go carbon neutral. Villagers watch a burnt car, which ran over and killed farmers, at Tikonia village in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Oct. 4. AP-Yonhap The son of an Indian minister has been arrested on preliminary charges of murder, police said Sunday, a week after the death of eight people during a farmers' protest sparked national outrage. Ashish Mishra was detained in Uttar Pradesh late Saturday over the incident in the northern state's Lakhimpur Kheri district, where farmers were demonstrating as part of their year-long campaign against contentious agriculture laws. Farmers claimed that a convoy belonging to Mishra and his father the junior home affairs minister Ajay Mishra slammed into protesters, killing four of them. Angry demonstrators then set fire to several cars and four other people, including a driver and a journalist, were killed, according to authorities and local media reports. Farmers mourn the deaths of fellow farmers after being run over by a car owned by India's junior home minister at Tikonia village in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Oct. 4. AP-Yonhap Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's office on Monday congratulated journalist Maria Ressa for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it "a victory for a Filipina" for which it was happy to see. Ressa, founder of Philippine news site Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov shared the 2021 prize after braving the wrath of the leaders of the Philippines and Russia to expose corruption and misrule. Ressa has been fighting multiple legal challenges in courts related to Rappler's dogged investigative reporting of Duterte's government, its bloody war on drugs, and its use of social media to target opponents. "It is a victory for a Filipina and we are very happy for that," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told a regular news conference, responding to a question on what the award meant for the government. "Of course it is true there are individuals who feel Maria Ressa still has to clear her name before the courts," he said, in the first comment on Friday's award from Duterte's camp. The firebrand leader has described Rappler, launched in 2012, as a "fake news outlet" and a tool of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, which Ressa has dismissed as nonsense. The Prize was hailed by many in the Philippines, with critics saying it is a rebuke on Duterte, a frequent critic of Rappler. It was the first Nobel Peace Prize for the Philippines and the first for journalists since the German Carl von Ossietzky won it in 1935. The Kremlin congratulated Muratov on Friday, describing the investigative journalist as talented and brave. Asked on Monday what her message would be to Duterte, Ressa urged him not to pursue a divide and conquer approach. "I beg you, unite this nation. Don't tear us apart," she said in an interview with news channel ANC. (Reuters) A performer of Russia's legendary Bolshoi Theatre was killed Saturday in an accident on stage during the performance of an opera, the Moscow company said. The theatre said the incident took place during a set change in Sadko, a 19th century opera by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. "The performance was immediately stopped and the audience was asked to leave," the theatre's press service told the Interfax news agency. Moscow's Investigative Committee said in a statement that it was probing the death of the 37-year-old male performer. Citing a source, Interfax reported that the performer and was crushed by a ramp during a set change. The accident is not the first tragedy to strike Moscow's renowned theatre. In 2013, a senior violinist died after falling into the orchestra pit. (AFP) Description Requisition ID 18425 - Posted 10/07/2021 - CareOregon - Full Time - Permanent - Portland To protect the health and well-being of our members, employees and community, CareOregon requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious exception as a qualification of employment. Candidates who receive an offer of employment by CareOregon, must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or submit a medical or religious exception request, which will be evaluated in accordance with CareOregon's standard accommodation process. Position Title: Spanish Translator Department: Member Engagement Title of Manager: Member Engagement Manager Supervises: Non-supervisory position Exemption Status: Non-Exempt Requisition: 18425 *This position is 100% remote within the state of Oregon or 6 approved counties in Southwest Washington (Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Klickitat, Skamania)* Job Summary The Spanish Translator role is responsible for the translation of assigned member materials from English to Spanish. This work includes translating a daily volume of approximately 3,000-4,000 non-technical source words within a translation environment, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, and providing ongoing maintenance of the translation memory (TM) database and term base. In collaboration with the language access team, this position helps promote, maintain and improve language access and services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) members and families across the state of Oregon. The role is responsible for the on-time delivery of assigned translation products and the review of products completed by other resources as needed. Essential Responsibilities Translate member materials from English to Spanish using computer-aided translation software (CAT), including TM and term base; written materials range from correspondence about benefits to educational materials. Provide ongoing maintenance to the TM database and term base including adding new terms and suggesting edits. Ensure that translations properly convey meaning and adhere to reading level requirements. Ensure translated materials are consistent with brand and style guidelines. Provide proofreading and editing as needed to support the quality and accuracy of translation documents submitted by vendors or contractors Collaborate with copywriters, graphic designers, project managers and reviewers on a daily basis to create products that meet all standards. Balance time-sensitive, quick turn product deadline submissions with longer-term project deadlines. Produce culturally and linguistically appropriate materials. Organizational Responsibilities Perform work in alignment with the organization's mission, vision, and values. Support the organization's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion by fostering a culture of open mindedness, cultural awareness, compassion, and respect for all individuals. Strive to meet annual business goals in support the organization's strategic goals. Adhere to the organization's policies, procedures, and other relevant compliance needs. Perform other duties as needed. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required Familiarity with current best practices for translation for US-based Spanish-speaking target audience Familiarity with current best practices for translating marketing materials Knowledge of terminology management and use of a term base Ability to work under pressure and deliver products with tight deadlines Ability to handle multiple priorities, processes and demands in a dynamic work environment Knowledge of basic managed care concepts, the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and Medicare Intermediate level skill with MS Office Suite including Outlook, Word and Excel Excellent spoken and written English communication skills Ability to effectively assist with the translation of all forms of member correspondence, health care and insurance materials Ability to work effectively, both independently and within a team Ability to use discretion, good judgment and know when to ask for assistance or direction Ability to effectively collaborate and interact with internal and external individuals at all levels Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups Ability to share information and lessons learned with manager Excellent organizational skills Ability to exercise initiative and sustain motivation Ability to actively support the mission, values and goals of CareOregon and its member groups Understanding of Oregon interpretation certification/qualification requirements helpful Physical Skills and Abilities Lifting/Carrying up to 20 Pounds Pushing/Pulling up to 10 Pounds Pinching/Retrieving Small Objects Crouching/Crawling Reaching Climbing Stairs Repetitive Finger/Wrist/Elbow/ Shoulder/Neck Movement 0 hours/day 0 hours/day 0 hours/day 0 hours/day 0 hours/day 0 hours/day More than 6 hours/day Standing Walking Sitting Bending Seeing Reading Hearing Speaking Clearly 0 hours/day 0 hours/day 0 hours/day 0 hours/day More than 6 hours/day More than 6 hours/day 3-6 hours/day 3-6 hours/day Cognitive and Other Skills and Abilities Ability to focus on and comprehend information, learn new skills and abilities, assess a situation and seek or determine appropriate resolution, accept managerial direction and feedback, and tolerate and manage stress. Education and/or Experience Required: Minimum 3 years' experience providing English to Spanish translation services Current American Translator Association (ATA) translation certification OR a postsecondary degree in translation from an accredited institution in the U.S. or abroad in lieu of ATA certification Experience working with computer-aided translation (CAT) software Experience proofreading and editing Preferred: Desktop Translation Publishing (DTP) experience Experience with quality assurance Experience working with alternative formats such as large print and audio Experience translating healthcare and marketing materials Experience working with a corporate or agency creative team Working Conditions Environment: This position's primary responsibilities typically take place in the following environment(s) (check all that apply on a regular basis): Inside/office Clinics/health facilities Member homes Other_________________________________________ Travel: This position may include occasional required or optional travel outside of the workplace, in which the employee's personal vehicle, local transit, or other means of transportation may be used. Equipment: General office equipment Hazards: n/a Candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply. CareOregon is committed to building a linguistically and culturally diverse and inclusive work environment Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Equal opportunity employer. This company considers all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Email this job to a friend The job has been sent to Job title: * Your email address: * Your friend's email address: Message: Maximum character limit: 1000 * Confirm you are not a robot: Job title:Your email address:Your friend's email address: Message:Confirm you are not a robot: Career Opportunities: Spanish Translator (18425) Category Interpreters and Translators Experience 3 to 20+ years Job type Full time Requirements See job description. Position Objective: Contributes to the provision of high-quality, cost-effective healthcare as a provider of direct and indirect patient care and by effectively collaborating with other members of the health care team. The LPN contributes to the nursing process in a team relationship with the Registered Nurse. Essential Job Duties: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions Provides direct care to patients and families in a culturally, developmentally, and appropriate manner. Consistently and thoroughly assesses patients to collect data and identify learning needs according to established standards and policies. Collaborates with the health care team in developing and individualizing a plan of care for each patient in accordance with established standards, appropriate prioritization of problems/needs, and mutually agreed upon goals. Efficiently implements the patient's plan of care in accordance with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and guidelines. Demonstrates proficiency in medication administration, pain management, and other unit or initiative-specific skills. Organizes and reprioritizes patient care activities based on patient and/or environmental changes. Acts as a patient 1:1 sitter as needed. Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of the plan(s) of care, making recommendations for revision to the health care team based on analysis of patient responses to interventions. Consistently communicates changes in patient status to the appropriate members of the health care team. Participates in QI, CPI, and risk management activities at the unit, department, or organizational level. Participates in unit shared governance according to departmental standards. Participates in the education and orientation of new staff; evaluates delegated activities for expected patient care outcomes. Educational/Experience Requirements: Successful completion of the LPN IV Medication Course and the NLM Medication Exam. HS diploma/equivalent Preferred Educational/Experience Requirements Current enrollment in LPN to BSN Bridge Program Two years Nursing Rehab and/or Skilled Nursing experience Long Term Acute Care Hospital experience (LTACH) RequiredLicense/Certifications: Adherence to credentialing requirements of DCMC as stated in the nursing bylaws. Current licensure as a practical nurse by the Maryland Board of Nursing. American Heart Association Healthcare Providers BLS. NRP (Nurse Residency Program) is preferred within 1 year of employment at LHDCMC Working Conditions, Equipment, Physical Demands: There is a reasonable expectation that employees in this position will be exposed to blood-borne pathogens. Physical Demands: Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The above job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; your supervisor may assign other duties as deemed necessary. We will be at home during the Thanksgiving holiday. We will make a brief trip away from home. We will spend most of the Thanksgiving holiday away from home. Vote View Results Turning off a little street in the heart of the historic centre of Naples, you will find a sign: Sinistra classe rivoluzione, sezione Hans Gerd Ofinger (Left-wing class and revolution, Hans-Gerd Ofinger branch). On 6 October, a rainy afternoon that announced the beginning of autumn, the sign was unveiled to an audience of around 70 people. Gathered together, they bore witness to a new beginning. Our office has been open for three years to anyone looking for revolutionary ideas and methods to orientate themselves in an increasingly chaotic and barbaric world. This is a space for those who are committed to transforming these ideas into a force capable of changing this world for the better. It is a place for those engaged in a conscious and tenacious fight for this goal. Forced into our homes when the pandemic broke out in March 2020, and then jolted around in a baffling state of re-openings and additional lockdowns, we found ourselves in a newfound state of hardship, and faced with a serious challenge: keeping our office. The pandemic did not stop our daily work for a single moment, which was moved online for some time. We knew we had to prepare to return to face-to-face activity, which would require more energy and determination than ever before. The first thing we said to ourselves was: an exceptional moment requires commitment to doing an exceptional job. A testament to our efforts An online fundraising drive allowed us to achieve results above our expectations. In just a few months, we collected over 4,000 euros from our comrades and supporters. This outcome is the fruit of the work done before and during the pandemic, based on rigorous discussion and a constant search for new recruits to the cause of Marxism. Image: Sinistra Classe Rivoluzione With the funds raised, we decided to strengthen and improve the office. And so, the comrades became graphic designers, painters, masons, fitters. The result of this effort is a more beautiful and more welcoming space. Yesterday we re-inaugurated our headquarters after three years. We presented the new space, first and foremost, to those who have directly contributed to making this happen, either financially or by taking part in the renovation work. But there were also new faces, young and very young people whom we met later. For them, the doors of our headquarters opened for the first time. They were joined by special guests. The legacy of Hans-Gerd Ofinger The Naples section dedicated its offices to comrade Hans-Gerd Ofinger, founder of the German section of the International Marxist Tendency. Hans left us abruptly last March, after battling against the virus that has profoundly impacted the entire world. Hans's wife and daughter, comrades in life and struggle, and a group of IMT members from the German and Austrian sections (which Hans also helped to build) wanted to be there to thank us, to remember Hans and wish the Neapolitan section all the best in its future endeavours. Image: Sinistra Classe Rivoluzione Hans's family has decided to make an important financial contribution both to the Neapolitan office and to the entire Italian section, which is committed to opening further offices throughout Italy. In an epoch in which political offices are closing, Sinistra classe rivoluzione is moving against the stream, convinced that there is a need for spaces in which to discuss politics and organise our struggle. Antonio Erpice, from the Naples section, provided a brief portrait of Hans. This contained only a few of the most essential features, which were sufficient to arouse the audiences affection, and the will to carry on the fight. Antonio spoke of a comrade with unlimited curiosity for what was happening in other countries and for comrades from all sections. A comrade who, at international meetings, helped us to understand the deeper processes taking place among the German workers and in their real conditions of life: shattering the myth of Germany", which also plays a large part in political rhetoric on the southern side of the Alps. He called on us to take as an example a comrade who fought in a difficult period, in which the forces of the left were diminishing or disappearing, and the revolutionary forces were left in pieces. This was the period following the fall of the Berlin Wall, a challenge that did not cause Hans to step backwards, but saw him march straight ahead on his revolutionary path, surrounded by new comrades in the struggle, and guided by an untiring faith in the future. Antonio concluded his speech with a wish that young people in Naples hear the name of Hans and bring him to life through their words and deeds, by spreading the ideas to which he dedicated himself. The name emblazoned above our headquarters has returned from a long journey, and will bring us new people willing to follow Hans example. A revolutionary example Hans's wife, Maria Clara, concurred with Antonios portrait, and offered additional memories of her own. She recalled Lenin's words that Hans liked to quote: a good revolutionary must be a good listener. Hans had enormous knowledge of the Italian and international labour movement, listened to each comrade with attention, and held them back after the meetings to question them about the conditions of the working class in their country. Image: Sinistra Classe Rivoluzione Hans was an optimist, attentive to everyone: a strong man who was able to find the balance between a life of struggle and a life of love, between political commitment and family. Rosa, Hans's daughter, thanked the Neapolitan comrades and brought us the warm greetings of the German section, which Hans and Maria Clara and Rosa have both helped to strengthen and grow. Alessandro Giardiello, from the National Executive of Sinistra classe rivoluzione, recalled the words of Ted Grant, the founder of the International Marxist Tendency, who said that when certain ideas get into your blood they never abandon you", and that a Marxist must always look at the world from the point of view of the working class. The two phrases became guiding principles in Hans's life, and we strive to make them our own, because they also describe every comrade who consciously dedicates their lives to the revolutionary struggle. Alessandro recalled Hans's great loyalty to the international Marxist Tendency, but also his tenacity in defending a position, even going so far as to clash with top leaders, if convinced of his rightness. He added that every communist must know how to do this. Image: Sinistra Classe Rivoluzione Hans life was dedicated to revolutionary politics, and set an example for all of us as members of the IMT. He told us about Hans's attention to the Italian and Neapolitan sections. At every opportunity he sought a discussion with our fellow workers from the Fiat factory in Pomigliano, asking them about their working conditions, the climate among the workers and the perspectives for the work among them. After the speeches, an excellent dinner helped to pass the rest of the evening. There was a lively atmosphere, warmed by the enthusiasm for the work still to be done. We distributed copies of our newspaper, Rivoluzione, pamphlets and magazines on the history of the labour movement and on other issues at the centre of the current political debate, addressed from a clearly Marxist point of view. As we closed the office doors to go home for the evening, we came to think: we definitely need a bigger space! And Maria Clara's words rang in our ears: Hans did not live long enough to see socialism, but we carry on his work. The struggle continues! Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. As fast as I was installing equipment, they were paying me to remove equipment, said Tavarez, who also recalled being furloughed more than a dozen times and being sent to jobs around the country and beyond. His wife, 39, who works with Tavarez, lived in Bogota, Colombia, but came to New Jersey with family to escape decades of war between guerilla fighters and the government. An average of 37,153 vaccinations are being administered to Pennsylvania residents each day, according to CDC data. Of those, 18,562 are first doses. The number of total vaccinations per day is up 38.6% over the last 30 days. The number of first doses being given per day is up 39.4% over the last 30 days. Santiago, 37, of Allentown (D) is a magisterial district judge whose court covers parts of center city and the west end where he has served since 2014. He has also worked as a law clerk in Berks County Court and had a private law practice for a year before he was elected. As a judge in district court, where all criminal charges are initially filed, Santiago said he has been involved in hundreds of felony and misdemeanor cases. He also has presided over civil matters such as landlord-tenant lawsuits and small claims. He graduated from Gwynned Mercy College and Widener School of Law. We as Democrats know if we do not have a Democratic governor to replace Wolf, we will become Texas or Georgia or Florida. We have an out-of-control legislature who is trying to destroy democracy, theyre engaging in a sham recount, said Jill Zipin, a party activist from Montgomery County who has known Shapiro for years. Democrats understand that democracy is on the line, and were not playing games here. And that Josh will be a defender of democracy and that Josh will be able to protect us. So on any given day, your voter registration rolls are going to be out of date, Hamlin said. Theyre only as current as your ability to keep up with the rate of change, if you will, in those records, and ERIC provides those tools. The Furnace, Oct. 9. Jake Howell stands before a crowd of dozens of Missoula music fans, singing a song he wrote, Saturdays when I forget Behind him is the band, four men he trusts with his life. Their first studio album, self-titled Cosmic Sans, has just dropped, and they are celebra This story has been updated to include comment from UM President Seth Bodnar. Following publication, UM announced it would place Rob Smith on paid leave pending an investigation into the professor's blog. The Associated Students of the University of Montana passed a resolution calling for Smith's termination. Tenured University of Montana computer science professor Rob Smith maintained a blog in which he disparaged women, Muslims and the LGBTQ+ community. On the blog, he urges men of all ages to date women close to age 18, because they peak at 16 then quickly lose value. Your physical attractiveness is your most valuable asset in finding a husband, Smith writes as advice to young women in a blog post titled Counsel to young people about spouse selection. This value peaks from 16-18, fades slowly until 25, then starts fading quickly. Your pool of potential husbands shrinks significantly with every year past 18, the post continues. Smith supports this claim, and many others, by citing scripture, including Mormon texts. According to his blog, titled Upward Thought, Smith was excommunicated from the Mormon church. He has run the blog for eight years, and it links to a YouTube channel. The videos bear UMs Rob Smiths voice, according to Jesse Johnson, the chair of the computer science department. Johnson said he reported Upward Thought to his superiors after seeing the post Isaiah 3 part 2: The problem with the women. He didnt name who he reported it to. He emailed his coworkers about the blog on Sept. 17. UMs strategic communications director Dave Kuntz said the Presidents office was made aware of it on Sept. 23. Smith declined the Kaimins multiple requests for an in-person interview. He did not deny ownership of the blog. UM President Seth Bodnar tweeted he was personally disgusted by Smiths views as reported by the Montana Kaimin. He advised Officials take immediate action to address these matters. Kuntz said the University would conduct an investigation of Smith and his blog. Johnson reviewed the blog when Smith was up for tenure in 2017, but said he found nothing more than fundamentalist Mormon theology. He couldnt tie the blog to UMs Rob Smith because the name is so common, and Smith had yet to link his YouTube channel. The blog wasnt mentioned in Johnsons tenure opinion to the dean. Smith was awarded tenure. Faculty, spokespeople and deans interviewed by the Kaimin say Smiths views run counter to campus values. But because of the First Amendment, the University cant take action against Smith without Title IX finding discrimination or harassment in his actions, according to Kuntz. Several coworkers and students said Smith has not voiced the views on his blog in his classroom or workplace. The ideas in that blog are ethically and intellectually bankrupt, said Douglas Brinkerhoff, a faculty member in the computer science department. Ethics is among the courses Smith teaches this semester. I would not advise any student, but particularly one from an underrepresented group in [computer science], to work with or take a course from someone who holds the views declared in these blog posts and videos. In fact, I would advise the opposite, Brinkerhoff wrote in an email. It would be unethical for me to either promote or be complacent in placing a student in that situation. Last week, as the Kaimin began reporting on his blog, Smith deleted all the posts and made private the videos on his YouTube channel that referenced gender. The Kaimin saved PDFs of the posts and downloaded the videos, which can be found on the news tab of our website, montanakaimin.com. The blog was archived on the Wayback Machine. The link to the Wayback Machine no longer worked past the first page of posts after the story was published online. After the storys publication online, UM President Seth Bodnar responded to Smiths blog, stating, I am personally disgusted by the homophobic and misogynistic views that were reported in the Montana Kaimin. Building a culture of respect, empowerment, and equity is foundational to our mission at UM as well as personally important to me. I have directed the appropriate university officials to take immediate action to address this matter through investigatory and supportive measures. On the morning of Oct. 11, a website was made entitled Fire Rob Smith, which directs students to the social media accounts and gives a template for students to use to email the president and provosts offices. Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts, with the handles @firerobsmith, @FireRobSmith and Fire Rob Smith respectively, emerged. The website called on students to boycott Smiths classes and sign a petition. By the morning of Oct. 12, the petition had over 1,500 signatures and the Instagram account @firerobsmith had 318 followers. Following Mondays events, on Oct. 12, the Kaimin received an email from Kuntz stating Smith would be put on paid leave during the Universitys investigation of his blog. Smith will not be teaching or physically on campus during his leave, and his courses will be taught by another instructor, according to Kuntz. The universitys goal is to make this transition with as little disruption as possible for the students in the computer science department, Kuntz stated in the email on Oct. 12. In a blog post, Isaiah 3 part 2: The problem with the women, Smith writes: It will come across as some wacko propaganda, but did you know that women peak physically at age 16? It is interesting that, on the one hand, modern society has made it taboo for a man to marry a 16 year old or so woman, suggesting it is inappropriate to find a 16 year old or so woman attractive, while simultaneously designing all manner of makeup products and fine-twined linen to make women older than this look as similar as possible to 16 year old or so women. [I use the word woman because historically people used to base a womans physical maturity on--you know, her physical maturity, instead of on an arbitrary age.] No amount of training can make an elite female runner run faster than an elite male runner, or an elite female lifter stronger than an elite male lifter. Similarly, women will always, for example, make decisions based on feelings rather than logic, Smith writes in the same post. Men and women are different when it comes to production, even in a service/information economy. Testosterone creates drive and aggression, which translates into professional performance. Because of this, a graph of production for the whole population would be a Pareto distribution, and you would find far more men at the right side than women, Smith states on the blog. Smith then goes on to say womens bodies become less valuable after 30, so women should seek a husband and have kids as soon as possible. In the post Counsel to young people about spouse selection, Smith also offers advice to men seeking wives. If you are in your peak, seek a woman in hers. This means you should be dating women who are as close to 18 as you can get, whatever age you are, Smith writes. ...the younger a woman is, the more likely she is not jaded, the more positive energy she will have, and the more years you will have with her before rolling the dice of the hormonal changes that might turn her into a completely different woman than you married. If you are a man, any woman you marry will either be a mom or a daughter to you. If you are a woman, any man you marry will either be a dad or a son to you, Smith writes in You marry a dad, a son, a mom, or a daughter. In an ideal situation, the potential husband is fulfilling the role of father, the potential wife is fulfilling the role of daughter. Smith also writes blog posts about topics other than women and their value. In the post Misplaced outrage, Smith says child sex trafficking and pedophilia are due to modern sins like the acceptance of queer and transgender people. You cant be surprised at the pedophiles when you support same sex relationships. What principle allows you to do that? Age of consent, which is both clearly a social construct and also a relatively recent one? How long do you think the magical edict of 18 will last in a society that has already denied Gods law, universal psychology [1], and basic biology? Smith writes. You cant be surprised at child sex trafficking when you believe that a 6 year old can choose whether they are a boy or a girl or a 14 year old girl can decide to have an abortion, the blog post states. What percent of prostitutes were kidnapped at 12 and held at gunpoint for their whole career? Do they exist? Certainly. But is that who we are talking about when we use blanket terms like sex trafficking (which includes, by the definition of those who make the websites, everyone whether of age or underage, consenting or not). There is a reason we arent talking about sex slaves. Slaves cant leave. Prostitutes choose not to, Smith writes. In the same vein, Smith writes in a post called Homosexuality: Homosexuality was forbidden by the law of Moses, and is still a sin today, because a person living in a homosexual lifestyle cant progress as far as one who is not in joy, happiness, etc. It is not always the case that Gods commandments are borne out by scientific evidence. In this case, there is abundant evidence that practicing homosexuals are much more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems, kill themselves, etc, than heterosexuals. A post entitled Young women say they want to make an impact talks disparagingly about the students Smith teaches and employs. By and large 18-20 year olds today are ships with no rudder, no bearing, and no sails. Of course, there are exceptions, but I am generalizing here. I should not have been surprised, I suppose. Ive employed dozens of people of those currently 18-26 or so, and I could not have a lower opinion of these people. With very few exceptions, these people are ill equipped for life in ways that probably are beyond fixing, Smith writes. He was disappointed in his male students, who Smith says have done nothing with their lives but go to public school, play video games and watch porn. Smith writes he was disappointed in female students for different reasons. While he was glad to see they wanted to make an impact, Smith writes he feels saddened they wanted to do so by going to do what every young women does: travel the world, sleep with a dozen young men, get tattoos and a nose ring, gain some weight, die [sic] their hair blue and pink and gray, get a career, and stay single until they are over 30, at which point they will settle with the first guy they can find that makes six figures. According to the views shared on Smiths blog, the way for women to make a positive impact in the world, serve God and find personal fulfillment is by starting a family. Intentionally raising kids in a topsy-turvy world, another post on Upward Thought, goes into more details about how Smith views education. One false idea widely promoted is that girls should experience the same kind of education as boys. Many reasons are given for this. Here is the reality: If you follow that advice, in addition to all the challenges women face in finding a husband worth marrying and learning the difficult lessons needed to be a good mother (all of which they will have to do with many years less preparation due to filling that time with vocational training and/or working), you are creating an almost insurmountable barrier of forcing your daughter to choose between the quick-and-easy reward of what tend to be simple jobs that women take and the hedonistic pleasure that money buys and the long haul, mundane role of a wife and mother. If you think many girls choose correctly when presented this choice, look around. While most eventually recognize the Faustian bargain they have made, they almost never do so until they are 30+ and their ability to qualify for a good husband and learn what it takes to be a good wife and mother is exceedingly reduced, Smith writes. Yet another post on the blog, titled Muslim Immigration: Stacking the deck to fulfill prophecy, claims Islam is an inherently violent faith. The fact is that one cannot both be a peaceful Muslim and a faithful Muslim. In other words, Muslims are only peaceful to the degree that they are not Muslims, this post reads. While, according to students, Smith keeps a seating chart and wears a mask in accordance with the Universitys COVID-19 guidelines, he still writes about death and COVID-19 on the blog. Almost everyone who is dying from coronavirus has pre-existing conditions. This doesnt make their lives less valuable, but every one of them would already be dead, sometimes decades ago, in any other time in human history. They have already received a massive blessing of extended life. They have already received more mercy than they were due, Smith writes in the post Why should God stop coronavirus? According to the syllabus, Smith offers no option for remote learning in his computer ethics class. Multiple students and faculty members, while disturbed by the blogs contents, said Smith does not bring these views into the classroom. Esther Lyon Delsordo, a senior computer science major, said she worked for Smith in summer 2020 at his business, Prime Labs. The company develops tools for analyzing chemical samples by measuring specific light spectrums. Since the end of the internship, Lyon Delsordo said she has avoided Smith, and she wasnt surprised to hear about his derogatory posts about women. Everyone in the office was kind of afraid of him, Lyon Delsordo said. The employees were more playful when he wasnt around, she said, and serious when he was there. That wasnt the case at Lyon Delsordos other internship. While Lyon Delsordo worked at Prime Labs, she said there was one woman working full time as a software engineer. She said all the other women at Prime Labs were interns or grad students. Betta Lyon Delsordo, a senior computer science major and Lyon Delsordos sister, said Smiths name came up frequently in discussions about sexism in the department. Hes the name that comes up again and again when talking about the environment, Betta said. Rachel Burnett, a female student in Smiths computer ethics class this semester, said she hasnt noticed any gender-based discrimination in Smiths class. She did express frustration with his teaching, saying lectures were based on Smiths own opinions and life experiences rather than staying focused on computer ethics. Kerrigan McHood interned at Prime Labs in the summer of 2021. McHood said working at Prime Labs was a good experience. While she said she assumed Smith held conservative views, she thought these views would be relatively normal. She said Smith was always supportive of her and wanted her to continue working at Prime Labs. She is currently in Smiths ethics class. Computer science chair Johnson compared reading through Smiths blog to venturing into a cesspool. I cut myself off. I cant look at it after a certain amount of time, Johnson said. Its been one of the most difficult occurrences of my professional career here. Im totally disturbed by his opinions, Johnson said. Were a public institution. Were here to serve all members of the public. Johnson said he hadnt seen any of the beliefs Smith writes on the Upward Thought blog expressed at work. The six faculty members of the computer science department, two of whom are women, alternate which classes they teach. While Smith is teaching required classes this semester, he sometimes teaches optional courses. Lyon Delsordo was able to avoid taking Smiths classes for the last two years, but Doug Brinkerhoff, another faculty member who has been vocal about the blog, said it would be unlikely for a student majoring in computer science to not have to take one of Smiths classes. Another computer science department faculty member, Travis Wheeler, wrote in an email that he was made aware of the blog and YouTube channel, but Smiths writing wasnt reflective of the department or University. Patricia Duce, a lecturer in the Computer Science department, has had an office next to Smith for the last six years. His blog caught Duce off guard. Its hard to believe someone was making these comments about women, Duce said. She started checking in on students to make sure no one felt threatened or discriminated against. Duce said she mostly checked in with female students her main concern and mentioned the blog to some of them. Its disturbing for them. Theyre shook up about it, Duce said. Duce is also concerned about the male students in the computer science department. She said the faculty are role models for students, and she doesnt want men to think Smiths opinions are acceptable. Julie Baldwin and Matthew Semanoff, associate deans of the College of Humanities and Sciences, said their initial reaction was disgust at Smiths views. They said his blog posts and videos share messages that are antithetical to the colleges values of an open, inclusive campus environment. Baldwin said the College of Humanities and Sciences wants all students to feel like they belong, and that includes making women in STEM fields feel welcome. Our responsibility is to ensure theres a respectful environment in classrooms and in workplaces, Semanoff said. Only 22% of the students in the computer science department are women. Johnson said the gender gap has been a concern for his entire 20 years in the department. The department has made several efforts to close the gap. For example, it reached out to other departments for freshmen to take introductory computer science classes. The department also has a club that sends women to a celebration of women in computing every year. Technology has the power to change the world, and women need to be a part of that, Betta said. But still, the gap exists. Duce, one of Smiths coworkers in UMs computer science department, teaches a web development class with 30 students, only three of which are women. According to Esther Lyon Delsordo, the students in computer science have mixed reviews on Smith. Some students worship him, Lyon Delsordo said. Smith used to be the point of contact for internships, but that position has been taken over by Duce. Sometime between the evening of Sept. 28 and the morning of Sept. 29, Smith took down every post on his blog. On Sept. 29, he made a post entitled The next phase of this blog. We now live in a world where censorship of ideas leads to unprecedented homogeneity of thought. Diversity of ideas provides potential value when reality changes or turns out to be different than we thought. When we suppress ideas different than what we already believe, we not only limit what we can become to what we already are, we make ourselves unnecessarily vulnerable to unanticipated challenges, Smith writes in this post. In an email Sept. 28, the Kaimin requested to meet with Smith for a conversation about ethics. Smith declined. When the Kaimin went into further detail about the story, making reference to his blog, Smith refused to comment again, claiming hed been deceived. In a follow-up email, the Kaimin told Smith reporters would stop by during his Friday office hours. He again refused to comment, and was not at his office Friday during his scheduled hours. The Kaimin returned to Smiths office hours and visited Prime Labs again to try and get Smith on the record, but Smith was unavailable. Though Smiths online opinions run totally contrary to what UM stands for, said Kuntz, UMs director of strategic communications, his blog and video commentary is protected speech. A tenured faculty member has quite a lot of latitude to say and think what they want, Johnson said. However, this case is pushing the limits of tenure about as far as they can go. Duce agreed with Johnson, saying she is unhappy she has to continue working with Smith after discovering the blog. I find it just disgusting that Im going to have to continue to work with someone whos posting comments degrading women, Duce said. I wouldnt be comfortable as a student taking a class from someone with these beliefs about women. His behavior will get very close scrutiny, Johnson said. Hell have to be removed from as many public-facing roles as possible. Kuntz said removing Smith from those roles could be possible if Title IX found hed violated students rights. The University announced on Oct. 12 that it would be pursuing an investigation. Duce and Brinkerhoff both said they hoped the University would do a thorough job of looking into Smiths blog and videos. Brinkerhoff added he hoped Smiths free speech rights would be balanced with students best interests. Associate Dean Semanoff said hed only known about the blog since around Sept. 17, and Associate Dean Baldwin didnt find out about it until she returned from a research trip to find the Kaimins interview request in her inbox. The two said they were looking for guidance from the Provosts office, Title IX and UM Legal Counsel on University policies and procedures with regard to protected speech. Bodnar responds to professor's controversial blog; University promises investigation University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced Monday hed pursue immediate action in response to a Montana Kaimin article detailing Austin Amestoy: From the Montana Kaimin, University of Montana's independent, student-run newspaper, this is the Kaimin Cast for the week of Oct. 11. I'm Austin Amestoy. In August, four women filed a Title IX lawsuit against UM alleging sex discrimination. Weeks later, new allegations emerged that leaders at the School of Law discouraged students and professors from coming forward with their own Title IX complaints. The law school's deans have since resigned, and the university has stated it intends to launch an independent investigation into the complaints. Now, the Montana Kaimin has learned that a computer science professor has been reported by his superiors for writing an online blog described by coworkers as "disturbing" and "ethically bankrupt." This week, news reporter Andy Tallman breaks down the content of professor Rob Smith's blog and YouTube videos and the reaction from UM staff and students. Amestoy: Well, Andy, welcome to the Kaimin Cast where we're not talking about bears this time, despite the tease from last week, and that's because we had a pretty remarkable story drop into our laps, so the bears are going to have to wait a little longer. Andy Tallman: Hi, Austin. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to talk about this wild story. Amestoy: Yes, absolutely. So let's, Andy, start from the beginning. Tell me how the Kaimin first became aware of this UM professor's trail of controversial online writings. Tallman: It originally came in our Slack channel from Mariah, who got it from her boss we don't know where her boss got it from. But we know the original person who came across it was Jesse Johnson, who's the chair of the computer science department at UM. And we know that on Sept. 17, he sent it to his coworkers. He sent it, I believe, to the UM legal counsel and to the deans, so he reported that as soon as he found it. Well, not as soon as he found it. As soon as he found that specific post. Amestoy: So it was a particular post from this blog that prompted Johnson to bring it to the attention of the University. Is that correct? Tallman: Yes, it was the post titled "The Problem with the Women." Amestoy: So the story of how this blog kind of got reported is a little bit complex, but one thing that we do know is that Johnson knew about the blog, and I'm wondering, Andy, if you could tell us in any detail that you can, how Johnson actually came across the blog in the first place. Tallman: He mentioned that, back in 2017, when Rob Smith was up for tenure, he went through the blog. He said at the time, he thought it was just fundamentalist Mormon theology, and also, at the time, the blog didn't link to a YouTube channel with Rob's voice in it, so Johnson didn't have any way to know that it was that same Rob Smith, so it didn't really come up in his tenure opinion to the dean. So he's been aware of the blog, just not these posts for a while. Amestoy: If Johnson's been aware of this blog since at least 2017, the reason he hasn't reported it in those intervening years is because a lot of the more controversial posts and the link to the YouTube channel that Smith runs didn't come until later, after the tenure process was unfolding. Is that right? Tallman: Yeah. Amestoy: Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the blog, Andy and there is some nitty-gritty to get into let's take a step back. Who is this professor at the center of this controversial online blog? Tallman: His name is Rob Smith. He is a computer science professor at University of Montana. From the sound of it, the classes he teaches vary because there are only six faculty in that department, so they go through it a lot. This year, I believe he's teaching an intro to computer science class and a computer ethics and society class. He's tenured since, I believe, 2017, and he's worked at UM for seven years. And he has a business called Prime Labs that focuses on mass spectrometry, where he employs UM students as interns. Amestoy: Okay, so that's who Rob Smith is. And we should note that, in addition to his blog, as you mentioned, he also hosted a YouTube channel where he discussed many of the same topics that he covered on the blog. So Andy, I want you to break down the main content of Smith's blog and videos and as you do that, we'll illustrate some of what Smith said using quotes from a YouTube video on his channel titled Men, Women, Biology and Age. Professor Rob Smith: Men, Women, Biology and Age "This presentation's going to be about men, women, biology and age. I'm going to give you a warning that even though this presentation is based on biological fact, there will be a lot of facts that are either things that you've never heard of, or thought about, or things that directly contradict your cultural traditions. And I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry." Tallman: I've kind of been lost in the sauce of this blog for so long, but the sort of big one, the big fish, the white whale I've been wrestling Amestoy: This is a specific blog post on his blog? Tallman: Yes, this is one post. Amestoy: Titled? Tallman: This is "Isaiah 3 part 2: The problem with the women." Smith: "And so there are many elements of female character and I went over a list of these that are wonderful things, they're absolutely wonderful. And they're prizes, and they make the world a better place. And for some reason, the world really diminishes the value of these things today." Tallman: And he references that Isaiah 3 and 4 in the Bible reference a prophecy of a future people who would be so sinful as to trigger the apocalypse, and he seems to think that modern society matches this description. One of these reasons that modern society matches these descriptions is because of the failings of modern-day women. So for instance, feminism the idea that men and women are equal is a failing of modern women. He says that men and women are not equal, they have differences; that women are genetically physically inferior to men not as strong, that women will always make decisions based on feelings rather than logic, that women and men's IQ is distributed differently. Amestoy: So this post, it has some interesting takes about the role of women in our society. Now, from my understanding, a lot of Smith's talk is about the roles of men and women. What other ways does he seem to differentiate men from women in these posts? Tallman: Oh, well, he says that a man's value goes up over time as he gains wisdom and earning potential, and a woman's value goes down over time, because her physical attractiveness peaks at age 16. Smith: "I am going to contend that men should prefer women who are closer to 20. The reason is, there is a window of time associated with pre-menopause, and for the man, it is very likely that he will not have a better window of time with his wife. And the reason I say this -- I know that's gonna trigger so many people, because you're gonna say, 'But a woman's not just her looks, and she can develop and blah, blah, blah, and her character,' and I agree with that completely. And I really hope that every woman develops her character so that as her looks decline, she has something more valuable to replace her looks with. But looks are given at birth, unless you get fat, which is fully avoidable." Tallman: And from 16 to 18 is when a woman is most physically attractive, and then it all goes downhill from there. So by 30, a woman's body has nothing to offer, and so he advises that men should seek spouses as close to age 18 as possible, no matter how old they are. Amestoy: Does Smith see any purpose for working women in our society, per these blog posts and YouTube videos? Tallman: No, no he doesn't. I mean, he thinks that men are more productive. He says in his post, "Young women say they want to make an impact," that he's disappointed in his female students because they say they want to make an impact, but what they want to do is travel the world and dye their hair and get tattoos and sleep with a lot men and then just marry whoever is making six figures when they're 30. And they want to have careers, and he says that, really, the only thing that can bring women fulfilment and allow them to contribute to the world is by having kids. Smith: "The first thing on here I put is 'choice of husband and career,' and I'm sure a lot of people get upset by me putting that first, or even including it at all. But it turns out, and I cited the research a few slides ago, that a woman's stress levels can make all these things a heck of a lot worse. They can induce perimenopause earlier, and can also make it worse. So if you pick a good husband, it's going to be a life-changing decision in terms of the quality of life that you have. It's going to be orders of magnitude, and I ran through what it would mean to have a 7x better husband in a previous video, so you should check that out." Amestoy: Andy, does Smith talk at all about members of the LGBTQ+ community in his blog? Tallman: There is in fact a post entitled "Homosexuality," where he talks about, first of all, that there are pedophiles in high places and sex trafficking of children and things are much worse than they seem in this matter. Like, there's so many more pedophiles in the upper echelons of society. Basically, he says, "You can't be surprised at the pedophiles when you support same sex relationships. What principle allows you to do that? Age of consent, which is both clearly a social construct and also a relatively recent one? How long do you think the magical edict of 18 will last in a society that has already denied God's law, universal psychology and basic biology?" Smith: "For purposes of biology -- reproductive biology -- a girl becomes a woman at about 13 years old. Now, I'm not saying at all that men ought to seek to marry women who are 13 or girls that are 13, whatever nomenclature you want to use. What I'm saying is a woman's reproductive clock lasts about 25 years, and it starts at about 13." Amestoy: That's quite the spectrum of opinions. I've read some of these posts we've archived at the Kaimin, Andy, and one theme that really stuck out to me was Smith's focus on the value of women compared to men. And Smith actively teaches young women in the computer science department, is that right? Tallman: Yes, yes he does. He is responsible for that. According to one of the professors, it would be pretty hard for someone to make it through the computer science degree without taking one of his classes. Over the entire student body, we got some rough estimates from Johnson, but take these numbers with a grain of salt, we haven't been able to pin down the data yet. About 16% of the computer science department's student body overall is women. The proportion is closest to parity in the freshman class, then goes down as the classes go on. Amestoy: But Andy, I think something that's interesting about this, to me, is Smith's blog is only really hitting the limelight now. And he's been teaching at the University for years at this point. So I'm wondering if, in your reporting, you found any of these beliefs of his being expressed in his day-to-day teaching. Did his students ever pick up on his beliefs in a classroom setting? Tallman: No. I mean, I talked to a few students and they mentioned some eccentricities of his; they mentioned some oddities in his teaching style, but nothing like this. Amestoy: So I'm wondering, did you speak with any students or people who worked with Smith regarding this blog and their thoughts on it? Tallman: Yeah, I spoke with Esther Lyon Delsordo, who worked for him in the summer of 2020, and she said that she couldn't recall specifics, but she had heard some weird theories that he had about women in computer science. I talked to Rachel Burnett, who's in his career ethics class, who said that she hadn't noticed any gender based discrimination, but said that his lectures were a bit off-topic. I talked to Kerrigan McHood, who worked for him and said it was a good experience. She wasn't as surprised at his opinions, but that wasn't because they leaked into his workplace or schooling. Amestoy: And how are Smith's coworkers reacting to his online presence as you reported this story? Tallman: With universal condemnation. Everyone in the computer science department has been universally disgusted and shook up by his views. For instance, Jesse Johnson said that he was totally disturbed; compared it to venturing through a cesspool and said at some point he had to stop reading the blog, because he was just too much. Douglas Brinkerhoff, who's a fellow computer science department faculty member called the ideas "ethically and intellectually bankrupt." He said he wouldn't advise any student to take his class. Patricia Duce, who has had an office next to Smith for the last six years, said she was starting to check in on students and said that students were disturbed and shook up and that she herself was disturbed that, as a woman in STEM, she wouldn't be comfortable taking his class after this. But, again, all of them said that those views didn't make their way into the professional environment or the classroom, and Brinkerhoff even mentioned if Smith doesn't let these views into his workplace -- into his classroom -- if he's just expressing them on a public forum, then it is constitutionally protected speech. He has the right to express those views, and the University can't really do anything about it. Amestoy: And yet, Andy, it feels like the University and maybe the computer science department are at a bit of an impasse regarding this situation. Despite the protected status of Smith's online speech, his superior Jesse Johnson -- the head of the department -- still reported him to the University for these writings. And I know that, as we've talked about, those writings have upset a lot of people at the University, students and faculty alike. It's early, but I'm wondering, what has the fallout been from your reporting this story so far, Andy, and what's the reaction been from UM and maybe even Smith himself? Tallman: First of all, UM can't do anything unless Title IX does something and finds that he crossed the line into discrimination or harassment. So that's where we're at. I talked to Dave Kuntz. I remember I asked him if he'd read the blog post, and he just goes, "Unfortunately, yes." He was saying that these views run completely antithetical to what the University stands for, but their hands are tied. Johnson was saying that if Rob Smith stays at the University, he should be removed from public facing roles, including teaching, but I asked Dave Kuntz about that. He said that's a possibility if Title IX finds anything. Another big thing is, like you mentioned, gender discrimination at this university has kind of been in the spotlight this year, from the lawsuit to the stuff going on over at the School of Law, and I think that that adds an extra layer of pressure to the University because of how many eyes are already on this; how many people already are demanding a better response from the University to these sorts of things, and now they have this new incident landing in their lap. Amestoy: But in essence, Andy, Smith is choosing not to offer his own explanation for his writings or for the events of this story. He's choosing not to offer that to you. Tallman: That is correct. Smith is choosing not to comment. Amestoy: So the University says its hands are tied, basically, because Smith's online writings can't rise to a violation of Title IX on their own unless someone files a complaint that can prove his online beliefs made their way into the classroom in a discriminatory way. Andy does the fact that Smith is tenured at all impact his ability to weather this storm of inquiry against him? Tallman: Honestly, the idea of tenure didn't really come up when I was talking about what the next steps are. Ultimately, the requirements for dismissal and the collective bargaining agreement are the same; ultimately it does not matter if he's tenured here. The non-tenured professor would still have the same First Amendment right to say misogynist things on the internet about their students. Like a tenured professor, a non-tenured professor has just the same right to post on the internet that they think 16-year-old girls are the peak of attractiveness. I think that the aspect of tenure means that if something does happen -- if Title IX does find something -- it's going to be a lot bigger than it was if he wasn't tenured, but I don't think that's come into play yet. Amestoy: Well, Andy, thank you for joining me this week to unpack your reporting. I know what a task it was for you to piece it all together, and we'll keep tabs with you for any new developments moving forward. Tallman: Thanks. Thanks for having me. Amestoy: While Smith repeatedly denied requests to comment on this story, his blog posts were recently taken down and his YouTube videos dealing with gender made private. However, the Kaimin saved screenshots of many of Smith's blog posts and downloaded several of his YouTube videos, which are now accessible on our website, montanakaimin.com. You can read Andy's full report on Rob Smith's blog and the fallout from students and staff right now on our website. The Kaimin Cast is produced and edited by me, Austin Amestoy. Reporting by Andy Tallman. That's it for this week's episode. Next time: I promised you bears, and they're still coming. So, let's try this again. Bears. I will see you there. National India, China military talks to defuse border tensions fail NEW DELHI, OCT 11 (AGENCIES/IANS) | Publish Date: 10/11/2021 1:36:11 PM IST The latest round of talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders over the standoff in Ladakh broke down on Sunday, the Indian Army said, adding that that the Chinese side was not agreeable and could not provide any forward-looking proposals. During the meeting, the Indian side... made constructive suggestions for resolving the remaining areas but the Chinese side was not agreeable and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals. The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas, an army statement said. The two sides have agreed to maintain communications and also to maintain stability on the ground. It is our expectation that the Chinese side will take into account the overall perspective of bilateral relations and will work towards early resolution of the remaining issues while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols, it added. China also indicated the talks had failed, with a statement from the Chinese militarys Western Theater Command saying, India insists on unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations, the PLA Western Theater Command said in a statement released on Monday. Chinas determination to safeguard sovereignty is unwavering, and China hopes India will not misjudge the situation, cherish the current, hard-earned situation and take actions with sincerity to safeguard the peace and stability at the border by abiding to the relevant agreements and consensus reached by the two sides, senior Colonel Long Shaohua was quoted as saying in the statement. Chinese experts have warned of the risks of a new conflict, saying that China should not only refuse to give in to Indias arrogant demands on the negotiation table, but also be prepared to defend against another Indian military aggression, Beijings mouthpiece Global Times report said. India had pressed for an early disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh at the 13th round of military talks with China that lasted for around eight-and-half hours on Sunday. A major focus of the Corps Commander-level talks on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh was to complete the stalled disengagement at Hot Springs area known as Patrolling Point 15 (PP-15), news agency PTI reported. National Modi and his UK counterpart discuss Afghanistan, vax issue, climate conference Narendra Modi and his British PM Boris Johnson. (File) NEW DELHI, OCT 11 (PTI) | Publish Date: 10/11/2021 1:19:37 PM IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson on Monday held a telephonic conversation during which they welcomed the UKs recognition of Indian vaccine certification and agreed on the need for a coordinated international approach to engagement with the Taliban, according to a statement by the UK. The telephone talks came four days after the UK announced that Indian travellers fully vaccinated with both doses of Covishield or any other vaccine approved by it will not require to undergo a 10-day mandatory quarantine on arrival from October 11. The British statement said the two prime ministers discussed the shared fight against coronavirus and the importance of cautiously opening up international travel. They agreed the UKs recognition of Indian vaccine certification is a welcome development to that end, it said. According to the statement shared with journalists by the British High Commission here, the two leaders also discussed the strength of the UK-India relationship and climate action in the context of the upcoming COP-26 in Glasgow. The leaders also talked about the current situation in Afghanistan. They agreed on the need for a coordinated international approach to engagement with the Taliban, emphasising the importance of upholding human rights in the country, it said. It said the prime ministers welcomed the progress made on the 2030 Roadmap since it was agreed by Johnson and Modi in May. This includes in areas such as trade and defence. The leaders looked forward to the upcoming visit of the UK Carrier Strike Group to India and the deepening of the UK-India strategic partnership, it said. In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi later said, Was a pleasure to speak to Prime Minister @BorisJohnson. We reviewed progress on the India-UK Agenda 2030, exchanged views on climate action in the context of the forthcoming COP-26 in Glasgow, and shared our assessments on regional issues including Afghanistan. According to the statement issued by the UK, Johnson underlined the importance of making concrete progress on climate change ahead of and at the upcoming COP26 Summit. He noted that India already leads the world in renewable technology and expressed his hope that they will commit to a more ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution and to achieving Net Zero emissions, it added. The Roadmap 2030 was adopted at a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson at a virtual summit in May. The roadmap is aimed at elevating bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and guide cooperation over the next decade in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connect among others. Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 04:03:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close With a long history of nature conservation, China has a key role to play in helping tackle the global biodiversity crisis, said James Roth with Conservation International. (Xinhua) "China has a long history of nature conservation, and it's very well recognized. The influence of China is so important globally and it's therefore encouraging to see the concepts that have worked well in China to (influence) other countries," said a U.S. expert. by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Hu Yousong WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- China, with a long history of nature conservation, got a key role to play in helping tackle the global biodiversity crisis, which is equally on center stage with climate change, a U.S. expert has said. "I think the ability of China to provide technical and financial assistance to the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is going to be a big part of the success and their legacy of hosting the COP15," James Roth, senior vice president for global policy and government affairs at Conservation International (CI), a non-governmental organization, told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday. Roth, who oversees the organization's U.S. government affairs and international policy teams, was referring to the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), which will kick off in the city of Kunming in China's southwestern Yunnan Province on Monday. "The kind of ambition that China has shown sort of comes to pass not only in China, but in other countries. So it's a lot of work to host one of these conferences and people expect you to come out and be a leader. It's a lot of responsibility. So far the announcements have been quite good," Roth said. Visitors take photos of samples containing germinated seeds at an exhibition held by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 10, 2021. Ahead of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, CAS held an event on its biodiversity preservation and study, as well as achievements on biodiversity research. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) The COP15 includes two parts. The first part is a combination of interactive virtual and in-person setting that will take place on Oct. 11-15 both online and offline in Kunming. The second part, to be held in-person in the first half of 2022, will see broad and deepened negotiations towards an ambitious and practical post-2020 global biodiversity framework. A nature lover and a passionate environmental protectionist, Roth has been closely following China's efforts on promoting biodiversity. "China has a long history of nature conservation, and it's very well recognized. The influence of China is so important globally and it's therefore encouraging to see the concepts that have worked well in China to (influence) other countries," he said. The concept of "ecological civilization," Roth said, "really highlights in our view humanity living in harmony with nature." To meet ecological civilization targets, China has drawn up ecological conservation red lines nationwide to identify the country's crucial ecological zones and enforce strict protection in those areas, he said. White cranes forage in a farmland by the Poyang Lake in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi) "So when you talk about sort of what does 'Beautiful China' mean, in our mind, it's taking these sort of concrete actions and then turning them into protected areas that allow humanity and nature to live together in a mutually sustaining way," said Roth. China's approach to ecological civilization is a "very useful model" for other countries, as they also try to figure out how they're going to reach their own biodiversity goals, he said. "So I think China can serve as a very, very good example here," he added. In addition, China's commitment to strive for the peaking of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 was also "a very, very good example," said Roth. "We realized that there are already some plants under construction, but I think going forward, the fact that China will be turning to other sources of energy, it was very, very welcomed," he said. Enditem (Xinhua correspondent Zhang Juan also contributed to the story.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 05:07:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Representatives attend a meeting of the G20 Innovation League in Sorrento, southern Italy, on Oct. 10, 2021. Chinese startup Sansure Biotech on Sunday won the award for healthcare innovation at the G20 Innovation League, a competition between 100 startups from over 20 countries. Held both in presence and online over the weekend in the southern Italy's city of Sorrento, the competition saw five groups of twenty startups proposing innovative products and solutions in five different competitive sessions, each concerning one of the five main challenges currently faced by mankind: Cleantech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things and Wearables, Smart Cities and Mobility, and Healthcare. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu) SORRENTO, Italy, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese startup Sansure Biotech on Sunday won the award for healthcare innovation at the G20 Innovation League, a competition between 100 startups from over 20 countries. Held both in presence and online over the weekend in the southern Italy's city of Sorrento, the competition saw five groups of twenty startups proposing innovative products and solutions in five different competitive sessions, each concerning one of the five main challenges currently faced by mankind: Cleantech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things and Wearables, Smart Cities and Mobility, and Healthcare. Conceived under the auspices of the G20 Italian presidency and organized by Italy's Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in collaboration with Italian National Innovation Fund and SIMEST, an Italian business internationalization company, the event was aimed at building a bridge of cooperation between public and private innovation players, startups and investors, featuring 100 venture capitalists (VCs) from various countries. Opening the competition, Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio highlighted in a speech the importance of international cooperation in addressing current global challenges and rethinking the future in an innovative way, urging global players to "join forces to shape together a global innovation agenda for the post-COVID world." "The experience in this forum will be fundamental for a global recovery that will be truly sustainable featuring innovation," he said. Following the competitive sessions, final votes by G20 member-nominated VCs and investors determined 10 winners -- two per category -- selected as examples of immediate opportunities to tackle global challenges and boost global investment and trade. China's Sansure Biotech, a startup specialized in reagents and advanced testing tools widely used in battling the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, grabbed the healthcare award, introducing, among other products, its Advance Magnetic Beads Technology, which relies on super paramagnetic nano-spheres to absorb DNA/RNA, increasing screening processes speed and effectiveness. In the same contest, Indonesian startup Nalagenetics was also awarded, while winners in the other categories included startups from Russia, Indonesia, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Canada and Italy. "I think China is the most aggressive country in building startups, not only within the country but also spreading around the world, so we learn from China because many solutions have been made by startups and big companies from China," Bonifasius W. Pudjianto, director for ICT Empowerment at the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Informatics, told Xinhua. After the winners' announcement, the event was handed over to Indonesia. The country will host the second edition of the G20 Innovation League in 2022, as it holds the next rotating G20 presidency. Endtiem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 15:59:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Ice cream products are seen during Ice Cream China 2021 held in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Oct. 11, 2021. Ice Cream China 2021 opened Monday in north China's Tianjin Municipality, attracting more than 400 companies and nearly 10,000 buyers. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) TIANJIN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ice Cream China 2021 opened Monday in north China's Tianjin Municipality, attracting more than 400 companies and nearly 10,000 buyers. The three-day exhibition, covering an area of over 42,000 square meters, showcases a wide range of products in the ice cream industry, including finished products, machinery, raw materials, molds and packaging. "China is a big producer and consumer of ice cream. Though the COVID-19 pandemic brought some impacts on the ice cream industry, it has stimulated related companies to innovate products and change their sales patterns," said Zhang Jiukui, president of China Association of Bakery and Confectionery Industry. With the optimized industrial layout, the ice cream industry enjoys a good momentum of development, Zhang said. According to Zhang, in the first half of 2021, the total output of 127 enterprises above the designated size in the frozen drinks industry reached about 1.35 million tonnes, up 0.46 percent year on year, with the main business income of about 16.96 billion yuan (about 2.63 billion U.S. dollars), up 10.96 percent from the same period last year. "Our company designed hundreds of creative molds and ice cream products with Chinese traditional elements, such as ice cream shaped into the famous Terracotta Warriors and buildings featuring Chinese culture, to name a few," said Han Jun, CEO of Nicole Mold, a China's silicone mold manufacturing producer. The company's sales saw robust growth in the first nine months this year, nearly doubled the total sales of last year, according to Han. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 20:09:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An elephant-themed video clip is seen on screen during the opening ceremony of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xin) Through Chinese inspiration, expectations are high for a strong showing in Kunming to guide future efforts to improve biodiversity and environmental governance worldwide. BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity kicks off Monday in China's southwestern city Kunming, and expectations are high for a blueprint on preserving global biodiversity in the coming years. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," COP15 is the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the Chinese concept of ecological civilization. This landmark meeting, which ends on Friday, will formulate an ambitious yet feasible roadmap for global biodiversity conservation for the next decade and possibly beyond. Humanity stands at a crossroads with regard to the legacy it leaves to future generations. As the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook published by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has warned, "biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, and the pressures driving this decline are intensifying." Therefore, the United Nations has defined 2021 as a critical year to "reset our relationship with nature," calling on the international community to jointly cope with multiple crises including climate change and biodiversity loss. The Kunming meeting is an opportunity to reflect on past experiences and lessons and forge a new strategy for global ecological conservation. Folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) It is worth mentioning that China has made enormous efforts in hosting this critical conference despite a lingering COVID-19 pandemic. China's concrete actions have demonstrated its determination to work with the rest of the world to jointly confront the biodiversity crisis. "The kind of ambition that China has shown sort of comes to pass not only in China, but in other countries," commented James Roth, senior vice president for global policy and government affairs at Conservation International, a non-governmental organization. "So it's a lot of work to host one of these conferences and people expect you to come out and be a leader." And a leader China has been. The country has incorporated ecological civilization into its national development policy and constitution and has saved a number of species from extinction, including the golden monkey and green peacock, both of which are witnessing population increases. Photo taken on May 19, 2021 shows golden monkeys at Dalongtan Golden Monkey Research Center in Shennongjia National Park of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Rao Rao) China is also helping developing countries preserve biodiversity through multilateral channels such as the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation, according to China's first white paper on biodiversity released on Friday. China has established the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition and launched the Belt and Road Big Data Service Platform on Ecological and Environmental Protection. Additionally, China pledged last year that it will strive to peak its CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China announced further support for other developing countries to develop green and low-carbon energy and pledged not to build new coal-fired power projects abroad. Wind turbines are seen at central Asia's largest wind farm built by a Chinese firm near the city of Zhanatas in the Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan, May 24, 2021. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua) Moreover, the Chinese concept of "mountains and rivers green are mountains of silver and gold" is gaining traction worldwide. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said China's philosophy of ecological civilization is "critical for all countries to achieve the global biodiversity goals." Nigel Topping, Britain's High Level Climate Action Champion for UN climate talks, once commented that the concept of ecological civilization will strengthen multilateral efforts to protect the environment and preserve global biodiversity. Through Chinese inspiration, expectations are high for a strong showing in Kunming to guide future efforts to improve biodiversity and environmental governance worldwide. Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 21:03:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Austria's Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg gives a speech at a press conference in Vienna, Austria, Oct. 11, 2021. Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday swore in Alexander Schallenberg as the country's new chancellor. Schallenberg, 52, has been Austria's foreign minister since 2019. (Xinhua/Guo Chen) VIENNA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday swore in Alexander Schallenberg as the country's new chancellor. Schallenberg, 52, has been Austria's foreign minister since 2019. He was sworn in at a ceremony held at the presidential office, along with Michael Linhart, now the new foreign minister who has been serving as the Austrian ambassador to France. "We all expect that the government will go back to work and move things forward together," Van der Bellen said in a brief address, adding that the government now has the "great responsibility of restoring trust." For his part, Schallenberg said he would work closely with Sebastian Kurz and asserted that the accusations against the former chancellor were wrong. Kurz resigned on Saturday over corruption allegations. He had proposed Schallenberg as his successor. According to Kurz, Schallenberg, a career diplomat, had the diplomatic skills necessary to rebuild trust between the parties. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 23:00:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- For Kail, "the allegiance to our country" has become a prevailing motif in the country despite the business owner never having encountered any concrete proof that Huawei equipment truly posed a security threat to his country. -- In the two years between Kail's interviews with Xinhua, the U.S. government's clampdown on Huawei reached a watershed moment for Kail. -- The U.S. government has been suppressing Huawei for quite some time. In May 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce added Huawei and an additional 68 of its affiliates to the "Entity List," citing national security threats. And 46 more Huawei affiliates were blacklisted in August of the same year. by Xinhua writers Deng Xianlai, Xu Yuan and Yang Shilong DONEGAL, the United States, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- James Kail is an American patriot who would never jeopardize the security of his nation for "one buck" that he would otherwise make running his telecom company, LHTC Broadband. Having faith in the nation is exactly what the United States has asked of people like Kail when requiring them to abandon the Chinese-made network equipment their businesses rely on to provide services to rural Americans, whose everyday need for TV and stable Internet -- no different from that of metropolitan dwellers -- has often been ignored by large telecom carriers. James Kail speaks during an interview in Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, the United States, Oct. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Deng Xianlai) For Kail, "the allegiance to our country" has become a prevailing motif in the country despite the business owner never having encountered any concrete proof that Huawei equipment, which LHTC has been using satisfactorily for seven years, truly posed a security threat to his country. NO PROOF OF THREATS LHTC provides telephone, Internet and cable TV services to rural communities across the state of Pennsylvania. Kail decided back in 2014 to formally engage Huawei as a supplier. Photo taken on Oct. 7, 2021 shows the South Canaan site of LHTC Broadband company in South Canaan Township, Pennsylvania, the United States. (Photo by Aimee Dilger/Xinhua) He chose Huawei because the sales representative offered competitive pricing that could save him hundreds of thousands of dollars. But there was another reason. Despite a warning by the U.S. government against Huawei already in place at the time, his own diligent assessment of Huawei gear found no proof of any security threats or violation of the law. "Over the years, there have been accusations about (Huawei) being a security threat," Kail said in a recent interview, his second with Xinhua in two years. "But for this particular product, I haven't been shown any proof that this is being used in any way to breach our security." In addition to having no security issue, the Huawei equipment has been "working perfectly fine" since being installed, with excellent reliability that has seldom necessitated technical support, Kail said. Bonnie Bond is the general manager of LHTC's branch in South Canaan Township in northeast Pennsylvania where Huawei equipment is being used to provide services for about 1,200 local households. Photo taken on Oct. 7, 2021 shows Huawei equipment at South Canaan site of LHTC Broadband company in South Canaan Township, Pennsylvania, the United States. (Photo by Aimee Dilger/Xinhua) She said customers, albeit having no need to know their TV signals and Internet connections were made possible by Huawei, "haven't had any problems" with the services rendered. Due to U.S. government restrictions, Huawei has discontinued its U.S. optical network terminals, the equipment used to supply LHTC. As a result, LHTC has been blocked from purchasing any Huawei equipment for two years, meaning new customers won't get what has become time-tested, good-quality service. Kail said he hopes a replacement would match Huawei quality-wise. "That's the hope, but anytime you are putting any new solution in, there may be bugs -- may be things you have to work through." "WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE" The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finalized a 1.9-billion-U.S.-dollar program to reimburse most rural U.S. telecom carriers for removing equipment in their networks made by Huawei and ZTE Corp, another Chinese company. Companies with 10 million or fewer customers like LHTC are eligible for the program. In the two years between Kail's interviews with Xinhua, the U.S. government's clampdown on Huawei reached a watershed moment for Kail. He has no other option now but to comply with the government's order to rip and replace the smoothly functioning Huawei gear that LHTC is currently using to serve about one fifth of its client base. If he had obvious concerns that the Huawei product would threaten the security of the LHTC network, "I wouldn't have deployed it" in the first place, Kail said, adding that had he been shown any problem along the way, "we would have replaced it on our own." But Huawei has long been a sticking point in the years-long trade dispute that Washington initiated with China, leaving LHTC and its peers with no choice but to comply with government directives. "It's not an option ... If the government tells you to do something, are you going to say, 'No, we are not doing this'?" Kail expects it to take at least one year for his company to completely swap out the Huawei equipment. The concern, he said, was that replacing the units for the 1,200 or so households was intrinsically time-consuming for a company with just 65 employees. Furthermore, the shortages of equipment caused by the ongoing pandemic-related supply-chain disruptions could result in longer replacement times, making it harder for the company to run smoothly. LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION FOR SMALL CARRIERS The U.S. government has been suppressing Huawei for quite some time. In May 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce added Huawei and an additional 68 of its affiliates to the "Entity List," citing national security threats. And 46 more Huawei affiliates were blacklisted in August of the same year. Meanwhile, the FCC has also gone to great lengths to try to force Huawei equipment out of the U.S. telecom market. In June 2020, the agency formally designated Huawei and ZTE as posing threats to U.S. national security, a declaration that barred U.S. telecom firms from tapping the country's annual Universal Service Fund of 8.3 billion dollars to purchase equipment from the two Chinese companies. The FCC voted unanimously in July to finalize the ripping and replacing program. Analysts and industry insiders are warning that notwithstanding its 1.9 billion dollars in total funding, the program could do more harm than good to rural telecom providers, even risking their survival. "These poor carriers have been between a rock and a hard place," said Carri Bennet of the Rural Wireless Association, a trade group representing small wireless network operators. The group estimated in 2018 that 25 percent of its members used equipment from Huawei and ZTE. Her association expects no reimbursement checks to arrive until the second or third quarter of 2022 for operators under the replacement program. To make things worse, the FCC program won't pay for new terminals like fixed wireless receivers, nor will it cover any network-operating costs. For small carriers who have already found themselves in an adverse situation combining chip shortages and a scarcity of trained workers, the replacement process could ultimately put their businesses in a tailspin. "We are counting on a lot of patience and financing from the vendors," said John Nettles, president of Alabama-based Pine Belt Communications, another carrier with Chinese equipment in its network. The company hasn't started removing any of its Chinese equipment yet and is planning to find appropriate vendors as replacement. For Chris Townson, who leads Tennessee-based DTC Communications and is looking for a vendor to replace the company's ZTE-supplied wireless network, the idea that DTC could ultimately come out ahead financially "is a farce." Any delay or problems with the reimbursement program, Townson warned, "would cause us to make some really hard decisions, up to and including exiting the business." (Video reporters: Deng Xianlai, Xu Yuan, Hu Yousong, Tan Yixiao, Liu Pinran; video editor: Wu Yao) Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 10:16:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Western embassies in Libya on Sunday welcomed the comprehensive Action Plan signed two days ago by the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) to withdraw foreign forces from Libya. "The Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States in Libya join Special Envoy and Head of UNSMIL (UN Support Mission in Libya) Jan Kubis in welcoming the announcement made on October 8th 2021 by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) of the signing of a comprehensive Action Plan for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces from Libyan territory," said a joint statement. They recalled in this regard that the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2570 called on all Libyan and foreign parties to implement the ceasefire agreement made on Oct. 23, 2020 in full, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without further delay. The embassies stressed their support for the Libyan Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism, under the leadership of the JMC and underlined the need for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups and all relevant non-state armed actors, for security sector reform and the establishment of an inclusive, accountable, civilian-led security architecture for Libya as a whole. "We reaffirm the need to combat terrorism in Libya by all means in accordance with the UN Charter and international law and call on all parties to dissociate from UN-listed terrorist groups and individuals," the statement added. The embassies reiterated their commitment to unequivocally and fully respect and implement the UNSC arms embargo on Libya, calling on all international actors to do the same. The JMC on Friday concluded a three-day meeting in Geneva, where they agreed on, and signed a comprehensive Action Plan for the gradual, balanced, and sequenced withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces from Libyan territory, the UNSMIL said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 13:29:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- There is urgent need to tackle the challenges of biodiversity conservation, Danish environment minister has said, expecting cooperation with all UN nations, including China, to "halt the decline in biodiversity and make sure we hand over a richer nature to our children." "In order to stop the decline of biodiversity, we must all learn from each other and share best practices across borders," Lea Wermelin told Xinhua on the eve of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, which is set to kick off on Monday in Kunming, China. According to Wermelin, the Danish government's collaborative work with biodiversity researchers and the local community in the establishment of 15 new nature national parks for rewilding is an example of such "best practices." "Likewise, we welcome all suggestions from China and all other UN countries to find common solutions," Wermelin said. Meanwhile, the need for COP15 to reach an "ambitious agreement" is imperative, according to the minister. "We are in the midst of a nature crisis with the extinction of species happening at an unprecedented speed. Protecting nature and combating climate change are key priorities and now is the time to strengthen alliances and explore ways to reach an ambitious agreement," Wermelin said. "... I am hopeful for the outcome of this COP15. The world has already shown that when we commit to each other we can find solutions -- just as we have done during the COVID-19 pandemic," Wermelin added. "The Kingdom of Denmark works for a global target for 30 percent protected areas on land and in the oceans as one of our key priorities. To tackle the crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, we must also look to tools such as nature-based solutions and circular economy," the minister said. However, Wermelin stressed that the financing of any ambitious proposals reached at COP15 should be resolved at the same time. "Of course, we need the financial support to make a change. Globally we need to increase financial support from all sources to biodiversity, helping to ensure that countries are better enabled to protect and restore biodiversity for the benefit of the whole planet," Wermelin said. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the meeting is the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the topic of ecological civilization. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 20:43:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 112 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Turkey as of Monday, according to the country's health ministry. Over 46.3 million people, or 55.7 percent of the country's 83 million population, have taken their second shots, the ministry said. But experts have warned that the pace of vaccination is slowing in the country, urging the public to get vaccinated before the winter months. In Turkey's biggest city of Istanbul, local authorities have been calling on people to get vaccinated at mobile vaccination centers. Currently, 70 percent of citizens aged 18 and above in Istanbul have received two vaccine doses. Esin Davutoglu Senol, a professor of infectious diseases at Ankara-based Gazi University, said that people, even if vaccinated, must follow mask and social distancing measures in closed environments to avoid infection. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 22:24:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- A new inhalation treatment for COVID-19 patients has won approval for a clinical trial involving humans, Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital), one of largest hospitals in Denmark, said in a press release on Monday. Developed by Danish researchers, the treatment is based on the idea of Thomas Bjarnsholt, professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Rigshospitalet. "It is a treatment where you inhale a mild acid solution, which gives the immune system a hand in fighting infections in the respiratory tract from bacteria or viruses," said Bjarnsholt in the press release. Initially targeted at patients admitted with COVID-19, there is also hope that it could also become "a game-changer in the treatment of other types of respiratory infections." "The ambition is that it should also be able to fight other infections such as pneumonia, influenza and tuberculosis. All three are diseases that millions of people die of every year worldwide," said Bjarnsholt. The patent for the technology used in the treatment is held by the Norwegian company SoftOx Solutions, which collaborated in the research after participating as providers of a stable acid solution to treat wounds in a previous study. "The idea for the treatment comes from our previous research into the ability of acid solutions to fight infections in wounds. It is the same idea which has now been refined and converted into inhalation treatment for fighting infections in the airways," Bjarnsholt said. In the past 24 hours, the Danish public health agency Statens Serum Institute (SSI) registered 564 new COVID-19 infections and three deaths, bringing the national totals to 364,464 cases and 2,671 deaths. The SSI reported that 76.1 percent of the Danish population, or 4,462,629 people, have already started the vaccination progress, and 74.8 percent have been fully vaccinated. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 22:58:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Alar Karis takes the oath of office as the new president of Estonia at the inauguration ceremony in Tallinn, Estonia, Oct. 11, 2021. Alar Karis took the oath of office here on Monday as the new president of Estonia. (Erik Peinar/Parliament of Estonia/Handout via Xinhua) TALLINN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Alar Karis took the oath of office here on Monday as the new president of Estonia. At the inauguration ceremony held in the country's Parliament (Riigikogu), outgoing Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid said that she was "honored" to have served her country for five years. In his first speech as president, Karis touched upon a broad spectrum of topics ranging from the need for Estonia to maintain good relations with its allies through the difficulties caused by the high electricity prices to families in the country to his desire for a strong and united Europe. Karis, 63, was elected Estonia's fifth president since the country's independence in 1991 with 72 votes of the required 68 in the second round of voting held in the country's 101-member Parliament on Aug. 31. Karis is a native of Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia. He is a molecular geneticist and developmental biologist, who embarked on an academic career after graduating from the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu. He became a professor there in 1999, and later the rector. Karis was appointed as Estonia's auditor general in March 2013 and, after completing his tenure, became director of the Estonian National Museum in October 2017. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-12 02:18:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- British experts on Monday called for European short-haul air flights to be dramatically cut after a study revealed they are the biggest polluters. New data curated by scientists at the University of Manchester found the main culprit for aviation emissions across the connected continent of Europe are countless short journey flights. Their research identified a large number of flights over distances of less than 500 km between city pairs with existing public transport connections are a key contributor of harmful emissions. Lead author of the research, Professor Antonio Filippone, said: "Aviation authorities and airlines have an opportunity to review the frequency of these routes, to reduce emissions, optimize networks, reduce congestion and contribute positively to environmental sustainability." The Manchester research team said the findings present a clear opportunity to curb unnecessary pollution on the path toward Net Zero carbon targets. Their plea comes just weeks before the UN COP26 conference in Glasgow which is putting the climate crisis at the forefront of world leaders' agendas. A spokesperson for the university said: "We demonstrate that the actual flight range is the biggest discriminator in aviation emissions. Therefore, we highlight the opportunity to re-evaluate the European network when a legitimate transport alternative exists." The Manchester researchers used a rapidly expanding data broadcasting system to track worldwide air traffic. Air traffic data was then integrated with aircraft emission models to produce quantitative estimates of engine exhaust emissions of most aircraft types, including fuel burn, CO2, NOx, CO, UHC, SOx, non-volatile particulate matter. They identified short flights between several city pairs within Britain, France, Germany and Poland that operate flights over flat terrain. The most common routes in they analyzed included Copenhagen-Bromma (Stockholm), Gothenburg-Bromma (Sweden); Fiumicino (Rome)-Linate (Milan), Madrid-Oporto (Portugal) and a considerable number of domestic routes in Poland, for example Warsaw-Krakow. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 20:24:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Along political lines, the United States has become a global vaccine laggard, the percentage of its population inoculated lower than dozens of other nations, including all of its peers in the Group of Seven countries, reported USA Today on Monday. In many cases, the gap has become massive. Fifty million more Americans would be fully vaccinated if the United States had been able to match Canada's enthusiasm for shots, for example. "Supply isn't the problem -- a complicated and confounding lack of demand is to blame," said the report. "The United States is very unusual," said Michael Bang Petersen, a professor at Denmark's Aarhus University who leads a project on how the so-called democracies respond to COVID-19, adding that Americans have uniquely politicized the virus response, undermining the demand for vaccination. The result has been that "U.S. vaccination rates vary widely between states and closely track along political lines," said the report. "Being a Democrat is one of the best predictors of being vaccinated," said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist who was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board. For some conservatives, opposition to vaccine mandates has become "the ultimate test of loyalty to your in-group," she said. On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated that 216,889,814 people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, making up 65.3 percent of the whole U.S. population; fully vaccinated people stood at 187,215,471, accounting for 56.4 percent of the total. A total of 7,786,263 people, or 4.2 percent of fully vaccinated group, received booster shots. Enditem DEPENING ties with all nations including those that once ostracised Zimbabwe is at the heart of President Mnangagwas foreign policy thrust. As the President bid farewell to two Ambassadors-designate to the Western world yesterday, he impressed on them to take the message of the country being a friend to all, and enemy to none and remain open for business. The Ambassadors-designate to Germany and Sweden, Ms Alice Mashingaidze and Mrs Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga respectively, told journalists after a briefing with President Mnangagwa at State House that their work was crystal clear. My work is cut very clearly that we need to restore the relations we used to have with Germany in the past. We have cordial relations now, but we need to strengthen them, deepen them and even increase them to greater heights, said Ambassador Mashingaidze. Apart from representing Zimbabwe to Germany, Ambassador Mashingaidze will also be the countrys flag bearer in Switzerland, while Ambassador Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga will also represent the country in Nordic countries. Ambassador Misihairambwi-Mushonga, who is a former opposition legislator with a career spanning more than two decades, said her appointment reflected President Mnangagwas magnanimity and his ability to see things beyond partisan political lenses. The main goal is re-engagement, that we need to deepen relations that date back from the time of the liberation struggle that is going to be the main focus. There are also issues of development, issues of humanitarian aid, issues of investment, that is the priority and that is the instruction from the President, said Ms Misihairambwi-Mushonga. Going beyond partisan politics, Ambassador Misihairambwi-Mushonga said she will be representing the President in Sweden to champion Zimbabwes interests. When you are posted out; you are not representing a political party (but) you are representing the Head of State, and therefore the issue around politics and partisanship is not the issue. You are representing the President who takes care of everybody irrespective of where they are coming from, she said. President Mnangagwa has defined the pillars that are critical in the countrys international relations under principles of the United Nations and these are peace and security, with the countrys representatives charged with looking at national interests, adopting the position taken by SADC and that of the African Union. However, some nations such as the so-called G7 seem to be resorting to fragmenting the world according to economies and also trying to unilaterally influence the direction the world should take. With the burden of illegal economic sanctions imposed by the West, Zimbabwes development has been on the basis of utilisation of own domestic resources to survive, support from the SADC region and the AU and help through trade and other means from countries that have not imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. The President has also made it clear that Zimbabwe will not be lectured on issues of human rights by some world bullies that often use such to interfere in sovereign countries domestic affairs. Herald RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya yesterday said his meeting with business this morning is not a witchhunt, but an effort by authorities to grasp the root cause of the prevailing pricing madness. The all-stakeholder forum to be attended by representatives of retailers, producers, wholesalers and everyone involved in the value chain, he said, would explore sustainable solutions to the widespread parallel market pricing that is eroding economic stability. In the past few weeks, the formal market has been gripped by the benchmarking of prices of goods and services using the black market rate, resulting in prices skyrocketing. Last week, the exchange rate in the parallel market was pegged at US$1: ZWL$180 compared to margins between ZWL$150 and ZWL$160 three weeks ago. As a result, some retailers and businesses in the formal market were pegging their prices above the official rate of US$1: ZWL$88,55 as of last week. A snap survey by Chronicle in Bulawayo last Friday, showed that some retailers in the formal market were selling their products at an exchange rate of around ZWL$200 against US$1. Speaking by telephone yesterday, Dr Mangudya said: We are going to meet all the business community, the producers, retailers, and wholesalers so that we find a sustainable solution. It has come to our attention that everyone in this country has become a price taker, so we want to find out who is causing it. Its not about arresting people; its about understanding the real cause of whats happening. The most sustainable way of running a business or running a country is not arresting, but its about understanding the behaviour and behaviour dynamic is not a fundamental, he said, adding that the behavioural dynamics was due to arbitrage tendencies. Dr Mangudya said for any business to operate viably it requires a stable environment adding that the obtaining volatility caused by parallel market activities was threatening the macro-economic gains the country has so far achieved. Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Mr Denford Mutashu said they have noted with concern the prevailing pricing dilemma for most retailers and wholesalers. He said it has come to their attention that there were four exchange rates one has to contend with when paying for goods and services. CZR has noted with concern the prevailing pricing dilemma for most retailers and wholesalers and is warning of tough times ahead. We implore the Government to set up an inter-ministerial committee to interrogate the foreign currency exchange rate challenges, abuses, manipulation and arbitrage and map the way towards stability as the parallel market exchange rate poses a great risk of declining company projections and bottom lines, said Mr Mutashu. There is the auction exchange rate (ZW$89-US$1) ZW swipe to US$(ZW$180 to US$1), ZW mobile money to US$ (ZW$200 US$1 and ZW cash to US$ (ZW$165-US$$1). We have also discovered that there is also a rate for nostro US$. The black market rates, he said, change more than three times per week. We are meeting the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe tomorrow morning and this meeting which is an all-stakeholder forum comprises retailers, producers, wholesalers and everyone involved in the value chain, said Mr Mutashu. MDC A leader Nleson Chamisa has told NewsDay that the violence perpetrated against him yesterday was clearly the work of hired Zanu PF youths. That is the work of Zanu PF. So, am I now not allowed to travel to any part of the country? Chamisa said. In the afternoon, NewsDay saw a number of riot police officers moving around Masvingo town, while others were doing rounds in police vehicles. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to receive the report on the violence in Masvingo. Riot police yesterday teargassed MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa at a private residence in Masvingo while suspected Zanu PF youths attacked his convoy three times and injured several aides and his security team. Chamisa was allegedly addressing a private meeting at the residence when the police pounced, and was on his way to a community interface meeting at Charumbira communal lands in Masvingo when the suspected Zanu PF youths attacked. Party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the rowdy Zanu PF youths were bussed in, adding that they barricaded roads with burning logs. Over 200 youths mobilised by Zanu PF violently attacked President Chamisas convoy and advance team on their way to meet community leaders in Charumbira, Masvingo province. They stoned cars, barricaded roads with burning logs and assaulted members of our team who have now been hospitalised, Mahere told NewsDay. President Chamisa is currently embarking on a community citizens conversation interface in various provinces in line with our Agenda 2021. The tour will see him engage citizens, civic leaders, and special interest groups as we strengthen the broad alliance to win Zimbabwe for change. Mahere said the attack on Chamisa was a sign that Zanu PF was bent on instilling fear in its opponents ahead of the 2023 elections. This political violence is cause for extreme concern and a clear act of desperation by a bankrupt, illegitimate regime that has failed. They are terrified of the unstoppable groundswell of citizen support for president Chamisa and the broad alliance forming in every village and every town to win Zimbabwe for change, she said. The MDC Alliance said it was not yet ready to release the names of those who had been attacked as their next of kin were yet to be informed, as well as for their safety. Before Chamisas advance convoy was attacked, riot police stormed and disrupted a meeting which the MDC Alliance leader was addressing at the residence of an MDC Alliance member. They allegedly threw teargas canisters at the residence of Masvingo provincial member Wilstuff Sitemere in Target Kopje. No explanation was given as to why the police would disrupt a private meeting that in no way offends COVID-19 regulations or any law, the MDC Alliance later tweeted. MDC Alliance Masvingo provincial spokesperson Dereck Charamba said after the attack on Sitemeres house, the riot police teamed up with the rowdy Zanu PF youths. The second attack occurred as we were on our way to Charumbira area to pay condolences to one of our party members. It happened around 11am just after Gwengavi School. We were ambushed by Zanu PF youths who barricaded roads, while riot police followed behind, but turned a blind eye on the violent Zanu PF youths. Instead, they attacked us, he said. The third ambush occurred just after Nemamwa Growth Point while we were on our way to Masvingo West constituency. The fourth attack occurred just after Great Zimbabwe Hotel near the Great Zimbabwe monuments. Four cars belonging to the presidents motorcade were stoned, while the police also smashed windscreens of some cars. Charamba said they were yet to ascertain the total number of people injured and the degree of their injuries. Zanu PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha could neither deny nor confirm that his party youths were responsible for the violence. I am hearing this information for the first time. Let me engage our security department so that I can be apprised accordingly. I should be able to comment once this information comes to hand, he said. The MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora held its meetings in Masvingo over the weekend without any interruption. Newsday Everyone is either a type or a stereotype, but that could still work in comedy, especially since types are based on truths and Broadway comedies rarely have put Black families like this one on these stages. These are all lively performances (Urie has his usual impeccable comic timing and Mizzelle, especially, is a natural improviser). Plus most of our families, whatever our race, are familiar with the issues on view here. To make your own tahini, toast 1 cup of sesame seeds in a skillet over low heat, stirring constantly, until some of the seeds are just a little bit golden in color, but not browned. Transfer to a plate and cool completely. Then, process the seeds in a food processor or blender youll get the smoothest results with a high-speed blender until the seeds are the texture of fine sand. With the machine running, drizzle in untoasted sesame oil, grapeseed oil or safflower oil until smooth and mixture has the consistency of very thin peanut butter. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate covered for a week or more. Tricias resolve was put to the ultimate test when she began suffering from scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that causes a thickening of the skin and connective tissue. Tricias case scarred her lungs, making it difficult to breathe and forcing the young teacher to drag an oxygen tank with her to school every day to supplement her airflow. It is great that sentenced people are receiving the opportunity to work outside the MDC and prove they are ready to reenter society, said Deirdre von Dornum, the attorney in charge of the Federal Defenders in Brooklyn. But this opportunity should not be a way for [the Justice Department] to evade the very fair wage laws they enforce. A person on the brink of release from prison needs an income to be able to obtain food, housing and other necessities when he returns to the community. Donovan asserted the full accurate number of MTA workers who have received at least one shot is 71% to 75%. The agency is able to automatically confirm workers vaccination status if they got their shots at an MTA or New York State facility, and asks all other workers to submit their proof of vaccination through an online portal. Lemke, 36, began targeting Stelter after he said on a Nov. 15 broadcast that the 2020 election is over even though President Trump is still in denial about that. The claims of voter fraud are the fraud. ... Millions of people are buying into this parallel universe, according to the new filing. The gunman charged down the sidewalk with both arms outstretched in front of him firing the gun at the vehicle, the video shows. He reversed direction and ran sideways down the sidewalk, continuing to fire at the vehicle as it sped away, the video shows. Safe streets advocacy group Transportation Alternatives laid blame for the crash on Mayor de Blasio, saying that he abandoned the goals of his Vision Zero traffic plans that aimed to reduce road fatalities. But the number of road deaths has risen since 2019 with 201 so far this year, 17 of them cyclists, according to statistics from the group. It is not clear if the same suspects have been linked to the Sept. 15 robbery at the celebrity hangout Philippe, a Chinese restaurant on E. 60th St. In that incident, a 28-year-old man on a first date was shot in the leg trying to fight back against two masked suspects. They fled with a Rolex from another diner. The youngster was in his house on 243rd St. near 136th Ave. in Rosedale when a gunman burst in and opened fire just before 8:50 p.m. on Sunday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) My friends, we are surrounded by signs, Father Julian S. Jaguadilla said from the pulpit. The death of our sister Maria is a sign Maria was not just a Filipina, she was also a frontline worker. This incident was not race-related, because she was not attacked because of her race. But with so many acts against Asians, and particularly Filipinos, we cannot help but to link them together. Late Friday night, Harrison reportedly saw a man commit a traffic violation in the Circle K parking lot across the street from the Alamo Police Department precinct. The man refused to give his name and address to Harrison and the two argued, with the man eventually pushing the officer, according to the GBI. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, was ruled incompetent at a hearing Monday after doctors reported superficial responses to hypothetical legal situations, indicating a passive approach to his defense and potential overreliance on his attorneys, according to the Boulder Daily Camera. The boy ran away from the park, but Graper caught up to him and threatened to knee on his neck in front of at least one bystander who heard the horrific attack, prosecutors said. The victim understood the alleged threat to be a reference to the murder of George Floyd, the unarmed Black man who died after now-convicted Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes in May 2020. Cho, who reportedly worked at a tattoo shop in Flemington, N.J., was on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend when she went missing, according to her family. She was staying at an Airbnb with friends and her boyfriend when she became upset and walked away from the resort, leaving her personal belongings behind, police told local media at the time. The loans are meant for businesses with fewer than 500 employees, but the coronavirus funds were distinguished by the number of religious institutions that took advantage of the funds. In Texas alone, more than 1,000 religious groups got money from the federal program, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported last December. The queens second son was forced to step down from his royal duties in November 2019 after a disastrous BBC interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein and failed to sympathize with his victims. The study found that only 7.3% of patients who were taking molnupiravir were either hospitalized or died within the first 30 days, compared with 14.1% of those who were taking a placebo, Merck said in a report earlier this month. After 30 days, there were no deaths among participants taking the pill while eight of those on the placebo died from the virus, the study found. In April 2020, Toebbe, who had active national security clearance through his role in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, sent a package to a foreign agent from an undisclosed country, containing U.S. Navy documents, a letter containing instructions and an SD card containing specific instructions on how (the country) should respond using an encrypted communication platform, according to the criminal complaint. Ruiz was found unconscious and taken to the hospital by paramedics. He was placed on life support and his family is now arranging to have his organs donated. We are heartbroken by the loss of our employee, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends, the company said. We also send our condolences for the other individuals who are involved in this incident, and their families and friends. Further complicating matters is the fact that, while Advantage Plus will be paid for by the feds, it will be administered through a private insurance provider selected by the city. That provider is Alliance, a joint venture between the insurers EmblemHealth and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield. But the contract for the work is now being challenged in court by two other insurance providers: United Healthcare and Aetna. According to its complaint, Xia, 52, and Yue, 41, pitched the hotel projects as a way for investors from China to obtain American residency through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services EB-5 program, which allows foreign nationals to qualify if they invest $500,000 or more in a project that creates or preserves jobs. Trump also demanded justice for the California woman who was hit with a single shot while trying to force her way through a broken window in the Capitol, where lawmakers were being sheltered while an angry mob outside called for the hanging of the vice president. Ive been very clear from the beginning, he said. If you look at a number of states, they didnt follow their state-passed laws that govern the election for president. That is what the United States Constitution says. They dont say the states determine what the rules are. They say the state legislatures determine the rules, the Louisiana congressman said on Fox News Sunday. In this Oct. 7, 2021, photo, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks to a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington. The dangerous standoff in Congress over raising the debt limit as well as its ultimate resolution both were engineered by McConnell, the Republican leader determined to stop President Joe Bidens agenda even if it pushes the country toward grave economic uncertainty. McConnell is no longer the majority leader of the Senate, but he is exerting the power of the minority in new and uncharted ways. (Alex Brandon/AP) The inferno ignited nearly 66,000 gallons of gasoline at the center in Zahrani after the storage tank went up in flames while gasoline was being transferred, said the countrys energy minister, Walid Fayad. The basic recognition that a mature society can honor both Native- and Italian-Americans including through the character of Columbus, an icon embraced over generations could be nicely exemplified in New York Citys public monuments. Years ago, protesters wanted the statute of the explorer in Columbus Circle torn down, and the circle (and presumably the university uptown, and our capital city in Washington, and much more) renamed; Mayor de Blasio at first fed their indignation by launching a city commission to subject it and other monuments to some kind of modern purity test. Ossining, N.Y.: Voicer Bob Pascarella, a relentless member of the Trump cult, says we should get over the former guy. We will do that when he is no longer a threat to the nation. He is still spreading the Big Lie that he won the election. He has convinced an unhealthy share of what is left of the GOP that elections no longer matter. His attacks on the foundational institutions of this country are the greatest threat to the nation since 1860. Trump is considered such a menace to society that he had to be blocked by social media platforms lest he endanger more lives. Between his delusional denials that he is the worst loser in presidential history to the hundreds of thousands of lives lost due to his cynical self-preservation lies about COVID, to his many crimes in office and dreams of being a dictator, the threat he poses is still real. Robert Rundbaken The translations and interpretations of the meager historical record of Columbuss voyages and experiences in the Caribbean (all later translations rather than his original journals) contain distortions and fabrications designed by his Spanish rivals Bartolome de las Cases and Nicolas de Ovando to paint him as a varlet. But it is not my purpose here nor do I have the space to settle the arguments. My verdict: He was a man of his times, in quest of riches and converts to Christianity, no better or worse than most of his contemporaries. On the rare occasion when ESD-funded projects are scrutinized, its clear theyve fallen short of promises made to local communities. This has certainly been the case for the Buffalo IT Hub. When it first launched in 2016, fueled by tens of millions in public dollars, ESD boasted the project would create 1,806 jobs. Five years later, only about 200 jobs have materialized, without any consequences for the projects developer or partners. The now-infamous Buffalo Billion project, which recently resulted in a new round of convictions for those involved in bid-rigging, is a whole other story. Were we crazy for trying to plan a wedding during a global pandemic?? Probably, yeah, cause many, many things went wrong including but not limited to us both getting breakthrough covid, Bridges wrote last week. Bisexual men in particular continue to be underrepresented in media. We look forward to seeing Jonathan Kents story explored further as he comes to understand his own identity, his mantle as Superman, and his relationships and hope to see this wave of growing visibility of LGBTQ characters in comics be reflected in TV and film adaptations. Liddell and Northcott have been married for more than a decade. The couple has a daughter and son together. Liddell also has two other children from previous relationships. Most of the phone numbers identified as sources of the texts were not in service for return calls or texts on Friday. One number was answered by a recording of an unidentified male voice saying, Im on the other line. Please leave your name and the address of the property you are calling about or send me a text. No one responded to a text seeking to talk about the mans text solicitations. Our vaccination rates are at such levels that a community outbreak like we had in recent weeks ... will not be feasible because of the levels of immunity, Pino said, referring to state health data showing that about 74% of all county residents eligible for the vaccine have gotten at least one shot. One woman said her co-workers talked about the case in front of her after jury selection began Friday, noting its seriousness because it involves the death of an officer. She stopped them from talking to her but said it was hard for her to keep an open mind. The hesitancy is based on an inaccurate assumption that the app might be used to track employees, Broward school officials said. They say the app works only inside schools, nowhere else, and accesses location information only when the panic button on the app is pressed for several seconds. People say you cant fight it, Cat Uden shouted to the crowd gathered outside the Hollywood Beach Culture & Community Center. You can fight it! Its going to be twice as tall as Margaritaville. We need to put our foot down. We dont want a mass of skyscrapers down the beach. In September, President Joe Biden announced new vaccine requirements for federal workers, mandating employers with more than 100 workers to require their employees to get vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19. Biden also signed an executive order requiring members of the executive branch and contractors working with the federal government to receive the vaccine, allowing no option to test out. Deputies found Taylor by the flames holding a sword and a bottle of Captain Morgans rum, with a knife strapped to his belt. Taylor was unable to give deputies an answer as to why he started the fire, but chugged the rum bottle during the interview, WFLA reported. The Delray Beach program uses animal experts to capture stray cats and transport them to a veterinarian. After being given anesthesia, the cats will be neutered or spayed, given a rabies vaccine and have a microchip implanted. She taught us how to achieve even when there are obstacles in our path, said Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry. There were times when Dr. Bethune did not feel like pressing on. But she pressed on. Sometimes we feel we have a harmonious journey. But other times we have a difficult journey. But we press on. You wont walk away empty-handed if you serve on a jury in Florida. Under Florida law, jurors who arent employed or dont get compensated by their employer get paid the princely sum of $15 per day for the first three days of service. After three days, all jurors are paid $30 per day, which comes out to $3.75 an hour. Thats less than what the federal minimum wage was in 1990. Gov. Ron DeSantis is so determined to have parents decide whether their children should wear face coverings to school, but what about teachers who are also parents? Teachers must instruct both masked and unmasked students and in doing so put themselves at risk of contracting COVID-19 and passing it on to their own children and other family members. And think of teachers who are single parents becoming seriously ill and wondering who will care for their children? Obviously, the governor is catering to parents, but I wonder how many teachers hes listened to and if he really cares about them at all. This is a day to celebrate the hunger for discovery and achievement that led Columbus on his journey in 1492. His historic journey led to the founding of what would later become the greatest nation in the history of the world, and was the beginning of true American exceptionalism, DeSantis said. And while bad-faith, radical actors attempt to expunge this day from history, we will not allow the foundations of America to be erased. Instead, we will learn from our history and see our history as a pivotal piece of the creation of the Western world. Ive run against the forces of DeSantis and Trump and theyre tough, and theyre reckless and they can be mean, but I believe Charlie is the type of candidate that has all the skills and gifts and name identification across the state that can take a message of hope and healing and take Florida in another direction, said King, who lives in Winter Park. Oswego, NY (13126) Today Rain showers this evening with a steady, soaking rain overnight. Increasing winds. Low 37F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with a steady, soaking rain overnight. Increasing winds. Low 37F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. 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 Music Industry meets Community! Back to the Music Hollywood! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT Todays Millennial world cries for a better future tomorrow. B2TMH brings you a reinvented mixer in support of Community action awareness such as Aids, Cancer, Violence and the things we all face in everyday life challenges of today. Back to the Music Hollywood is a Positive branded Music Mixer event of Professionals within our Community and Music Industry under one roof. In support of the independent Artist, Back to the Music will provide service giveaways, Industry resources, and more for the serious Independent Artist. Back to the Music Hollywood'' is brought to you by Austin Texas most notable Promoter LilSicc, his production company clubsiccs and professional friends ie; iamAustinMartin, The Clout Network, michaelsterlingfilms, Viralmediaboostonline, artistconnext, juelsofrome, industry top DJs, Execs, and many many more. Dont miss The first of many to come, and only Industry Mixer / community networking event of its kind Back to the Music Hollywood, on October 17th, 2020 at CLUB SICCS 1020 S. Los Angeles st., Unit B, Los Angeles CA 90015. Hailing outta Austin Texas, Lil Sicc has taken on the west coast through his Music, Hustler mentality, and Great vibes. A Dreamer in Action, An Artist, Musician, and CEO of his movement Hollywood Experience & "ClubSiccs" talent production companies has been thriving. Lil Sicc and his talents continue to release non-stop Music Heat, documentary series, and not to mention his upcoming Movie release Packz and much more. Lil Sicc and his Hollywood Experience clubsiccs brings you Back to the Music Hollywood. Lil Sicc is building an entourage across the West from Hollywood to Las Vegas and beyond with top influencers, industry, and west coast sexiest people. Join us this coming Sunday October 17th clubsiccs located in Los Angeles. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Woman convicted of embezzling funds from 3 banks to spend 8 years behind bars in new case RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 12:49 11/10/2021 ST. PETERSBURG, October 11 (RAPSI) Natalya Norimova, who had already been convicted of embezzling more than 700 million rubles ($9.8 million) from banks Taurus and Ascania Trust, was newly sentenced to 8 years in prison for complicity in the embezzlement of 12.6 million rubles ($176,000) from Vologdabank. The sentence to the convicted person and her accomplice Ivan Melkov was passed by the Vologda City Court, the United Press Service of the Vologodsky Region Courts informs RAPSI. Both defendants were found guilty of complicity in embezzlement. As follows from the case materials, in 2015, in Moscow, Norimova entered into a criminal conspiracy with Tatyana Rusina, who was a defendant in Norimova's previous cases and had been earlier also convicted by the Vologda City Court. At that time Rusina held a senior managerial position in JSC Vologdabank. In November 2016, the accomplices sold certain vehicles owned by the bank at a discounted price, as well as three land plots belonging to Vologdabank; also, under a fictitious agreement they embezzled 6 million rubles (about $84,000 at the current exchange rate) from the bank. The total damage to the bank amounted to 12, 6 million rubles ($176,000), according to the statement. Norimova was sentenced to 8 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 rubles ($7,000) for the crimes committed, Melkov was sentenced to 3 years of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 rubles ($2,800). The court ruled to recover from the defendants the amount of damages in favor of JSC Vologdabank represented by the Deposit Insurance Agency. Navalnys suit against prosecutors, Roskomnadzor over website blocking rejected RAPSI, Nikita Shiryayev 15:55 11/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 11 (RAPSI) Moscows Tverskoy District Court on Monday dismissed an administrative lawsuit filed by Alexey Navalny against the Prosecutor Generals Office and Russias communications watchdog Roskomnadzor over blocking of his websites, the courts press service told RAPSI. The plaintiff sought to recognize the authorities decisions on websites related to Navalny as illegal. The prosecutors demands to block the websites were based on the Moscow City Courts ruling declaring Navalnys foundation, Offices of Navalny and others extremist organizations. According to the prosecutors check, the said organizations were engaged in the forming of conditions for destabilization of social and political situation. In fact, their goals are to seek to dismantle the Russian statehood, prosecutors claimed. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to his UK counterpart Boris Johnson over phone and had an extensive discussion on several issues related to climate change in the context of the forthcoming annual climate change summit, COP26, to be in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12. "The two leaders had an extensive discussion on issues related to climate change. Prime Minister Modi conveyed India's commitment to climate action, as seen in its ambitious target for expansion of renewable energy and the recently-announced National Hydrogen Mission," a release from the PMO said. The UK is to host the climate change summit of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow from October 31. The two leaders also reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations since their virtual summit earlier this year, and expressed satisfaction over the steps already initiated under the 'Roadmap 2030' adopted during the virtual summit. They also reviewed the progress of the Enhanced Trade Partnership and agreed on the potential of rapidly expanding trade and investment linkages between both the countries, the release said. The leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, especially the situation in Afghanistan. In this context, they agreed on the need to develop a common international perspective on issues related to extremism and terrorism, as well as human rights and rights of women and minorities, the release added. Terming Tuesday 'Shaheed Kisan Diwas', the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Monday said the "antim ardaas" of the martyrs of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre will take place in Tikunia in the Uttar Pradesh district and appealed supporters to pay homage with a candlelight vigil. "Tens of thousands of farmers are expected to join the prayer meeting at Tikunia. SKM appeals the farmers' organisations and other progressive groups across the country to mark the Shaheed Kisan Diwas by organising prayer and homage meetings all over the country with candlelight vigils in the evening," the SKM said in a release here. Nine people, including farmers and a journalist, were moved down on October 3 during a farmers' protest allegedly by vehicles which belonged to Union Minister Ajay Misra Teni and his son, Ashish Misra, is accused of being in one of the vehicles then. Stating that it is shameful for the Modi government that the Minister has not been sacked yet, the SKM said: "Due to the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, his earlier history of criminal cases has come into the public gaze, it is clear that in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre itself, he had a role to play. It was his vehicles that were in the convoy that killed innocent people." "The fact that Teni had sought to promote enmity, hatred and disharmony is clear from his speech on October 25 against Sikhs of Terai region. His speech was of intimidation and threat, in a public meeting at that, where he was also proudly alluding to his criminal antecedents, and on the basis of this, stern action should have taken place by now, which could have prevented the entire episode of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre," the SKM said. The SKM had already issued an ultimatum about Monday being the deadline for sacking and arrest of the Minister. "Tomorrow, in the prayer meetings organised in Lakhimpur Kheri for the martyrs of the massacre, SKM will go ahead with its announced plan of action. SKM reiterates that the farmers' movement cannot be dissipated or weakened by BJP-RSS playing their communal card. Farmers of the country are united in their struggle," the release said. Uttar Pradesh Police is laying curbs on movement of several farmers and farmer leaders to prevent them from proceeding to Lakhimpur Kheri, the SKM claimed and added, "Reports have come in of several AIKMS leaders being illegally detained in Bara in Prayagraj." On the reports indicating that Uttar Pradesh government is deploying police and paramilitary forces in anticipation of the farmers' protests, the SKM said: "It is indeed regrettable that instead of assuring actions that will restore justice and thereby prevent intensification of protests, UP Government is preparing for protests that will follow lack of correct action, in its attempt to protect culprits associated with BJP." Kam Air, a private Afghan airline, said that it has been asked by Pakistan to stop flights until further notice, the media reported on Monday. Airline officials told Radio Free Afghanistan that flights to Pakistan has remained suspended since the last two days, Khaama Press reported. The government in Islamabad is yet to comment on the development. Kam Air flights operate to only Islamabad in Pakistan. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/11/2021 -- HTF MI Analyst have added a new research study on Title Global Pharmacy Retailing Market Report 2020 by Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast to 2026 (Based on 2020 COVID-19 Worldwide Spread) with detailed information of Product Types [, Off-line & On-line], Applications [Rx & OTC] & Key Players Such as Yixintang, Walgreen, Loblaw, Nesme, Guoda Drugstore, AinPharmaciez, Albertsons, Rite Aid, CVS, Ahold, Chemist Direct & Einhorn Apotheke etc. The Study provides in-depth comprehensive analysis for regional segments that covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa with global outlook and includes Clear Market definitions, classifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, development policies and plans. The facts and data are well presented in the Pharmacy Retailing report using diagrams, graphs, pie charts, and other pictorial representations with respect to its current trends, dynamics, and business scope & key statistics. If you are a Pharmacy Retailing manufacturer and deals in exports imports then this article will help you understand the Sales Volume with Impacting Trends. Request a sample report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2987517-global-pharmacy-retailing-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Impact Analysis Global Pharmacy Retailing Market Research Analysts at HTF MI constantly monitor the Pharmacy Retailing industry factors with impacts of current events; with this study an update of how industry players have tackled latest scenario and what key strategies have made significant difference is showcased. Key Highlights from Pharmacy Retailing Market Study. Revenue and Sales Estimation Historical Revenue and sales volume is presented and further data is triangulated with top-down and bottom-up approaches to forecast complete market size and to estimate forecast numbers for key regions covered in the report along with classified and well recognized Types and end-use industry. Additionally, macroeconomic factor and regulatory policies are ascertained in Pharmacy Retailing industry evolution and predictive analysis. Manufacturing Analysis the report is currently analysed concerning various product type and application. The Pharmacy Retailing market provides a chapter highlighting manufacturing process analysis validated via primary information collected through Industry experts and Key officials of profiled companies. FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS: In order to better understand Pharmacy Retailing market condition five forces analysis is conducted that includes Bargaining power of buyers, Bargaining power of suppliers, Threat of new entrants, Threat of substitutes, Threat of rivalry. Competition Leading players have been studied from Pharmacy Retailing Industry depending on their company profile, product portfolio, capacity, product/service price, sales, and cost/profit. Demand & Supply and Effectiveness Pharmacy Retailing report additionally provides distribution, Production, Consumption & EXIM** (Export & Import). ** If applicable Have Any Query? Ask Our Expert @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2987517-global-pharmacy-retailing-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Geographically, the following regions together with the listed national/local markets are fully investigated: - APAC (Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, India, and Rest of APAC; Rest of APAC is further segmented into Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka) - Europe (Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe; Rest of Europe is further segmented into Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) - North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) - South America (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Rest of South America) - MEA (Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa) The Latest Trends, Product Portfolio, Demographics, Geographical segmentation, and Regulatory Framework of the Pharmacy Retailing Market have also been included in the study. Market Growth by Applications: Rx & OTC Heat map Analysis, 3-Year Financial and Detailed Company Profiles of Key & Emerging Players: Yixintang, Walgreen, Loblaw, Nesme, Guoda Drugstore, AinPharmaciez, Albertsons, Rite Aid, CVS, Ahold, Chemist Direct & Einhorn Apotheke Market Growth by Types: , Off-line & On-line Book Latest Edition of Study Global Pharmacy Retailing Market Study @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2987517 Introduction about Global Pharmacy Retailing Global Pharmacy Retailing Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) [, Off-line & On-line] in 2018 Pharmacy Retailing Market by Application/End Users [Rx & OTC] Global Pharmacy Retailing Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications Global Global Pharmacy Retailing Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2025) Pharmacy Retailing Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and Application Pharmacy Retailing (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined. Global Pharmacy Retailing Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data Key Raw Materials Analysis & Price Trends Supply Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain Analysis ........and view more in complete table of Contents Check Complete Report Details @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2987517-global-pharmacy-retailing-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Thanks for reading this article; HTF also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research according to clientele objectives. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report like North America, Europe or Asia Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured this vivid image of a spiral galaxy called LEDA 42975. LEDA 42975 is located approximately 48 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. Also known as IRAS 12425-0011 and UGC 7926, the galaxy is undergoing a particularly intense episode of star formation. LEDA 42975s burst of star formation is driving an unusual form of extreme galactic weather known as a superwind a gigantic transfer of gas from the bright central heart of the galaxy out into space, Hubble astronomers explained. This superwind is the result of driving winds from short-lived massive stars formed during LEDA 42975s starburst as well as spectacularly energetic supernova explosions. Two such supernova explosions have been seen in LEDA 42975 within the last decade one in 2014 and the other in 2019, the researchers added. The star which led to the 2019 supernova was recently determined to be 19 times as massive as our Sun! At peak, supernovae are often the brightest sources of light in their galaxies, shining so bright that they can be seen clear across the Universe, they said. The 2014 supernova in LEDA 42975 is still active in this image, but more than 900 days after it peaked, the supernova has faded from its former glory and looks like just one more star in this busy galaxy. Though the torrent of superheated gas emanating from LEDA 42975 is truly vast in scale extending for tens of thousands of light-years it is invisible in this image. The superwinds extremely high temperature makes it stand out as a luminous plume in X-ray or radio observations, but it doesnt show up at the visible wavelengths imaged by Hubble. Dr. John Healy, a marine biologist at the Queensland Museum, the University of Queensland, and the Field Museum of Natural History, has described a new species of the genus Amoria from shells dredged off the Australian mid-east coast. Amoria is a genus of medium-sized marine gastropods (snails and slugs) in the family Volutidae. These predatory creatures are found in onshore and offshore waters around the entire coast of Australia; several species extend into offshore waters of southern Indonesia. The newly-identified species can be readily distinguished from other Amoria species by the combination of small shell size, fusiform shape, high spire, equal-sized thick columellar plaits and a single, large undulation of the axial lines. Named Amoria thorae, the species is so rare, scientists have yet to see a live specimen. Presently it is known from only a handful of specimens, all just empty shells, trawled in the 1970s within a narrow distribution area from northern News South Wales to south east Queensland. I long knew of a possible new species of carnivorous marine snail from the mid-eastern coast of Australia, Dr. Healy said. Id seen a shell of this marine snail illustrated in a book, but not officially described, so you can imagine my delight when photographing this new collection, I found not one, but two specimens of this potentially new species. They were trawled off Cape Moreton at 110 m depth and after further research I discovered a further two specimens catalogued under another species name at the Australian Museum. These four specimens formed the basis for the description of the new species, Amoria thorae. This species is extremely rare, and my hope is that one day the living animal will be found, photographed and studied so we may better understand its biology and relationships. The specific name of Amoria thorae honors long-time Brisbane resident Thora Whitehead, whose shell collection was recently donated to the Queensland Museum, and who has, for over 50 years, made a major contribution to Australian malacology (the study of mollusks). The Thora Whitehead Collection is one of the largest and most comprehensive private collections of marine shells in Australia and contains thousands of species, including numerous rarities and foreign species many collected by Thora herself, Dr. Healy said. It will contribute not only to the expansion of the Museums mollusk collection, but also assist the international scientific community with research. Amoria thorae is described in a paper published in the Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Nature. _____ J.M. Healy et al. 2019. A new species of Amoria (Gastropoda, Volutidae, Amoriinae) from the mid-east coast of Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Nature 62: 1-10; doi: 10.17082/j.2204-1478.62.2020.2019-02 In the genome of Homo sapiens, about 98% of DNA sequences are non-coding regions that were previously disregarded as junk DNA. In fact, junk DNA contains a variety of regions which precisely control the expression of genes. Now, a team of stem cell researchers at Lund University has examined what it is in our DNA that makes human and chimpanzee brains different and found that the answer lies in non-coding DNA. Instead of studying living humans and chimpanzees, we used stem cells grown in a lab, said senior author Professor Johan Jakobsson, a neuroscientist in the Department of Experimental Medical Science at the Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center at Lund University. The stem cells were reprogrammed from skin cells. Then we examined the stem cells that we had developed into brain cells. Using the stem cells, Professor Jakobsson and colleagues specifically grew brain cells from humans and chimpanzees and compared the two cell types. They then found that humans and chimpanzees use a part of their DNA in different ways, which appears to play a considerable role in the development of our brains. The part of our DNA identified as different was unexpected, Professor Jakobsson said. It was a so-called structural variant of DNA that were previously called junk DNA, a long repetitive DNA string which has long been deemed to have no function. Previously, researchers have looked for answers in the part of the DNA where the protein-producing genes are which only makes up about 2% of our entire DNA and examined the proteins themselves to find examples of differences. The new findings indicate that the differences appear to lie outside the protein-coding genes. This suggests that the basis for the human brains evolution are genetic mechanisms that are probably a lot more complex than previously thought, as it was supposed that the answer was in those two per cent of the genetic DNA. Our results indicate that what has been significant for the brains development is instead perhaps hidden in the overlooked 98%, which appears to be important. This is a surprising finding. The authors believe that in the future their new results may also contribute to genetically-based answers to questions about psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. But there is a long way to go before we reach that point, as instead of carrying out further research on the two per cent of coded DNA, we may now be forced to delve deeper into all 100% a considerably more complicated task for research, Professor Jakobsson said. The findings appear in the journal Cell Stem Cell. _____ Pia A. Johansson et al. A cis-acting structural variation at the ZNF558 locus controls a gene regulatory network in human brain development. Cell Stem Cell, published online October 7, 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.09.008 Language is still one of humanity's most unique traits. The male nightingale's capacity to improvise is demonstrated by the fact that he can produce over 200 distinct song genres. These songs, on the other hand, are shambles in terms of semantics. Several animal species, such as bees, have complex communication systems, but they pale in contrast to humans' capacity to learn not one, but multiple languages, each of which may convey an endless number of structurally distinct phrases. There has been an explosion of study in the field of language learning in recent years, particularly into the effects of bilingualism on the brain. It's hard to compare the differences between a monolingual and a non-lingual brain since newborns are born with talking readiness or pre-language. Brains that aren't linguistic just don't exist. Comparing monolinguals and bilinguals might give insights on the neurology of language learning as a replacement. 1. Effects on General Intelligence Learning a new language enhances intellect, verbal fluency, and literacy, according to researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Cognitive Ageing. The researchers discovered that speaking many languages has a substantial impact on cognitive capacities such as general intelligence and reading. The study found significant cognitive gains in attention, concentration, and fluency across all age groups. Another research examined the impact of bilingualism on brain development by comparing the cognitive skills and metalinguistic awareness of monolingual and bilingual children on three verbal tests and one nonverbal executive control task. Multitasking and metalinguistic awareness were substantially greater in bilingual youngsters. 2. Impact on Creative Potential Lexical sophistication, or the breadth and depth of one's vocabulary, has been used as a measure of linguistic proficiency and divergent thinking, because the capacity to access a larger vocabulary allows for more ideas to be created, including linguistic aspects of style like metaphor and humour. Over the last four decades, a significant amount of study has been conducted on the link between multilingualism and creativity. Because they had a broader linguistic vocabulary from which to pull thoughts and ideas, bilinguals consistently outperformed monolinguals in tests measuring divergent and convergent thinking. Bilinguals and multilinguals have various perspectives on the world. They have access to a variety of conceptual viewpoints, which combine to provide a richer subjective experience. Multilingualism fosters the growth of creativity, idea creation, problem-solving skills, and cultural awareness. Multilinguals have a larger mental representation, which helps them integrate opposing ideas and improves cognitive flexibility. Knowing many languages adds layers of subtle distinctions to the same notion, which is why multilinguals are prone to ambiguity. As a result, they have access to a broader variety of viable solutions to every situation. 3. Verbal Intelligence Verbal intelligence is the capacity to explain and express one's thoughts and feelings in one or more languages, either verbally or in writing. It also includes understanding and a degree of verbal empathy. The abilities of verbal intelligence, problem-solving, and abstract reasoning are all linked. Peal and Lambert (1962) investigated the impact of bilingualism on intellectual functioning. Both verbal and nonverbal IQ tests showed that bilinguals outperformed monolinguals. Greater mental flexibility and concept creation abilities are the sources of the intellectual edge. Bilinguals have a more diverse range of mental talents than monolinguals due to differences in their cognitive architecture. Prior to this research, it was commonly assumed that early childhood bilingualism hampered children's cognitive development. Bilingualism was once believed to be a deplorable condition that should be avoided at all costs. 4. Nonverbal Intelligence Cognitive capabilities and problem-solving abilities in tasks that do not need the use of words are referred to as nonverbal intelligence. The identification of visual sequences, the processing of visual information, and the recognition of nonverbal indicators in social relationships, such as body language, are all examples of nonverbal cognitive processes. Maria Viorica, a Northwestern University professor, was the first to propose the notion of co-activation in bilingual spoken language understanding. It refers to proficient bilinguals' inclination to have two languages engaged at the same time, whether consciously or unconsciously, activating inhibitory regulation in the prefrontal brain. Because it is forced to select between two concurrently co-activated languages, the bilingual brain is continuously exercised. As a result, the bilingual brain becomes considerably more capable of executing cognitive tasks. Bilinguals receive considerably more executive control exercise since they must continually manage attention to the jointly active languages. As a result, in nonverbal executive control tasks, they tend to have a processing advantage over monolinguals. 5. Working Memory Effects Working memory is a cognitive framework made up of multiple regions of the brain that serves as a dedicated, temporary mental workspace for information processing, storage, and manipulation. The phonological loop, which interacts with spoken and written content, retains information in a speech-based form, and helps speech production, is one of the components of working memory. On tests comparing them in activities requiring different degrees of working memory, bilinguals outperform monolinguals. Bilinguals exhibited a higher reaction rate and were more accurate in their responses to trials, indicating that they had an advantage in certain elements of executive function. The visuospatial span, which is connected to visual and spatial identification, was similarly surpassed by monolinguals on tasks unrelated to the language-processing component of working memory. Language learning, in essence, enhances all elements of working memory, including those that are unrelated to language. Air New Zealand has been awarded a further five months of support for cargo flights under an extension of the Governments Maintaining International Air Connectivity (MIAC) scheme. This contract includes additional air freight capacity operating from 1 November 2021 through to 31 March 2022. The MIAC scheme (the scheme) has helped keep New Zealand connected to its global trade partners and allow for essential international travel to continue while international borders remain effectively closed. The scheme was announced by the Government in March 2021, following the success of the International Air Freight Capacity scheme, to ensure a predictable and regular schedule of international air services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the scheme, the Government provides financial assistance to all airlines that are awarded cargo flights, to support the cost of international flying. With the scheme now operating over the coming summer period through to the end of March 2022, the airline has been awarded support for approximately 65 flights per week over that period to destinations including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Shanghai and key Pacific ports. While the trans-Tasman and Rarotonga bubbles remain suspended, air freight services to Australia and the Cook Islands will also operate within the scheme. The Government financial support for flights within this five-month period is expected to contribute between approximately $150 million and $170 million towards the airlines cargo revenue, which is comparable to the same period last year. In the prior financial year, support from the scheme contributed $321 million to the airlines total cargo revenue. Please see the link below for details Air NZ awarded international cargo flights to March 2022 Source: Air New Zealand Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 19th November 2021 Morning Report Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) unaudited first half underlying profit of $95.9m Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (NZX: STU) Earnings Guidance 1H FY22 My Food Bag Group Limited (NZX: MFB) achieves record earnings; confirms dividend Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) delivers 24% increase in HY22 earnings AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) reaffirms guidance and progresses growth plan 18th November 2021 Morning Report Blis Technologies Limited (NZX: BLT) Challenging market conditions in US impact half year result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) NZ Commerce Commission Clears Coretex Acquisition NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Digital acceleration delivering on NZME's 2023 strategy Bridging the digital divide empowers girls. If we get it right Technological innovations have been a source of hope and security for many girls and young women, enabling them to continue learning and seek help if they are at risk of child marriage or gender-based violence. by Bjorn Andersson and George Laryea-Adjei When Vithika Yadav returned to India in 2008 after living in the United States, she saw that many young people - especially girls - didnt have a space to openly talk about the difficult issues they faced. Gender-based violence, child marriage and other harmful social practices remain commonplace - and are hardly ever discussed. So she rolled up her sleeves and co-founded Love Matters India, a digital community for young people to learn about their rights, seek services, share stories and help their peers. Love Matters India meets young people where many of them already are - online - opening conversations on tough subjects related to gender inequality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The platform, with a significant audience, is helping to address patriarchal behaviour within Indias younger generations. Increasingly across Asia and the Pacific, innovative initiatives like these are opening up new opportunities to empower women and girls with knowledge, support and services and help them lead safe, productive, fulfilling lives. This is timelier than ever, since the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on services that help protect girls against child marriage and gender-based violence. This is alarming for regions like South Asia, where over half of girls are married before the age of 18 - robbing them of their childhood, curbing their education, and putting their health and safety at risk. Projections warning of a significant pandemic-related spike in these human rights violations are increasingly corroborated by anecdotal evidence and data from service providers. Technological innovations have been a source of hope and security for many girls and young women, enabling them to continue learning and seek help if they are at risk of child marriage or gender-based violence. But not all girls and young women have access to digital technology and the opportunities it offers to improve their lives. Making sure no girl is left behind because she is poor, illiterate or too young requires deliberate planning and action on the part of governments and a range of partners including the private sector. Disparities in access to technology are actually rising - widening the chasms both between boys and girls ability to thrive, and between privileged and disadvantaged communities. As governments and the private sector ramp up investments in digital technology to better reach young people, we must make concerted efforts to bridge gender and socio-economic digital divides. Ms. Yadav does just that. She reaches out to girls from some of the most disadvantaged communities through Love Matters Indias youth networks. Critical information on girls rights and services is disseminated through community radio and mobile phones preloaded with content to avoid Internet access issues. Inspiring examples of how this can be done abound. In Sri Lanka, UNICEF and the Government have set up a virtual and telephone-based support system for at-risk children amid COVID-19 lockdowns. Frontline social workers trained in psychosocial support use Zoom to report cases of girls and boys in need of protection. In Bangladesh, as part of the national Alapon helpline, UNFPA and Concerned Women for Family Development have set up a Rohingya line to provide sexual and reproductive health information and psychosocial support in Coxs Bazar refugee camps. Community health workers and designated safe spaces across the camps are equipped with mobile phones so girls can call the helpline. Facebook Live sessions are broadcast on local radio, and radios containing an SD card preloaded with past Alapon Live sessions are given to adolescents. What more can we do to harness the potential of technology to protect the rights and wellbeing of all girls, everywhere? Governments and partners, including the private sector, must strengthen digital literacy and infrastructure across the region, with a focus on adolescent girls and underserved communities. This means ensuring that all adolescent girls can learn even when physically attending schools is not possible - by making sure they have the devices, platforms, materials and support they need. This is especially important in places with high rates of child marriage, as keeping girls in school substantially reduces the likelihood they will marry early. In online school settings, authorities need to monitor attendance records and implement strategies to ensure that both boys and girls, including those from disadvantaged families, have equal access to education. And, alternative safe modes of learning should be offered where online access is unavailable. Donors, the private sector, governments, UN agencies and civil society should invest more in digital innovations to create online spaces for adolescents, especially girls, to share their experiences and concerns with peers and professionals and receive information and support in a safe virtual space. But as more evidence from the Asia-Pacific region emerges on what has worked amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that investing in technology alone is not enough. Approaches that combine in-person interactions, traditional media like radio, and diverse digital platforms are needed to fully engage girls and young people, especially in remote or disadvantaged communities. For example, virtual health and psychosocial support consultations, including support for adolescents facing abuse or child marriage, must be made available through helplines, radio and mobile phones. On this International Day of the Girl Child, as we contemplate a post-COVID region and world, we have the opportunity to build on what weve learned during the pandemic about the value of digital technology - while also addressing the gaps that divide us even further. We must not only commit, but also take concrete actions to bridge gender and socio-economic digital divides so technology advances rights, choices and opportunities for all. Bjorn Andersson is the Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific Regional Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UNs sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPAs mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. George Laryea-Adjei is the Regional Director for UNICEF South Asia, based in Kathmandu, Nepal. UNICEF is dedicated to advancing the rights and wellbeing of all children, especially the most marginalized and disadvantaged. The Government of Sri Lanka has demonstrated a good example in the region in reopening schools in 2020 and can build on that experience to quickly return and keep all learners in the classrooms. UNICEF commends the Government of Sri Lanka for its decision to reopen primary school grades 1-5 for in-person learning from 21st October and urges for swift steps towards a full resumption of all schools across the country, while ensuring that all measures are taken for a safe return. Global evidence continues to show that schools do not drive the spread of COVID-19 in the community and the virus does not pose a high risk to children. Evidence also indicates that teachers are at lower risk of infection in school settings, compared to the general adult population. Despite some brief periods of opening, physical operation of schools in Sri Lanka has been severely limited since initial closures in March 2020, in a swift move by the government to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Tamil school is being cleaned up for school openings in Sri Lanka Government efforts to mitigate learning losses through remote learning methods during the closures have helped children to not completely miss out on their education. However, this has been limited by many factors, including varying levels of access to internet connection, laptops, mobile phones, TV, radio and the broader infrastructure that supports these systems, as well as capacity of teachers, education administrations and parents to effectively engage. The disruption caused by the pandemic has resulted in widening inequalities and learning losses that threaten to reverse and, in the worst case, completely erase the gains made over the past decades. The reopening of schools provides an opportunity to limit a further widening of inequalities and mitigate the learning losses but only if concerted efforts are made to strengthen systems for recovery and resilience of the education sector. These include: Prioritizing the most vulnerable and those whose education is most affected by COVID-19, including younger students who gained the minimum in-school experience and children with special needs to ensure continuous access to and participation in learning for all children. No child must be left behind. Financing to address the impact of COVID-19 on education. Revamping the sector will require crucial investments, including on the infrastructure required for safe reopening and operation of schools as well as in training teachers on skills required to help them respond to the different learning needs of children, including mental health. Concerted efforts by Education authorities, school administrations and parents to implement measures to ensure schools remain a safe environment for learning. This includes strict implementation of and adherence to guidelines on safe reopening and operation. These guidelines need to take into consideration different local and school-level contexts. The best interest of the child should always be the primary principle when making decisions on children, including on education as the pandemic evolves. School closures should only be considered as a last resort when there are no other alternatives. The Government of Sri Lanka has demonstrated a good example in the region in reopening schools in 2020 and can build on that experience to quickly return and keep all learners in the classrooms. UNICEF and its partners remain committed to continue providing technical support to Sri Lankas commendable efforts in responding to the pandemic and the safe reopening and operation of schools. India is now paying a big price for this historically wrong decision to appease China by remaining silent, while China massacred the innocent Tibetans and suppressed the freedom movement there and now using Tibet region to build military base, that has become a big threat for India. by N.S.Venkataraman When the US President unilaterally decided to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan resulting in a humiliating exit , several people, both in USA and outside, started thinking whether the leadership of the USA has considerably weakened. The fact that President Joe Biden withdrew the forces in the face of attack by Taliban terrorists even without a face saving formula, made many wonder whether the present leadership of USA has even lost the sense of pride. When US troops were withdrawn , forces from other NATO countries , which stood by the USA in Afghanistan, also withdrew their forces , without questioning the abrupt decision of the US government. In this entire episode, not only the USA but also the NATO countries have lost their face in the eyes of the world. The fact that the US government has no hesitation in negotiating with the Taliban after withdrawing the forces from Afghanistan in humiliating conditions and even while Taliban is widely perceived to be a terrorist organisation ,has further made people across the world think that USA is no more a superpower. With the COVID 19 spread in the USA taking a heavy toll and lives are still being lost in USA due to COVID 19 virus and economy of USA not being in the best of shape, 78 year old US President Joe Biden is no more creating confidence about the capability of the USA to dominate the world. This feeling is further accentuated by the declaration of Joe Biden that the USA would not send its troops to other countries ( probably even if the terrorist elements would indulge in violent acts in any country ). With this decision, the claim of USA that it is the champion of the free world has gone for a toss With the leadership of the USA under Joe Biden visibly weakening, China has become more aggressive than ever before and seem to have concluded that its time has come to emerge as the super power in the world , decisively beating USA. Recently, a US nuclear submarine hit an "unknown object" while submerged in waters in the Asia-Pacific region, injuring a number of sailors, The collision happened in international waters in the South China Sea, amid rising tensions in the region due to Chinas claim that the region belongs to China. Many people think that it is very unusual that a submarine would hit an unknown object . There are also suspicions that China could have planted the unknown object, to test the determination of the US government to enter into a conflict with China. So far, Joe Biden administration has not explained , what was the unknown object. While the submarine withdrew and went back to USA, Joe Biden administration has taken care not to blame China for the incident. Many people wonder whether this could be part of appeasing policy of Joe Biden administration towards China to buy peace and avoid military conflict. Chinese President has now said aggressively that China would occupy Taiwan and many persons think that it could happen at any time now. Earlier, UK government handed over Hong Kong to China unquestioningly and now China is using aggressive methods to put down the protestors in Hong Kong against Chinas dictatorial governance. Neither USA nor NATO countries have done anything to prevent China from its acts of suppression in Hong Kong , other than issuing some paper statements from time to time. It appears that China has convinced itself that the present weak US government would leave Taiwan at the mercy of China, if and when China would occupy Taiwan China expects that it will have its way in Taiwan unchecked by any country. After Taiwan, obviously the next target of China is India. Chinese forces are deliberately creating tension in the India China border by repeatedly intruding into Indian territory. Indian Army Chief has now confirmed that China has considerably strengthened its military base in Tibet region, with large scale build up by China along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. The army chief has ominously said China is here to stay and it is a matter of concern for India. Even as China is so aggressive, India is now engaged in discussion with China to find an amicable settlement on border issue, even when everyone think that China would not be sincere in the talks. Many wonder whether India wants to avoid military conflict with China , inspite of provocative moves of China against India. The military confrontation faced by India against China has now become a serious and grave issue for India, since the leadership of US government has considerably weakened and India has nowhere to look for meaningful support , if US government would not respond to checkmate Chinas aggressive military moves against India. With Russia virtually reducing itself to the level of junior partner of China in all fronts and Indias neighbour Pakistan and Afghanistan , who are sworn enemies of India, now under total Chinas influence and control ,there is huge concern in India about Chinas aggressive methods , policies and greed. With Tibet already occupied by China and earlier India doing the mistake of approving the occupation of Tibet by China, India is now regretting that in the past, it has approved Chinas aggression in Tibet , to keep China in good humour. India is now paying a big price for this historically wrong decision to appease China by remaining silent, while China massacred the innocent Tibetans and suppressed the freedom movement there and now using Tibet region to build military base, that has become a big threat for India. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd58ad88)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5e52c8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd58ad88)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5e52c8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd5b5498)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5e52c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5e52c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdcc76e70)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdd5bd570)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdd5bd570)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd6f9fd8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd57d5f0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd6f9fd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd57d5f0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd4bbe80)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd57d5f0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd57d5f0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdcc78008)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdd5b6928)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdd5b6928)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd63c930)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd622bd0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd63c930)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd622bd0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd617c68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd622bd0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd622bd0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdcc76e70)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdd4dcde8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdd4dcde8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd5909c0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5baff8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd5909c0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5baff8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdd5d8428)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5baff8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdd5baff8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdcc77410)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd7f65ed8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd7f65ed8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 ARISS contact is scheduled for students in France at Ecole Louis Armand, Carquefou, Institut Universitaire de Technologie, Carquefou, and College Les Sables DOr, Thouare Sur Loire Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS). This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between students in France at the Ecole Louis Armand, Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT), and College Les Sables DOr and Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, amateur radio call sign KG5FYG . Students will take turns asking their questions. Appropriate local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the radio relay ground station. Amateur radio operators in Carquefou using the F5KEQ/P call sign will operate the ham radio ground station for this contact. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 13, 2021 at 3:39 pm CEST (Carquefou, France) , (13:39 UTC, 9:39 am EDT, 8:39 am CDT, 7:39 am MDT and 6:39 am PDT). Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT) is a third level educational establishment, a branch of Nantes University, and offers diplomas in seven industrial specialties to about 2,000 students. The IUT maintains close links with secondary level schools who are partners for events that promote science and technology. IUT will host this ARISS contact to bring together students from College Les Sables DOr (13 year-olds), and Louis Armand (9 year-olds) as well students from IUT. About 300 students are expected to be present during the radio contact. Members of the Association des Radioamateurs de Loire Atlantique (ARALA) will be supporting the school for this radio contact. ARALA has promoted amateur radio activity in each school by offering demonstrations and presentations that introduce students to the wide range of interests in amateur radio. Some of these radio activities included: satellite demonstrations via QO-100, radio directional finding exercises, yagi-building classes, and Morse code demonstrations. The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://youtu.be/8mam6IlA7uw NRSI 1st News Bulletin On Sunday 11th October 2021, the National Radio Society of Ireland (NRSI) transmitted its first Radio News Bulletin from its Headquarters located in the midlands on 3633 kHz, 7133 kHz and 145.2375 MHz. As a new national society, NRSI is delighted to announce that several new clubs/groups have already affiliated and overall membership numbers are continuing to grow strongly since its formation, which took place on 23rd March last year. NRSI emphasises openness, transparency and inclusivity to our members and affiliated clubs. We intend to increase public visibility of the hobby and demonstrate the core values of amateur Radio through field days and public events that showcase the many aspects of our hobby. We have established a Voluntary Emergency Communications Service providing communications by licenced radio operators for our communities. NRSI runs a QSL bureau for its members and is pleased to note that the number of QSL cards, both incoming and outgoing, are also increasing. All enquiries about the National Radio Society of Ireland are very welcome and may be directed to our Secretary via NRSI, PO Box 13382, Roscommon, Ireland F42 NY56. For additional information please visit the society website www.nrsi.ie Abuja (Nigeria), 11 October 2021 (SPS) - The Ambassador of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) to Nigeria, Brahim Salem Buseif, has called on the United Nations(UN) the European Union(EU), the African Union (AU) and international institutions to prevail on Morocco to stop the aggression and occupation of his country and respect international law regarding the rights of the Saharawi to determine their independence through a referendum. In this interview with a select group of journalists, the envoy praised the EU Court that annulled trade agreements between Morocco and EU Commission over resources of Western Sahara. He also called on Nigerian government to take the lead in imposing the law to protect his nation from Moroccos occupation. INNOCENT ODOH was there. Excerpts: What is your impression about the European Union Court ruling of Wednesday September 29, which annulled the agreements between Morocco and the European Union on exporting fishing and agricultural products from Western Sahara? We are very satisfied with the ruling of the European Court of last Wednesday, which ruled against two agreements between Morocco and European Commission which included Western Saharawi. This same court had already ruled in 2016 and 2018 that Western Saharawi is a distinct and separate territory from Morocco and that Morocco has no right to include Western Sahara in any agreement of any kind. But in spite this very clear ruling, the European Commission tried to circumvent the law and in complicity with Morocco, they signed two agreements- one concerning farming products and one concerning sea shelf, which concerns Saharawi territorial waters. Of course, we were convinced that those agreements were illegal and null according to international law, which considers Western Saharawi an autonomous territory and gives the right and sovereignty to the people of Western Saharawi concerning all their natural resources. The law also said that no agreement can be signed with forces of occupation without the consent of the people. So, it is a very major setback for Morocco and a very big blow to their accomplice, the European Commission, which tried to circumvent the law. It is a very big blow for them especially for the government of France and Spain that were pushing for the signing of those agreements. It is not only a legal victory for us, it is also a political victory because the government of Morocco, by the illegal proclamation of Donald Trump in recognizing Moroccos sovereignty over our land, was emboldened and asking the EU to follow this illegal proclamation. The European Court of Justice after 46 years reaffirmed the position of the International Court of Justice in The Hague in 1975, which said that Morocco has no right or links of sovereignty with Western Saharawi prior to the Spanish colonization. The court ruling also confirmed that the Polisario Front is the representative of Saharawi people and as such, has the right to plead for the interest of the Saharawi people before the court. The UN resolution also recognizes the Polisario Front as the only representative of the Saharawi people. Prior to 1975, Morocco cannot provide any document, graveyards, buildings or documented proof that it had been in Western Sahara prior to its invasion and occupation in 1975. There is a resolution of the United Nations of 1979 which clearly shows Moroccos invasion and occupation. So, after the court ruling, what is your appeal to the International Community? After this clear ruling, our government is calling upon European governments, European institutions to abide by their own law and international law. That is what we are calling for. Western Saharawi is at war with Morocco because since November 2020, it violated the 1991 UN and AU ceasefire agreement, and since then there is no ceasefire and we are saying that because the Saharawi Republic is not peaceful right now. We have issued notices to all governments and institutions that they are at risk if they commit themselves in some agreements and undertakings in Western Sahara. We are not responsible for what could happen to them. Morocco is violating and incarcerating people and an example of that is the defender of human rights called Sultana Haiya who has been for months now under house arrest and the police are violating her and her sister. Right now, she is sick of Coronavirus because they made her inhale some products. That lady has already lost one of her eyes because of the beating of the Moroccan police. She has been nominated in the European parliament for the Saharawi fight as human right defender. Morocco has been very vehement with its claims over Western Sahara and issues of violation of human rights in occupied areas has also been thrown up, so how can the UN mission allow Morocco to be violating the rights of the people? Yes, you made a very good point because since the ceasefire in 1991, the UN established the Mission for the Referendum of Western Sahara, which is called after its Spanish initials -the Mission of United Nations for the Referendum of Western Sahara, which is called MINURSO. That mission is supposed to take care of the ceasefire and to hold a referendum on self- determination. But Morocco has managed to stop the referendum because it knows that if a referendum on self-determination is organised, the people will decide to be independent, so it tried to put obstacles, by bringing in settlers, saying that they should vote. I was a member of the Polisario Front on the United Nations Identification mission, to identify possible voters in the referendum in Western Sahara but we discovered that Morocco brought thousands of settlers to Western Sahara. We even went to Morocco to identify possible voters who are Moroccan settlers who had nothing to do with Western Sahara. But the team of the United Nations identification Commission to Western Sahara were experts and they did not accept those people. The MINURSO is not dealing with the issue of human rights because the mission has no prerogative of dealing with human rights and so human rights are violated before their eyes and they keep a blind eye to that. They cannot even report on that to the United Nations. So, Morocco is refusing to abide by international law and it is being backed by France, a very strong member of the United Nations Security Council. Whenever people propose for the mission to have the prerogative of monitoring human rights, they will stop it. So, they have given Morocco the opportunity to violate human right and so nobody can report on this human right and they continue to do it. It is an anomaly that a United Nations mission had no prerogative to monitor human rights, it is something that is unacceptable. The issue of referendum is long overdue, but what do you think is holding the UN from being consistent and following through the resolutions and organizing the referendum? When the identification of voters was taking place in 1991, King Hassan, the father of the current King, was the one who accepted the referendum after sixteen years of bitter war and promised to recognise the outcome. But in 1999, when we were still working on the referendum, the king of Morocco died and after that, his son backtracked on the referendum and unfortunately, the UN is not imposing the resolution because Morocco has France, an accomplice and a very strong member of the Security Council. Any special appeal to African Union? Our special appeal to African Union is that the respect of our constitutional rights. That is all we want from Africans and if any member state is violating that right, then AU should put some sanctions as was with the case of the arrogant Apartheid regime in South Africa. Sanctions should be placed on such member state. Since its constitution in 2000, the African Union is becoming strong and having very good personality internationally. This is not suitable for other foreign powers and they want to weaken Africa and unfortunately Morocco is being used as the Trojan horse to do that. What are your expectations from Nigeria on this case? Nigerias recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations with Western Saharan Republic was crucial in our struggle and we are very grateful for that support. Nigeria by its history and size in Africa should have the last word and should be the referee in any dispute in Africa as the big brother to impose the law, the implementation and respect of the law and the respect for treaties. 062 https://leadership.ng/intl-community-must-stop-moroccos-occupation-of-we... Algiers, 11 October 2021 (SPS) - President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, said Sunday that the United Nations (UN) was called upon to fulfill its role in the decolonization of Western Sahara. Algeria was the first country to welcome the proposal to appoint De Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN SG for Western Sahara," said President Tebboune at his regular meeting with national media. He offered De Mistura his best wishes for success. "The UN is urged to fulfill its role in the decolonization of Western Sahara, being an issue on the agenda of the 4th UN Committee on Decolonization," recalled President Tebboune, stressing that MINURSO had been sent to Western Sahara for this purpose. "The United States welcomed the appointment of De Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN SG for Western Sahara," said the Head of State. "Morocco is hiding behind another country with which Algeria has accounts to settle, it is a country known to all, he continued. "The majority of African countries support the decolonization of Western Sahara, but there are issues and challenges," said President Tebboune. 062/700 Abdul Qadeer Khan, who died this week in Islamabad, got Pakistan the bomb, stole and sold atomic secrets, profited from a shady global proliferation network, helped Iran go nuclear, aided Qaddafi's reactor ambitions and still passed away from natural causes, not at the hands of the Mossad by Yossi Melman Abdul Qadeer (A.Q.) Khan who has just died at the age of 85 from COVID-19, is considered a national hero in Pakistan, his homeland. There, and worldwide, he has been dubbed the "Father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons." But he could equally be called as the Godfather of Irans nuclear program. A Q Khan Born in India in 1936, Khan moved with his family in the wake of partition to Pakistan in 1952. In 1972, at the age of 36, he was sent to specialize in a Dutch laboratory and workshop, which was part of the European URENCO consortium, building centrifuges to enrich uranium. Khan stole their documents and plans but then, in 1975, he was exposed by Dutch intelligence and fled to Pakistan. There, he persuaded the reluctant prime minister of Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, to start a nuclear program to match Indias nuclear weapons. By pure coincidence, the same year, Arnon Milchen, future Hollywood tycoon and then an Israeli spy, was also involved in a similar theft. Milchen and Israels 'Scientific Liaison Bureau' intelligence unit bought URENCOs drawings of centrifuges from a German engineer and built similar centrifuges in Dimona for Israels nuclear weapons. Pakistan conducted its first public nuclear test in 1988, when Nawaz Sharif was prime minister, but it is believed to have achieved nuclear capabilities at least several years previously. Abdul Qadeer Khan (fifth from left) with other officials outside the iron-steel tunnel inside the Ras Koh Hills in 1998 just before Pakistan carried out its first public nuclear weapons test there Credit: Wikipedia After helping his home country build a significant nuclear arsenal, Khan retired and opened an unusual private business. He set up shop in Dubai and from there ran a convoluted and secretive global network of helpers, engineers, contractors, and financiers, offering other states his nuclear knowhow, tradecraft, technology, and equipment. The network rented workshops, factories, offices, and computer centers in several countries including Malaysia, North Korea, and Switzerland, to name a few. Clothed with the aura of the nuclear genius who facilitated the first "Muslim bomb," A.Q. Khan traveled extensively during the late 80s and early 90s throughout the Middle East, offering his services. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and even Syria rejected his mercenary approach of bombs for bucks. Iran and Libya did accept, but altered the terms and scope of the offer. Lacking serious scientific infrastructure and expertise, Libyas then-leader Muammar Qaddafi asked Khan and his team to provide Tripoli with a turn-key project whereby Khan would be responsible for handing over a completed nuclear capacity. Post-revolutionary Iran, on the other hand, being a proud nation with an already relatively advanced nuclear program developed during the Shah's reign, and good universities and scientists who had studied in the West, chose its own path. Iran bought from Khan the drawings and plans of Pakistans centrifuges known as P1 and P2. Iranian scientists, led by Dr. Mohsin Fakhrizadeh, who was recently gunned down by a Mossad hit team, built their own centrifuges, renaming them Ir-1 and Ir-2. These original centrifuges, which Iran has upgraded and improved since then to be faster and more efficient, continuing the series by calling them Ir-3-4-5-6-7, are now spinning in the uranium enrichment facilities of Natanz and Fordow and are the major concern for Israel, the U.S., and the western world in terms of Iran's nuclear program and intentions. Israel's intelligence service, led at the time by Mossad chief Shabtai Shavit, took note of Khans traveling in the region. But, as Shavit told me a decade and a half ago, Mossad and Aman (military intelligence) did not understand what Khan was up to. Shavit added that had he and his colleagues correctly interpreted Khans intentions, he would have considered sending a Mossad team to kill Khan and thus "change the course of history," at least in the context of Israel-Iran relations. What eventually exposed Khans network was Qaddafi. After the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, the Libyan leader feared that he was next. He rushed to resolve his issues with the U.S. and the UK, including his support for terror groups around the globe and his involvement in the 1988 Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie in Scotland. Qaddafi began to negotiate with the CIA and the UK's MI6 and revealed to them, complete with full documentation, how Khans network was building nuclear sites for him, some disguised as chicken farms. The CIA and MI6, together with the good services of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), eventually dismantled both Libyas nuclear and chemical programs. But the CIA and MI6 hid and departmentalized the negotiations with Qaddafi, to the extent that the Mossad and Aman were shocked when they heard the news on the BBC in December 2004. Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology center in IslamabadCredit: AP As a consequence, after being left in the dark, Israel began to dig deeper into its past files and information tips and eventually discovered that Syria was building a nuclear reactor in the desert, though Khan and Iran had nothing to do with it. The Syrian reactor aiming to produce plutonium was built with the help of North Korea and was destroyed in September 2007 by the Israeli air force. The revelations of the Libyan-American-British-channel via the IAEA, which served effectively as a laundromat washing the source of the information, enhanced international pressure on Irans nuclear aspirations, based on the concurrent exposure of the nuclear documentation Khan had sold to Tehran. In 2006 the UN Security Council, including Russia and China imposed severe sanctions against Iran. Those sanctions eventually forced Iran to cave in, and Iran crawled to the negotiating table and in 2015 signed the JCPOA nuclear deal with the six major powers. The deal formulated an Iranian consent to slow and even dismantle elements of its nuclear program in exchange for a gradual lifting of sanctions. Unfortunately, in 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump, encouraged by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, withdrew from the deal. Iran is now closer to be a nuclear threshold nation than it was in 2018, closing in on the target whose foundations were laid by Khan. Khan didnt only slip through the Mossads fingers: the CIA also had a chance to stop Khans nuclear role in Pakistan and his subsequent freelance nuclear proliferation business. Years after Khan fled the Netherlands in 1975, Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers revealed that the CIA knew already then about Khan and his involvement in plundering nuclear technology, but the U.S. did very little to stop Pakistan getting nuclear weapons. But the CIA continued to follow Khan and managed to penetrate his Dubai private venture. It turned out that one of Khans Swiss interlocutors was working for the CIA. The network was busted; some of its members were arrested. Three Swiss engineering specialists, who sold Khan centrifuge parts from production sites in Switzerland, Dubai and Malaysia, were put under investigation. When they were finally sentenced in Switzerland in 2012, they avoided jail time; it was widely reported that the CIA had urged plea bargains in view of the engineers' collaboration with the intelligence service. When Khans role in Libya was blown open in 2004, the Pakistani authorities, under intense international pressure, 'debriefed him,' avoiding a formal indictment, on charges of illegally selling nuclear secrets. The Pakistani authorities refused to allow the IAEA to question Khan; instead, they pledged to interrogate him in its place. This led to a notably incomplete accounting of Khan's dealings. After Khan confessed to his nukes-and secrets-for-sale network on national television, and strenuously, and conveniently, denied any Pakistani state involvement or knowledge of his activities, he was pardoned by then-president Pervez Musharraf who put him under house arrest. But Khan remained a national hero in the public eye as well as in the estimation of the Pakistani establishment, dominated then as now by the military. No wonder Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (no relation) tweeted his condolences: "For the people of Pakistan, he was a national icon." A.Q. Khan will go down in history as the scientist who took Pakistan nuclear, the shady businessman who became the biggest ever private nuclear proliferator, and as that rare bird a survivor in the lethal world of nuclear geopolitics and counter-intelligence. He is among the few nuclear scientists who helped Israels enemies acquire game-changing strategic military capacities who was not assassinated by the Mossad, and died in his bed of natural causes. The writer works for Haaretz in Israel, where this piece first appeared The Taliban government has been sensitised about it. It is entirely conceivable that the Taliban may accept an arrangement whereby the Western powers (and the UN) replenish the Afghan banks directly. by M.K. Bhadrakumar The Taliban is getting many suitors lately. It is far from the pariah that the Biden Administration thought it was destined to be. During the past month alone, the Taliban received six suitors from the region and beyond offering courtship the foreign minister of Qatar; the special envoys of Russia, China and Pakistan; the High representative of UK Prime Minister; and the foreign minister of Uzbekistan who visited Kabul on Thursday. The illicit opium trade is intertwined with Afghanistan's economy and its turmoil. Poppy growers are part of an important rural constituency for the Taliban, and most rely on the harvest to make ends meet. [Felipe Dana/AP Photo] They all conveyed goodwill and made pledges of selfless affiliation. The Taliban leadership is mulling over the overtures. Ironically, the Taliban runs the risk of getting entrapped in the bitter jealousies that have surfaced amongst the outside powers. Broadly, the outside powers have formed two blocs: Qatar is teaming up with the UK and other Western countries, while Russia, China and Pakistan tend to bond together mostly. Uzbekistan has one foot in each camp. Qatar is acting as the bridge between the West and the Taliban and that is important for the US not only because the Pentagons Central Command is based in Doha but the Taliban leaders and their families have enjoyed for years the Qatari state hospitality and are beholden to the Gulf regime. For the US, in particular, and the West in general, any recognition of the Taliban government at this stage is difficult as the chaotic withdrawal from the Kabul Airport is still fresh in everyones memory and remains a live issue in US politics, although it is steadily fading as more pressing domestic issues return to the centre stage vaccination, economy, jobs, infrastructure bill and President Bidens social safety net, etc. But Global Britain is raring to go and has engaged with the Taliban officials directly. In reality, the UK is making things easy for the US to return to Afghanistan and start dealing with the Taliban government sooner rather than later. Britain senses that it is not in Western interests that the Russia-China-Iran regional axis calls the shots in Kabul. Reports have appeared that emergency plans are being worked out in the Western capitals for cash airlifts to Afghanistan to prevent a total collapse of the countrys economy where cash is short. The emergency funding is aimed at averting a humanitarian crisis. Bizarre as it may sound, one way this could be done is by sending planeloads of US dollar bills to Kabul for distribution via banks in payments to the public directly. The Taliban government has been sensitised about it. It is entirely conceivable that the Taliban may accept an arrangement whereby the Western powers (and the UN) replenish the Afghan banks directly. Again, there is a parallel idea also to establish a trust fund, so to speak, out of which salaries could be disbursed to government employees and schools and hospitals are kept functioning. Plainly put, the US and other western donors would be resuming in some form their previous commitment (before the troop withdrawal), to bankroll the Afghan government, which by the World Bank estimates, amounted to a whopping 75 percent of all public spending (all in grants.) Suffice to say, there is realisation in the Western capitals that the cash crisis could lead to the collapse of the economy, which in turn could trigger mass migration to the West from Afghanistan. The cash lifeline is reportedly being established already on a trial basis and larger air deliveries of cash from Pakistan are under consideration to inject cash into the Afghan economy. Clearly, this project will create economic and trade levers. The current regional tour by the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to Tashkent and Islamabad appears to be related to the finalisation of the project to kickstart the Afghan economy. Both Uzbekistan and Pakistan are gateways to Afghanistan. While the cash injection is best handled from Pakistan, Uzbekistan is the most feasible gateway to establish a humanitarian corridor. Besides, Washington has conceived an innovative idea to source relief supplies and other materials related to Afghan reconstruction from the production bases in Central Asian countries. The Central Asian states are greatly interested in the idea Uzbekistan in particular which figured at the recent discussions of the C5+1 foreign minister level meeting between the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Central Asian counterparts. Needles to say, the Western countries are returning to Afghanistan riding the wings of a humanitarian-cum-economic-cum-trade project based on geoeconomics. But it will have profound geopolitical overtones as time passes. These developments have prompted Russia to energise its moribund Moscow format to engage with the Taliban. The Moscow format is a negotiation mechanism established by Russia in 2017 to address Afghan issues. It includes Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, and some other countries. It held several rounds of talks in Moscow in 2017 and 2018 but thereafter became dormant, as Russia developed yet another compact exclusive format called Troika Plus Russia, the US, China, and Pakistan. Moscows preference is still for Troika Plus as it provides a window of opportunity to work with the US on Afghanistan. Moscow considers that any selective engagement with the US would ease US-Russia tensions and might even have a salutary effect on the overall relations between the two superpowers. However, the US takes a lukewarm attitude toward Troika Plus precisely for the same reason, namely, that it might get entangled needlessly with Moscow when it is better off on its own, as the Taliban are no strangers anyway. To be sure, the spectre of the US and Western powers leveraging the Central Asian states directly over the Afghan situation, bypassing Russia, must be haunting Moscow. Indeed, the US sees any cooperation with the Central Asian states over the Afghan issue as working to its advantage in expanding its influence in that strategically important part of the Eurasian region where Russia and China currently exercise a preeminent presence. Suffice to say, the Russian proposal to hold a meeting of the Moscow format (after an interlude of 3 years) on October 20 aims at creating space for the Taliban to negotiate with the US and Western powers, and secondly, to encourage the Taliban to diversify its relationships instead of putting all its eggs in the Western basket. But then, the Taliban is keen on integration into the international community and is acutely conscious of the criticality of funding by the international financial institutions. The Taliban knows that Washington holds the key. Interestingly, a high-level Taliban delegation led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, including senior intelligence officials, left Kabul for Doha today. Presumably, Muttaqi will have discussions with American officials. For the Taliban, the top priority is to govern the country. It has no geopolitical agenda. It faces an acute situation insofar as its cadres are inexperienced in managing the administration and second, it lacks financial resources to run the country. This is where the Western strategy to build a new relationship with the Taliban government through bankrolling the countrys economy makes sense. Author Bio: This article was produced in partnership by Indian Punchline and Globetrotter. M.K. Bhadrakumar is a former Indian diplomat. Source: Globetrotter As of now, we dont really recommend antibody testing as a way of directing your care because even if you have some antibodies after vaccination or disease, you should still get vaccinated or receive the booster, she said. This is because you dont know when the level will wane low enough to not really be protective anymore for you as an individual. Most labs will give you a reference number, above which you are considered to be protected but the number per se is not very indicative of what would happen should you become re-infected. Its still a kick in the gut to know that this person had a folded flag, that the taps were played, and that he was buried in a national cemetery among all the veterans that are so deserving to be there, Jones said. We cant unfold the flag, and we cant unplay the taps ... The only thing we can do is to fight to have him removed. They told U.S. District Judge Paul Oetken last week that while jurors will likely hear about how Parnas and Fruman tried to tout their influence as international fixers by sharing photos of themselves with Trump and Giuliani, the Republican ex-president and his former personal lawyer will come up very peripherally at the trial. Meade previously won the Orlando Sentinels 2018 Central Floridian of the Year for his efforts to pass Floridas Amendment 4, supported by nearly 65% of voters, which restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with previous felony convictions. At the time, Florida was one of only three remaining states that permanently banned people with felony convictions from voting. The amendment excluded felons convicted of murder and sex crimes. If one more storm or hurricane were to form this season, 2021 would rank third in the record books for the most named storms to develop in one hurricane season. Wanda is the only name remaining on this years list of official storm names. The condo-heavy area surrounding the collapse site did see a drop in sales, falling to pre-COVID levels in the months that followed the tragedy, data shows. The Surfside area is a smaller market, and usually sees about 100 transactions a year, noted Bozovic. The third quarter saw 16 condos sold, down from about 50 in the second quarter and a little under 60 sales in the first quarter of 2021. if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... The slave trade was unique! And so was apartheid in neighbouring South Africa. And you may also add Nazism in Germany to the list of things unique. But is unique necessarily good? The common denominator to the above list is that they variously wrought untold oppression, misery, deprivation, wholesale suffering, etc to sections of humanity. Now, says Dr Roger Koranteng, Head of Public Sector Governance at the London, England based Commonwealth Secretariat, tinkhundla political system belongs to this list of things unique. Only for its unique credentials, notwithstanding its attendant contradictions and excesses that has led to the systemic dismantling of moral and ethical leadership with the people on the receiving end that has taken this beautiful country on a slippery road to nowhere, Koranteng is of the mind that the system should not be discarded. Position I am not certain to what degree Dr Koranteng keeps himself abreast of what is happening around him, especially in relation to former British colonies given the critical and strategic position he is occupying that surely must require him to be at the cutting edge of contemporary issues in these lands. In the event he would have been appraised of the monster that this unique system he is evidently fond of has done to undermine the progress of this country and, by progression, that of emaSwati. Dr Koranteng would have been appraised of the tinkhundla systems brutality on emaSwati for standing up and calling for political reforms to secure their total liberation. One could go on and on about how the ruling elites have, instead of unifying the nation, used the system to divide and alienate the peoples human rights and freedoms and appropriated to themselves national resources that has enabled their trajectory to a First World lifestyle while the majority of the people have been left to wallow in abject poverty. For all these abuses and excesses that have undermined the quality of life of the people this man believes emaSwati should remain grateful and retain institutions that have occasioned their oppression and suffering. Informed Koranteng parachutes into this country and prescribes what to do and what not to do do not throw the baby out with the bathwater without interrogating why this country is in the mess it finds itself in. For had he done that he would have informed himself that all the things and institutions including the obtaining polity have occasioned bad governance, abuse of power, moral decay as well as birthed a class-structured society manifested by the christening of sections of society with demeaning names and titles to make them feel inferior and at the mercy of the upper class. He condemns strikes and protests, the only weapons at the disposal of ordinary people against the military might of the State. Not once has he at least acknowledged the brutal acts committed by the security forces that continue to this day let alone condemned same. He does not condemn the abuse of the Judiciary to persecute critics of the political status quo and proponents of multiparty democracy, including sitting lawmakers. Patronising As I see it, Dr Korantengs patronising demeanour is perhaps instructive of where the Commonwealth Secretariats loyalties lie. Obviously with the leaders of the various former colonies and not with their peoples. Hence the Commonwealth was complicit in the drafting of a national constitution that, while embracing a full Bill of Rights with its built-in concomitant fundamental human rights and freedoms, but it also entrenched the political hegemony of the infamous 1973 Decree that occasioned the usurpation of political power and control of the nation. The organisation also reneged on the (former president of Malawi) Bakili Muluzi initiative for an all-inclusive dialogue to resolve the countrys long-standing political imbroglio started by the predecessor to the current Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland QC. Baroness Scotland was only content to be wined and dined by the Eswatini leadership whose motive may perhaps have been to help her forget about the Muluzi initiative and probably won the day because she never followed it up. It is possible that that initiative could have helped the country avoid the current political uprising that culminated with the brutal assault of emaSwati youth by the security forces. All the people ever wanted was an all-inclusive dialogue on the political future of the nation in the face of the cataclysmic failures of the Tinkhundla political system. Invitation That Koranteng finds himself in these shores at the invitation of the legislative arm of government in the midst of a never before witnessed political and social crisis should be instructive of the capacity and mentality of the leadership of this nation. We would have expected all hands on deck to deal with the crisis more especially since many lives have been allegedly lost unnecessarily because of the greed of a minority. Yet Parliament found time and the resources to organise a retreat for lawmakers to be lectured on what they were elected to do all courtesy of the beloved but dysfunctional tinkhundla political system. This retreat and accompanying wastage of resources was evidently an excuse authored by the political handlers of the Speaker and Senate president to avoid dealing with the current socio-political upheavals convulsing the country as if these issues can easily be wished away. As I see it, the kingdom is at a critical junction where public figures have to be circumspect of their actions in the furtherance of the objectives of a minority because the time is coming when they shall be required to answer for their omissions and commissions. Only those who swear and stand for the truth shall be absolved of culpability to the suffering being visited on emaSwati at the behest of the leadership. MBABANE The political unrest in the kingdom has attracted five bishops from the Southern Africa Catholic Church, who are currently in the country on a fact-finding mission. The bishops arrived in the country last Wednesday and are expected to leave tomorrow. They came to Eswatini at a time when local pastors are arguing on whether they should be vocal about political matters or stay out of politics as the church. Prime Minister (PM) Cleopas Sipho Dlamini was supposed to meet the bishops at Cabinet on Friday, but due to other engagements, he could not meet them. The bishops then met with the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, on behalf of the PM. The bishops said the purpose of the visit was to get first-hand information on the recent political unrest in the country. Burning The unrest resulted in the looting of shops and burning of property and most recently, schools and some tikhundla centres have not been spared from sporadic arson attacks that are still ongoing. The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) was led by its President Bishop Sithembele Sipuka from Umtata in South Africa. Father Hugh O Connor, the General Secretary (GS), and Sister Phuthunywa Catherine Siyali were part of the meeting as well. Also present was Eswatini Catholic Bishop Jose Luis Ponce de Leon. Bishop Sipuka said the reason they paid a courtesy call to the PM was to get first-hand information on the recent political unrest which prevailed in the country, instead of relying on hearsay. He said the acts of violence, deaths and school protests were not only a threat to Eswatini, but the whole southern Africa region. We came out of concern. We read in newspapers and saw the news and we did not want to draw conclusions solely based on the news we heard. We wanted to see and hear everything ourselves, said Sipuka. He mentioned that their presence was to add their own voice for peace and if needed, collaborate in efforts that would see the country resolving its differences peacefully and creating a healthy environment for order, development and promotion of justice. He further said he believed it was the kingdom and its citizens who would resolve the present challenges and the purpose of their solidarity visit was to appeal to everybody, Their Majesties, the three arms of government, civic groups and every individual to be convinced about the seriousness of the present challenges. We are here to make efforts inspired by solidarity and love that will help in building a just and peaceful society, he said. Bishop Sipuka said they were hoping and advocating for peace. He said the relationship between the church, society and the Kingdom of Eswatini was paramount. Sipuka said one of the deepest forms of poverty a person could experience was isolation. When alone in the face of difficulties, one feels alienated, fearful and not strong enough to deal with the emerging challenges. After hearing about challenges this beautiful country is facing, some of them similar to those of South Africa, and not at all claiming that we have a solution, we decided as both neighbours and church leaders to make this solidarity visit, said the president. He also thanked the PM for the time granted to them despite the short notice. He said true communion was not simply a group of subjects who happened to live side-by-side. In the context of the sad experiences that the Kingdom of Eswatini is going through and their negative impact on the life of the citizens of this country, the Catholic Church strongly affirmed the possibility of overcoming the obstacles that prevent a solution to these experiences. The DPM thanked the Catholic Church for the visit and acknowledged the importance of the church in nation building. He assured the bishops that dialogue had never been discarded by government and related that the King assured the nation that it (dialogue) would definitely be held as soon as the COVID- 19 pandemic was under control. Issues Earlier this month, Bishop Jose Luis Gerardo Ponce de Leon, noted that the Eswatini Government had not yet given any indication on the way forward and how the issues raised during the unrest would be addressed. The bishop noted that concerns were raised regarding the request to allocate more money to security forces and the risk of making the country a military State. Eswatini is not new to a fact-finding mission as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in July 2021 deployed a technical fact-finding team to the kingdom to engage with stakeholders following the recent political and security disturbances through the Troika Organ.. Then Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security and Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, had said the team would analyse the political and security situation in the country with a view of supporting the people of Eswatini towards finding a durable solution. The fact-finding team wrapped up its visit to Eswatini on July 22, causing mixed reactions from the civil society. SITEKI Over 50 angry residents of Lukhula yesterday aborted a planned march to the Siteki Police Station to demand answers regarding the shooting of Nhlanhla Kunene on Thursday night at Mpaka. Kunene, a resident of the same area, was allegedly shot dead by police officers at Mpaka at midnight on his way to his home situated at Lukhula from his fiancee, Khangezile Bhembe, who is a Head teacher at Bhunya High School. The residents, led by businessman Mavela Sigwane, first sent their condolences to the Kunene family. Sigwane said they were shocked as residents of the area to learn that police had allegedly shot and killed someone of Kunenes calibre, who could not hurt a fly. Sigwane described Kunene as a humble and a Christian person. His mother was a teacher and a number of residents in this area were taught by her. I am one of her products. I knew Nhlanhla and learning that he had been shot shocked everyone because he was someone who was not involved in shady dealings. We need answers, Sigwane said. He said he was awaiting the leadership of the area to set a date for the march. We just want answers as to what prompted the police officers to shoot an innocent man. Why didnt they arrest him? Sigwane rhetorically asked. Phindile Mkhwanazi, a niece to the deceased, said they could not get a clear explanation as to what led to the police to open fire. Phindile said they were told by the Siteki Station Commander, Edwini Dlamini, that he was also shocked when inside the car, he found a Bible. She said they went to the mortuary in the company of the police and they noticed that Kunene was shot above his left breast, close to the heart area. She mentioned that they were also told that he stopped his car but ran away from the police and that prompted the shooting. My family asked why they failed to drive the car to the police station because he had stopped to show that he was not avoiding them. However, we did not get a clear explanation, she said. Phindile added that they were still shocked as a family as her uncle was preparing for a wedding with his fiancee, Khangezile. The relative said Kunene was preparing for a wedding with his fiancee after asking for her hand in marriage from her family last week. It could not be established if the police officers who shot Kunene dead were from Siteki or Mpaka. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the police had embarked on an intensive investigation to ascertain how the police worked on that particular night. Meanwhile, social media platform, Facebook users, yesterday blasted the police on the shooting incident. One user said he was baffled on what led to the shooting. Another user suggested that police officers needed psychological help as they were frustrated and stressed due to unattended anger issues. SITEKI Parents of pupils at KaMkhweli Primary and High schools indefinitely closed both schools last Friday. Since last week, pupils from both schools have been home due to the pupils rioting, demanding the release of incarcerated Members of Parliament (MPs) in Hoseas Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisis Mthandeni Dube. This week, parents told both schools head teachers and school committee members that they should suspend classes until the situation was calm, to protect their children from harm. Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza announced the return of all classes, on a full-time basis, in all schools countrywide today. Last Friday, parents of pupils at KaMkhweli Primary and high jointly held a meeting where they resolved that classes be suspended until the ministry attended to the pupils grievances. They also voiced out their fear in that the safety of their children and that of teachers was at risk hence the resolution to suspend classes for the whole of this week. Protests The parents also noted that the ongoing protests by the children had been hijacked by people who were calling for political reforms. We told the head teachers and the school committees that our children should not resume classes on Monday until the ministry addresses the pupils grievances. We were informed that when violence broke out while our children are in classes, stones are pelted at the windows and that poses a danger to the educators and the children, said one of the parents. A teacher at KaMkhweli Primary confirmed the suspension of classes for the whole of this week. We received SMSes informing us that parents resolved that classes should not resume on Monday (today) until the ministry addresses the pupils grievances. We will not be reopening this week as per the messages we received as teachers in both primary and high schools, said the teacher, who confirmed in condition of anonymity. Sakhile Dlamini, KaMkhweli Primary School Head teacher did not answer her mobile phone after several attempts were made. She also did not respond to a WhatsApp text, however, it blue-ticked, signalling that it had been read. Warn Meanwhile, St Philips High Head teacher Hlobisile Thwala said parents were to have talks with their children to warn them against involving themselves in protests. Thwala said she was not sure if lessons would resume today, following the volatile situation experienced by her teachers and pupils, resulting in classes being suspended indefinitely. The head teacher stated that the parents who attended the meeting on Saturday were of those of pupils who were not involved in the protests. She said she would monitor the situation this morning and if it was calm, classes would resume. It is a gamble because lives of teachers and the learners are at risk. Even the parents who attended are those whose children behave and the figures were not convincing. This summarises that the pupils are not willing to continue with lessons, she said. Thwala mentioned that the meeting attendance was not satisfactory, but luckily the parents formed the required quorum. She said she presented a report to the parents but overall, they (parents) felt the ongoing protests were influenced by current political unrest in the country. Parents resolved that they would talk to their children. We will monitor the situation but if it persists, we have no choice but to suspend classes, she said. At Bekezela High, Head teacher Abner Ndwandwe said he was not sure if lessons would resume this morning. I havent decided anything about the resumption of lessons, but we will monitor the situation. I will see what happens tomorrow (today), otherwise, I cannot pre-empt what will happen. If pupils return to class, we will continue with lessons, he said. Marco Dlamini, Head teacher at Ndzevane High, said he was not sure if lessons would resume this morning. We had a meeting with parents, but they are also in the dark in coming up with a solution to this predicament. We (head teachers) have been called to a meeting on Tuesday (tomorrow) at the REO offices and hope a way forward will be mapped, he said. Monitor Lubombo Regional Education Officer (REO) Richard Dlamini said they would monitor the situation, but appealed to head teachers to also do same and allow pupils who had come to school into class if it was safe. The REO stated he would be meeting head teachers from high schools tomorrow where a way forward would be mapped. We are aware of what is taking place in the different schools that have been marred by protests, but we will make sure that we find a lasting solution, he said. In the Lubombo Region, some of the schools marred by protests for the past two weeks were Ndzevane Primary and High, Big Bend High, Nkhanini High, KaMkhweli Primary and High, Bekezela High, St. Philips Primary and High, Mahlabaneni Primary and Siphofaneni High. The rest were Mnotfweni Primary and High, Maloyi High, Mphundle High and Tikhuba High. MANZINI As learners are expected to return to class on a full-time basis today, about 16 schools have been closed indefinitely in Manzini, Shiselweni and Lubombo regions. In the Manzini Region, the schools were closed indefinitely after learners delivered petitions to their respective head teachers. They are Mhubhe High School, Moyeni High school, Phumtile and Ngcoseni Central High schools in Mankayane and Mvimbeko High School in Ntondozi. Also closed were Zombodze National High School, Kukhanyeni High School, LaMawandla High School and Manzini Central High School. The closure of the schools was confirmed by the acting Regional Education Officer (REO), Sizwe Kunene. He said the schools were closed indefinitely until his office met with parents to forge a way forward on how they could be reopened. Reopen Kunene said: Well not reopen tomorrow (today) in these schools, but we have scheduled meetings with parents throughout the week to hear their input. The acting REO said his office needed to meet all guardians from the various schools for their input as the pupils stayed with them. Worth noting is that Mvimbeko High School has been closed for almost three weeks now while Phumtile and Ngcoseni Central High schools have been closed for almost two weeks. Last week, Zombodze National High School, Kukhanyeni High School, LaMawandla High School and Manzini Central High School, were closed. The petition delivery in some of these schools was accompanied by acts of arson as furniture and other items were burnt at Kukhanyeni High School and Zombodze National High School. Meanwhile, last Thursday, learners from Mhubhe High School pelted stones at the Ngculwini Police Post, a police vehicle and their teachers cars as they boycotted classes and delivered a petition to the head teacher, Mlungisi Nxumalo. The threat to petition had been simmering at the school since last Monday as security was beefed up at the Ngculwini Police Post last Tuesday. Petition The learners were said to have delivered a petition which was read by one of their own while some police officers and the head teacher looked on. When the pupil read the petition, the school gate was closed with some of the learners standing outside the school premises. In the petition, the learners alleged that some teachers were gossiping about them in the staffroom; they bemoaned that they were not given an opportunity to bury a teacher and a pupil. The pair was said to have died while the school was closed and they wished the school would have informed them of their demise so that they could bid them farewell. The pupils also complained that there was only soap in the school while they needed sanitisers in their classrooms. Among grievances in their petition was that the food supplied through the serving scheme was insufficient while they also said there was only one teacher for Biology. Furthermore, the learners disputed the allegations that were made by their parents in a meeting that was attended by the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, that there was a teacher inciting the unruly behaviour exhibited by the pupils. Instead, the pupils claimed that even if they met their teachers in demonstrations, this did not make them cross the line. Also, they said there were no textbooks at the school. Boycotted The head teacher, Nxumalo, confirmed that the pupils boycotted classes and raised a number of grievances. He said the schools administration, in consultation with the office of the REO, would look into the concerns. He said: We also had to close the school as some pupils had pelted stones at teachers cars, causing dents. They also pelted stones at window panes. I gathered that they also hit a police vehicles window. Nxumalo said the school was closed indefinitely. Worth noting is that on Tuesday, additional security was requested at Ngculwini as there was an anticipated protest at the school. The threat had been reported to the schools administration on the day classes were disrupted by a large explosion which was feared to be a petrol bomb. The high school has been experiencing constant class boycotts since 2019. It was gathered that last Monday, a pupil reported to the administration that there was a petition that fellow schoolmates were preparing to submit to the administration. Following this, according to impeccable sources, the school requested that police officers be on guard. It was also acknowledged that there had been a disturbance at the school by unknown people as there was a large explosion followed by sequential bangs on the roofing of some classes. The petition by the pupils follows shortly after Minister Mabuza had claimed that a teacher could be behind the constant mayhem at Mhubhe High. Meeting Mabuza said this in a meeting organised to deal with the constant challenges at the aforementioned school. These challenges include constant protests and recently, being the burning of the school. The impromptu meeting between the parents, officials from the ministry, the police and the royal kraal, was organised to address this incident. Also, on Friday, Manzini Central High pupils boycotted classes and took to the streets, calling upon other pupils to join them. It was gathered that they locked classrooms and showed resistance in wanting to learn, before they were released to go home. The pupils boycotted classes in the same school where Minister Mabuza had held a meeting with head teachers, addressing them on the way forward on how schools should reopen today. The boycott was attributed to grievances over online learning fees, girls wanting to braid their hair and the school menu. The pupils caused a stir in town after they boycotted classes during morning assembly. Codivir, an innovative new drug from Code Pharma, now appears to have the potential to revolutionise the fight against the Corona virus. In a successful phase 1 clinical trial, the affected patients were back on their feet within 48 hours without side effects, Code Pharma claimed. Zyon Ayni, Founder and CEO of Code Pharma: "Codivir showed great success in clinical trials and already has received emergency approvals in different countries for the treatment of coronavirus patients. Our team at Code Pharma are now initiating a multi-country phase 2 study with a larger cohort and has submitted additional emergency approval requests to several affected countries. Our phase 1 study with Codivir in Brazil has proven the medication to be safe, and we were able also to demonstrate a reduction in the viral load of the patients during the course of the treatment." Codivir, a short synthetic 16 amino-acid peptide, derived from the HIV-1 integrase, was originally found in preclinical and clinical examinations to combat the HIV virus. Subsequent in-vitro studies conducted on behalf of Code Pharma at the British virology research laboratory Virology Research Services in London confirmed a potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses such as influenza. Code Pharma, which was specifically set up to develop groundbreaking medical solutions, then ran a Phase 1 clinical trial of Codivir in patients with Covid-19, approved in Brazil by the National Research Ethics Commission (CONEP). The trial was conducted at Casa de Saude, Vera Cruz Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with Dr Florentino Cardoso and results showed that Codivir has a high safety profile while significantly suppressing viral load with an antiviral effect noted as early as three days. "Our phase 2 controlled study will be conducted in Spain, Brazil, South Africa, and Israel, with a larger cohort. In view of the submitted emergency approval requests and to meet the expected demand, the company is preparing for mass production of Codivir in different sites worldwide, starting in parallel with the phase 2 trial," added Ayni. Code Pharma experts currently working on the project include Dr Eynat Finkelshtein and Dr Esmira Naftali and supporting the clinical trials are Dr Yotam Kolben from the Department of Medicine at Hadassah Medical Centre and Prof Shlomo L Maayan, Director Infectious Disease division at the Barzilai Medical Centre in Ashkelon. They found Codivir showing impressive antiviral effect, both in laboratory conditions and in phase 1 clinical trial in humans. "We are in contact with governments all over the world and expect to get emergency approvals from a substantial number of them by the end of a successful phase II study. We are currently in Dubai and looking for local partners in the UAE and other countries to do local production and distribution," concluded Ayni.-- TradeArabia News Service Pakistans Gwadar Port and UAEs Jebel Ali Port complement international trade besides making both the countries stronger. This was the view of the President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi, during his first official visit to the UAE. Alvi met on His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. He also inaugurated the pavilion of Pakistan at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pakistan wants to follow the example of the UAE in attracting investments, Alvi said in an exclusive interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM). "Gwadar Port is the closest to central Asia states ... It is an addition to the international trade, it is a different business situation, a different pipeline for goods," the President of Pakistan said. "It will complement the international trade and add to what Jebel Ali is doing, so both ports can make each other stronger." The Gwadar Port, which has an existing capacity to handle 50,000 deadweight bulk carriers at the rate of 12.5 metre maximum depth, became fully operational in May 2021. Dubais Jebel Ali Port is considered the busiest in the Middle East and one of the biggest in the world. Talking about his meeting with Sheikh Mohammed and the 50-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the UAE, Alvi said, "It was a pleasure to meet His Highness, I admire and appreciate the role that Dubai plays in the world. Dubai understood it well [doing business], it has limited resources, but it invited the resources of the whole world to it. "He gave me his book [My Story], which is in Urdu, and I will definitely read it because Im interested in his biography of how he led change. Leadership is about taking right decisions, taking people and decision makers alongside you and then you take your country to new heights. That is a unique Dubai and UAE experience, and that is what we want to do in Pakistan as well. "The relationship with the UAE has improved tremendously over the years, do you know why? Because of mutual trade, the Pakistani diaspora working here, and for the fact that we always want to build new bridges. The foundation is strong; it is based on brotherhood and a common religion, and as the world is looking for peace in this region, the UAE and Pakistan have always sought peace." Pakistan was the first country to recognise the UAE as a nation in 1971. Today, the UAE is considered Pakistans biggest trading partner in the Middle East with a bilateral trade amounting to $6 billion, according the latest figures from the Embassy of Pakistan in the UAE. Alvi explained how his country can learn a lot from the way that the UAE has positioned itself as an investment and trade hub in the world. "There are two important things that the UAE did, which we are trying to do, it is a safe country, and it established a brick-and-mortar domain in the last 30 to 40 years. "It said to the investors, Come here, establish factories, there are no taxes, do whatever you want to do, export it. People were very glad to do that. "Pakistan is trying to create another business domain, like the UAE: we have special economic and export zones, where industrial brick-and-mortar investments are being encouraged. We also have a special technology zone authority where people can bring in capital and the government guarantees that you can take the capital out, you can take your profit out, there are no taxes no income or sales taxes It is a capitalist paradise." Since 2014, the UAE has contributed over $200 million to polio eradication in Pakistan, as part of the UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE PAP). The President believes that the programme has led to "tremendous progress in the last couple of years," adding "Im hopeful that we would see zero (polio) cases very soon." "There are three things that we are doing with the help of the UAE: improving education, taking care of the health of women and neonates and women empowerment and inclusion into the digital economy," he added.--TradeArabia News Service Seizing the new normal opportunities through Responsible Care is the theme of the upcoming 4th GPCA Responsible Care Conference which will take place on October 31 to November 2 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) announced today (October 11). The event will return to the Kingdom as a physical gathering in compliance with government regulations after a two-year pause, as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. GPCA reiterates that the safety and health of attendees, speakers and employees will be of paramount importance in the organization of this long-awaited event and every necessary step will be taken to safeguard the well-being of its participants. This year the event arrives with a must-see conference programme jam packed with insightful presentations, leadership insights, masterclasses and workshops. Leading industry speakers from the GCC and globally will look back on the essential role of Responsible Care in equipping member companies with the tools they need to address the challenges from the pandemic and explore how the program will help companies adapt to and thrive in the New Normal. Day ones welcome address will be delivered by Yousef Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and CEO, Sabic, and Chairman, GPCA. Other senior regional and global industry leaders headlining the conference this year include: Abdel Hadi Al Suhaimi, Executive President, Saudi Chevron Phillips, Board Member, GPCA and Chairman, GPCA Responsible Care Committee; Baudouin Kelecom, Regional Environmental and Regulatory Manager, ExxonMobil, and Chairman, ICCA Responsible Care Leadership Group; Dorothee Arns, Director General, European Association of Chemical Distributors; Shakeel Kadri, Executive Director and CEO, Chemical Process Safety Center (CCPS); Mohamed Shindy, Managing Director, Methanex Egypt; Daniel Roczniak, Senior Director, American Chemistry Council; Mohammad Al-Shamary, Global EH&S Director, Equate Petrochemical Company and Vice-Chair, GPCA Responsible Care Committee; and Salamah Al Dhafiri, Environment, Health and Safety Corporate Director, Sadara Chemical Company. The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic of the last 18 months has been a health and safety challenge. Post the pandemic, environmental protection and sustainability will be the single most important issue impacting on businesses now and in the future. The Responsible Care program is a key enabler to drive the evolution of the EHS&S domain to help companies meet their sustainability objectives and targets. While 2020 brought along a myriad of challenges for the chemical industry, it saw a significant improvement in companies sustainability performance. As highlighted in a new report by GPCA, non-hazardous waste at GPCA member companies dropped by 27% in 2020 from the year before. Despite a 54% increase in production, non-hazardous disposal at GPCA member companies dropped by 50%, when compared to the seven-year average from 2013 to 2019. Wastewater discharges registered a substantial decrease against the same period (2013 to 2019), with a drop of 76%. Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: GPCA is proud to see that our members continue to demonstrate their utmost commitment to the principles of Responsible Care and invest in a series of projects that have helped drive improvements in their sustainability performance. As we look forward to the 4th GPCA RC Conference in Riyadh, we, at GPCA, are excited to see our regional chemical community come together, and exchange lessons learned from the pandemic and ways in which this hugely important initiative can help them grow and advance their sustainability progression. He added: While the last year and a half has been far from easy, EHS&S leaders from the regional chemical industry have met the challenges head on and successfully leveraged Responsible Care to support their operations, safeguard the safety of their employees, stay resilient and support the industry and the communities in which they operate. As we gear up for a future defined by ever more stringent environmental regulations and social imperatives, it is incumbent on industry leaders to empower their teams to transform and foster a culture of sustainability excellence. Morocco today (October 11) officially unveiled its investment and export brand, Morocco Now, on the sidelines of the Kingdom's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. This initiative aims at promoting Morocco as a world class industrial and export platform to accelerate foreign investment, a statement said. According to the statement, Moroccos King Mohammed VI has built first-class trade and transport infrastructures and has definitively embarked on the path of industrial emergence over the past 20 years, namely: Tanger Med, No 1 sea connection in Africa and the Mediterranean and #20 in the world. Additionally, the countrys automotive cluster, the fastest growing in the world, strongly contributes to the Moroccan industrial exports growth, increasing by more than $16 billion between 2010 and 2019. In the background, the global economy is facing rapid changes requiring economic stakeholders to adapt: Environmental emergency, consumer pressure and new regulations make it essential to adopt decarbonised production; and Covid crisis has led to a global value chains reorganization towards less global dependence and more regional integration. In this context, Morocco Now is the future-proof industrial platform to capture the opportunities of a changing world. It builds on a successful track record of economic transformation making Morocco a reliable destination and a high investment and export potential, the statement said. Morocco Now offers four distinctive assets: NOW Sustainable, reaching 37% of the energy mix with renewable energies in 2020 and targeting 52% by 2030, with an installed capacity of 4GW in 2021 made possible by visionary investments since 2009. NOW Competitive, offering "Best Cost" option - based on competitive production and export costs -, building on a privileged access to more than 1 billion consumers thanks to 54 free trade agreements and being the gate to Africa's rapid growth potential. NOW Well-Proven, showing successful track record of implementing foreign investment in highly strategic and technical sectors and of delivering mega infrastructure projects, while investing in Moroccan youth competencies. NOW Agile, with a remarkable capacity to adapt part of Morocco's DNA, as demonstrated while quickly reallocating industrial tools to health equipment during Covid crisis, and implementing best in class vaccination roll-out paving the way for a rapid economic recovery. In a context of global value chains reorganization, we are delighted to introduce our new investment and export brand to the world, which reflects the dynamism and economic competitiveness of Morocco, it added. The Moroccan delegation in charge of unveiling this new identity confirms the commitment of all public and private stakeholders for the success of our national investment and export brand. Releasing recently the "new development model", the Kingdom of Morocco has drawn up a clear roadmap for its development in the years to come. This new strategy is supported by the progress of Morocco as a future-proof industrial platform. The appointment of a new pro-business government strengthens these economic and industrial dynamics, and ensures the necessary synergies and a pragmatic approach to pave the way for competitive, proactive and sustainable investment, the statement added.TradeArabia News Service International Maritime Industries (IMI), the largest maritime yard in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, says it is delivering specialised on-the-job training for more than 600 employees this year. The initiative reflects IMIs commitment to driving the development of Saudi Arabias maritime industry by providing training opportunities for young Saudi employees and the Kingdoms future maritime workforce, as the country seeks to diversify its economy under Vision 2030. IMI, a Saudi Aramco sponsored joint venture with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Bahri and Lamprell, has formed strategic partnerships with these founding partner companies to deliver its on-the-job training programme that highlights the companys commitment to building Saudi capabilities. Around 200 IMI employees will undergo on-the-job training at HHIs shipyard in South Korea and Lamprells yard in the UAE during 2021, with an additional 425 receiving training in Saudi Arabia with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery (Sasref), and Dammam Shipyard (DSY), IMI said in a statement. Fathi K Al-Saleem, Chief Executive Officer of IMI, said: At IMI, we are committed to supporting the development of our people and Saudi Arabias maritime industry. By training Saudi youth, we are building a skilled workforce that will contribute to our long-term success while supporting the Kingdoms economic development. The knowledge that our employees are gaining through the on-the-job training programmes will help to propel their development at both IMI and throughout their careers. On the business level, the programme is enhancing our capabilities through increased specialization, capacity building and knowledge-transfer, while improving efficiency in technical processes and increasing our capacity to adopt new technologies and methods. Through focused employee development opportunities, IMI aims to increase job satisfaction and motivation while providing employees with the valuable experience of working with people of different nationalities, skillsets, and experience. Individuals are trained in Design and Production Engineering; Health, Safety, Environment and Quality; Procurement and Supply Chain Management; IT, Ships and Rigs Operation, as well as Shipbuilding Processes and Activities. In cooperation with its strategic partners, IMIs training programmes are collectively expected to contribute approximately 25,000 job opportunities to the Kingdom, of which 70% will be occupied by Saudi nationals. In its full-service yard, IMI provides new build and maintenance, repair and overhaul services for commercial vessels, support vessels and rigs. It is the only shipyard in the world that has guaranteed offtake agreements worth $10 billion over 10 years, with partners Aramco and Bahri, for the delivery of 20 rigs and 52 vessels respectively. IMI is the anchor facility of the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services, which is expected to contribute $17 billion to Saudi Arabias GDP, deliver import substitution of $12 billion, and provide 80,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030.TradeArabia News Service The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has announced the top 8 shortlisted teams participating in the NBB Digital Banking Challenge, held in partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay (BFB). The NBB Digital Banking Bootcamp was held in September and welcomed participants at BFBs co-working offices. As part of NBBs ongoing strategy to enrich the lives of generations, the challenge contributed meaningfully to developing and enhancing the participants skillsets across various fields to prepare them for potential future positions within the labour market. The Bootcamp held panel sessions led by members of several departments from both NBB and BFB. The speakers from NBB included Razi Amin, Group Chief Information Officer, Hisham Abu AlFateh, Head of Corporate Communications, Omar Al Adhami, Head of Retail Digital Banking, Ali Ghuloom, Head of Digitisation & Projects Management, Ahmed Al Maskati, Head of Retail Product, Abdulla Buali, Head of Project Management, Maram Buallay, HR Senior Manager, Nada Ishaq, Retail Marketing Manager, Muneera Ahmed, Strategy Manager, Amgad Sami, Customer Loyalty Manager, Reem Taqi, Rewards & Value Proposition Specialist, and Maarten Van Truijen, Backbase Delivery Director Middle East & Africa. The speakers discussed a range of topics covering strategy and digital banking, transformation, rewards and customer loyalty, with an introduction to Backbase and the digital platform, as well as project management, product development and marketing and communications. Participants were given the opportunity to meet their team members and learn more about the challenge, understanding the different aspects of the NBB Digital Banking App and the various possibilities of development. The 25 teams each submitted a video that demonstrated their initial solutions for the app, with the top 8 teams advancing onto the next phase of the programme. The final winning team, to be selected in the second phase of the programme taking place in November, will receive cash prizes and 3-month incubation at Bahrain FinTech Bay. Commenting on the challenge, Razi Amin, Group Chief Information Officer at NBB, said: We are extremely pleased with the ongoing progress of our Digital Banking Challenge and commend the hard work and efforts of all the participants and staff involved in bringing this project to life. As we move further into a digital age, it is important for us to hone this young generations skills so that they may be able to capitalise on future opportunities and succeed within their sectors of choice. Omar Adhami, Head of Retail Digital Banking, said: Wed like to congratulate the shortlisted teams who will move on to the next phase of the programme. Through this challenge, participants were able to gain first-hand experience by working on innovative solutions for the NBB Banking App to further enhance the customer experience. They had the opportunity to challenge themselves, producing quality results, and positioning NBB as a leader in nurturing our young generations talents and skills. Suzy Al Zeerah, Chief Partnerships Officer of Bahrain FinTech Bay, said: It was a pleasure to partner with our founding partner, the National Bank of Bahrain, to bring this challenge to the Bahraini youth. We are proud of all the participants who worked hard throughout the Bootcamp. Chief Operating Officer of Bahrain FinTech Bay, Bader Sater, said: I extend my congratulations to the short-listed teams and look forward to working with them on their journey ahead. We are excited to be working with such a dynamic group of young individuals that represent universities from across Bahrain. NBB continues to invest in the young people of tomorrow as they constitute the backbone of Bahrains Economic Vision 2030. The bank remains committed to the kingdoms broader national vision, to evolving the industry and enriching the lives of generations.-- TradeArabia News Service Uganda Airlines launched its first international flight beyond Africa on Saturday (October 9) to Dubai. The new 258-seat Airbus A330neo will fly three times a week to Dubai with a fourth flight to be added in the near future. The plane will have 210 seats in economy, 28 in premium economy and 20 business class seats. Speaking at the inaugural press conference, Acting CEO of Uganda Airlines Ms Jenifer Bamuturaki said: We are extremely delighted to be here today. This is our first international route. We have been flying regionally in Africa to Kenya (Nairobi and Mombasa), Kinshasa (Republic of Congo) , Tanzania (Dar Salam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro) and South Africa (Johannesburg). We are confident with our new connection in Dubai we will have a great opportunity in promoting the economic growth, and tourism for both our countries. Ambassador of Uganda to the UAE Zaake Wanume Kibedi said: Having a national carrier fly to Dubai, it creates a national identity and will enhance the export and tourism sectors between the two nations. National airlines are regarded as important national symbols and an instrument for projecting a country internationally. There are approximately 60,000 Ugandans living and working in the UAE and they are always having family visiting them and they going home, so having Uganda Airlines fly direct has come at an ideal time. TradeArabia News Service Mumbai, Oct 11 (UNI) Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, who was arrested in connection with the Mumbai-Goa cruise drug bust case, on Monday moved a sessions court here for bail, challenging an order of a magistrate's court. Special Judge V V Patil, who deals with Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases, fixed the hearing of the bail plea on October 13. The magistrate's court had rejected his petition on Friday. Aryan, 23, was arrested on October 3 during a raid by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) from the cruise ship. In his petition, he submitted that no narcotic substance was found from his possession and that he has no association with the alleged actions of the other accused persons nor is connected to them. Advocate Satish Maneshinde, appearing for Aryan, argued that his client, who continues to be in judicial custody, should be released on bail as the probe has been completed. The court decided to hear the case on October 13 after the NCB lawyer sought time to file his reply. UNI AAA ACL SC Reception for New OmniGlobe at UW Geological Museum Oct. 14 The University of Wyoming has some new teaching technology in the form of the OmniGlobe, which comes preloaded with more than 300 datasets to explore our Earth, solar system and society. Digi-Know?, UWs Innovate Tech Open House Series, continues Thursday, Oct. 14, from 3-5 p.m. with a reception to demonstrate the OmniGlobe in the UW Geological Museum. Refreshments will be provided. The OmniGlobe was purchased with program fees specifically to assist in classes and labs, says Laura Vietti, collections manager of the UW Geological Museum. The Digi-Know Open House Series is an awesome collaboration between several tech-focused units on campus to promote use and collaboration between us. The OmniGlobes datasets are organized in the following broad categories: -- Geophysical science, which includes visuals on plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. -- Atmospheric science, which includes visuals on air currents, pollutants and climate models. -- Oceanography, which covers ocean currents and temperatures. -- The natural Earth, which includes visuals on snow, ice, hurricanes, biomes and plant covers. -- Astrophysics, which covers the solar system, exoplanets and the Death Star from Star Wars. -- Ethnographic data, which includes poverty, death rates and other population statistics. The OmniGlobe is available for use in conjunction with any class at UW, and it also can be used as both a museum piece available to the public and a teaching tool, Vietti says. While campus use of the OmniGlobe is ramping up, the UW Geological Museum will soon bid farewell to its Wyoming Oceans exhibit. The current Wyoming Oceans exhibit has been in place upstairs for decades, with its most recent change occurring around 2012. The late Donald Boyd, UWs last invertebrate paleontologist, developed the display to highlight the common marine fossils that lived in Wyoming. In honor of Dons lifework and contributions to UW, we are updating Wyoming Oceans to make the exhibit more modern, accessible and immersive, but we are still using many of Dons hand-picked specimens, Vietti says. For a video of the OmniGlobe, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IZe27-lDsc. For more information about the reception, email Vietti at geolmus@uwyo.edu. The World Needs More Cowboys Celebration Oct. 26 in Torrington Students will learn more about the University of Wyoming, UW alumni will connect with their alma mater, and members of the public will find out more about UWs presence in Goshen County during a The World Needs More Cowboys celebration Tuesday, Oct. 26, in Torrington. The public is invited to the event from 5-7 p.m. at the Cottonwood Country Club. Free appetizers and beverages will be served. UW President Ed Seidel will be in attendance and speak during a brief program at the celebration, highlighting the universitys collaborative efforts with the states community colleges to boost entrepreneurism and the states economy, among other topics. Hell be joined by current UW students from Goshen County, who will discuss their experiences at the states university. UW faculty members and admissions representatives will be on hand to answer questions and interact with attendees on topics including the Cowboy Commitment, UWs merit- and need-based financial aid offerings for Wyoming high school graduates. Free UW-branded giveaway items will be available, including T-shirts to the first 50 students. Additionally, UW alumna Samantha Yung, of Torrington, will talk about how UW helped advance her career and prepare her for her role in the community -- and what it means to her to be a UW Cowboy. Yung is one of 24 UW alumni being featured in advertising in Wyoming newspapers and other media under the banner of The World Needs More Cowboys -- and So Does Wyoming. She is a doctor of audiology with Brant Audiology and Tinnitus. The Goshen County event is the 22nd in a series of events planned around the state in counties where UW alumni featured in the advertising live and work. Its clear that our marketing tagline, The World Needs More Cowboys, has connected virtually with people across Wyoming. These events are about making that connection even stronger through face-to-face interaction, says Chad Baldwin, UWs associate vice president for marketing and communications. Its a great opportunity for local students to learn more about their states university, for alumni to connect with their alma mater and one another, and for members of the community to meet UWs president along with faculty and students. Before the evening event, Seidel, UW political science Professor Jean Garrison and the current UW students from Goshen County are scheduled to speak to students at Torrington, Southeast and Lingle-Fort Laramie high schools. Seidel began service as the universitys 28th president July 1, 2020. Before coming to UW, he was the vice president for economic development and innovation for the University of Illinois System, building and supporting programs that engage university, public and private partners -- and strengthening the links among higher education, research and business to stimulate economic development across that state. His long record of leadership experience includes more than three years as director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was among the original co-principal investigators for Blue Waters, a federally funded project that brought one of the worlds most powerful supercomputers to Urbana-Champaign. Previously, he was the senior vice president for research and innovation for the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow, Russia, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before that, he directed the Office of Cyberinfrastructure and led the Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences as National Science Foundation assistant director. He also led the Center for Computation & Technology at Louisiana State University and directed the numerical relativity group at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in Germany. Seidel received his Ph.D. in relativistic astrophysics from Yale University, earned a masters degree in physics at the University of Pennsylvania, and received a bachelors degree in mathematics and physics from the College of William and Mary. UW Laboratory Testing Influent for COVID-19 Trends in Wyoming Communities UWs Megan Matthews, left, and Alexys McGuire begin testing influent samples with the QIAGEN QIAcube Connect machine, which automates extracting nucleic acids. (UW Photo) A University of Wyoming laboratory is testing influent from Wyoming towns for the virus that causes COVID-19 to help the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory determine trends of the disease in the state. Wastewater from about 30 Wyoming towns is being sampled, with the UW lab testing for six communities and the public health laboratory the others, says Bledar Bisha, an associate professor and head of the Department of Animal Science in the UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The effort is part of an $800,000 grant from the Wyoming Department of Health. The process can indicate whether there is a trend of increasing positive samples as well as higher virus quantities, which could indicate if the disease is spiking in a community. The testing does not accurately determine the number of cases, Bisha says. UW is testing wastewater from Cowley, Deaver, Hudson, Laramie, Pinedale and Powell. Results from those towns, plus the others, are at https://covidwastewatermonitor.wyo.gov. Dots with a red outline indicate increasing rates. Recently, Cowley, Gillette, Green River, Laramie, Riverton and Worland show increasing rates. The UW laboratory is testing two samples a week taken over a 24-hour period by employees of a town, says graduate student Alexys McGuire, of Akron, Colo., who is leading the project and assisted by undergraduate students. The testing detects the viral nucleic acid, which is the ribonucleic acid (RNA). The target RNA is indicative of the virus, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process used makes millions of copies of the RNA, Bisha says. The testing does not replicate the virus, only the RNA. Samples are taken before the influent is treated. Samples are received overnight and incubated in a water bath to kill any potential virus outside of the tubes, McGuire says. After that, we extract the RNA from the sample and use PCR that tells us how much of the COVID-19 genome is actually in each sample, McGuire says. Each sample takes four to five hours to test. COVID-19 is thought of as a respiratory illness, but the receptors to which the virus attach also are present in the gastrointestinal tract. Those infected shed the virus through feces. The tool was used to detect polio cases in the 1930s and, more recently, used for that in developing countries. Wyoming results show COVID-19 prevalence fluctuates in communities. We definitely see some weeks where there is higher prevalence and sometimes where its not as prevalent, says Kelly Woodruff, of Laramie, who is overseeing the laboratory. Trends have changed entering the fall months. Weve seen increased trends that are actually corresponding with the increased rate of hospitalizations, Bisha says. I would say that hospitalization levels are pretty much back to the highest rate we saw at the height of the pandemic. Rates spiked in September, and McGuire says trends in the wastewater results seem to precede clinical data -- sometimes by weeks -- because the symptoms take time to appear in a body. Mutations of the virus can be detected by testing for specific nucleic acids. Bisha says the SARS-CoV-2 virus variant of late 2020 and early 2021 is now almost all gone. The Delta variant is prevalent now, and Bisha says Delta is much more contagious than the original virus. Testing would look for specific sequences encoding a unique alteration in the amino acids in the Delta variant virus. I would say that, in our region, the variant is identified in 99 percent of the cases now, Bisha says. We will be set up to potentially look at the emergence of other variants that could happen. The Mu variant is one variant that is becoming more and more interesting to those of us involved in monitoring, and that may become the next thing to monitor after Delta. Bisha adds that viruses do not survive for extended periods in the environment. People have looked at wastewater as a vehicle for transmission, and there have been no recorded cases of transmission through wastewater, he says. Bisha cautions against relaxing health practices if positive samples are not found in a communitys wastewater. There could be a variety of reasons why wastewater sampling is not picking up a potential spike, he says. And I also would caution against panicking, taking public health measures based on wastewater sampling alone. He says the testing is a predictive tool that assesses trends and should be aided by clinical testing and other auxiliary methods to assess a community. UW in the News State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage: The BBC interviewed UW Professor Jeff Lockwood for a piece titled Why so many of us are casual spider-murderers. Lockwood said that the insect, over time, has developed traits that are uniquely repulsive to people. UW graduate Bertine Bahige, a nationally recognized Campbell County elementary school principal, was mentioned in a Washington Post article that focused on some Wyoming church leaders wishing to host displaced Afghan families. Bahige, a Congolese refugee, previously joined UW College of Law faculty members and students in talking to state leaders about creating a refugee resettlement program. The article noted that Wyoming is the only state that has no refugee resettlement program. The Gillette News Record and WyoToday Media published UWs release noting that a thorough review of the history of sage grouse hunting and populations across the Intermountain West shows that declines in the birds numbers have prompted significant reductions in hunting opportunities in recent decades. UW Professor Jeff Beck and a former UW postdoctoral researcher led the study. Earth.com and Bioengineer.org published similar articles. A UW report from research scientists at the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center on missing Indigenous people in Wyoming continues to be cited in national media outlets. The New Yorker published an article titled The Long American History of Missing White Woman Syndrome. The Casper Star-Tribune and Sheridan Media noted that a UW laboratory is testing influent water from Wyoming towns for the virus that causes COVID-19 to help the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory determine trends of the disease in the state. The effort is part of an $800,000 grant from the Wyoming Department of Health. UW Associate Professor Shane Murphy is among scientists working at 12 established U.S. sites that will provide long-term measurements of the properties of atmospheric particulates known as aerosols, which have significant effects on health and climate change. Science Magazine reported that the Georgia Institute of Technology-led study was awarded a $12 million National Science Foundation grant. UW is part of a consortium that will build and operate an experimental research facility to study soil at depths greater than at any research facility in the world. The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported that the Deep Soil Ecotron, housed at the University of Idaho, is supported by an $18.9 million National Science Foundation grant. Sheridan Media and County 10 published UWs release noting that a contest for Wyoming youth to share their vision for the Cowboy States future is underway, with an opportunity to win cash prizes up to $700. UWs Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources and the Creative Writing Program are among the contests sponsors. Wyoming Public Radio interviewed Emilene Ostlind, communications coordinator with the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, about the youth contest. Gail Zimmerman, a retired UW-Casper faculty member and former Casper College professor, donated $250,000 to establish a first-of-its-kind fellowship for UW-Casper faculty members. Oil City News published UWs announcement. The Jackson Hole News & Guide interviewed UW Professor Cecilia CC Aragon about the importance of the annual Wyoming Latina Youth Conference, which was held on the UW campus last weekend. The conference, for Wyoming Latina students in grades 5-12, offers workshops centering on wellness, cultural identity, leadership and higher education. The Pinedale Roundup noted that Brett Butler, a UW MBA student from Pinedale, is among six finalists in the annual Fisher Innovation Launchpad, a competition for budding entrepreneurs sponsored by UW. The Wind River Transportation Authority will provide a Thanksgiving bus for UW students, especially those from Fremont County, to help ensure public safety for the holiday break. KGAB Radio published the announcement. Sheridan Media published UWs release noting that the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources will host Mountainfilm on Tour later this month with both live and virtual screenings of environmental and outdoor adventure films and documentaries. Green River and Rock Springs high school bands competed last weekend in a marching band invitational at War Memorial Stadium. SweetwaterNOW published UWs release noting that the universitys Western Thunder Marching Band hosted 14 regional bands for the event. Wyoming News Now also published the release. The Rocket Miner and The Laramie Boomerang published UWs release announcing that six UW graduates will be honored for their professional achievements and support of the university during Homecoming Oct. 16-23. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Talks on Future Relationship Open in Brussels The first day of talks between the United Kingdom, together with Gibraltar, and the European Union on the future relationship of Gibraltar with the EU took place this afternoon in Brussels. The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo (who is presently on his final day of COVID self-isolation ahead of a return to the office on Tuesday), and the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Joseph Garcia, were both able to connect virtually into the meeting from Gibraltar. The Attorney General, Michael Llamas CMG QC and the Gibraltar representative in Brussels, Daniel DAmato, were present in the negotiating room. Mr Picardo delivered an opening statement for Gibraltar. The Chief Minister expressed the hope that the process will end positively and stressed the commitment of the Government of Gibraltar to work constructively towards a solution in all areas. The Chief Minister explained the importance of a fluid border to many thousands of citizens, of all nationalities, on both sides. Mr Picardo outlined the desire to expand even further the shared prosperity that such fluidity has already generated. Mr Picardo said: I was very pleased to be able to kick off the negotiation today for Gibraltar. Today is an important day as the process of this negotiation is now underway. I am pleased to say that I believe that there was a positive approach on display from all in the negotiating room. I remain optimistic and believe it will be possible to find a route to a treaty, although I am also realistic enough to know that we could still fail. I will continue to work towards resolving issues positively in a manner that protects all our important and fundamental equities and does not compromise us in any of those key areas. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Source: Xinhua| 2021-03-20 00:26:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen (front) speaks at the donation ceremony of China's Sinopharm vaccine at the Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, March 19, 2021. A batch of China's Sinopharm vaccine was delivered to Kyrgyzstan on Friday, and a donation ceremony was held at the Manas International Airport, the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan said in a press release. On behalf of the Kyrgyz government, Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov thanked the Chinese government for helping Kyrgyzstan, stressing that China, having overcome its difficulties, became one of the first countries to provide Kyrgyzstan with COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo by Roman/Xinhua) BISHKEK, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A batch of China's Sinopharm vaccine was delivered to Kyrgyzstan on Friday, and a donation ceremony was held at the Manas International Airport, the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan said in a press release. On behalf of the Kyrgyz government, Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov thanked the Chinese government for helping Kyrgyzstan, stressing that China, having overcome its difficulties, became one of the first countries to provide Kyrgyzstan with COVID-19 vaccine. Maripov said that the vaccine from China has received wide recognition in the international community, and the vaccine will greatly help the Kyrgyz republic in the fight against the pandemic. "Kyrgyzstan is ready to further intensify cooperation and work together with China in the fight against the epidemic," he said. Chinese Ambassador Du Dewen noted that China continues to provide assistance to Kyrgyzstan in the fight against the pandemic, and the friendship between the two countries has further strengthened in anti-epidemic cooperation, "In the context of huge domestic demand for a new vaccine, China's free aid to Kyrgyzstan fully demonstrates the deep friendship of the Chinese government and people toward the government and people of Kyrgyzstan and reflects the high level of comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries," the ambassador said. Du expressed the hope that the vaccine will play an active role in combating the epidemic in Kyrgyzstan, as well as protecting the health and safety of the country's residents. The ambassador also stressed that China, being one of the first countries in the world to have successfully developed vaccines, is actively pursuing international cooperation in this area. "China is ready to continue to fight the epidemic side by side with Kyrgyzstan, to help build a Chinese-Kyrgyz health community and deepen cooperation in various fields in the joint construction of Belt and Road in order to benefit the peoples of the two countries," the Chinese diplomat said. Earlier, the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan reported that the first stage of vaccination in the country will begin in late March or early April. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 08:35:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People plant trees in Nalaikh District of Ulan Bator, Mongolia, Oct. 10, 2021. Mongolia has ramped up counter-desertification efforts days after launching a national campaign to plant a billion trees by 2030. On Sunday, foreign ambassadors, diplomats and staff of international organizations in Mongolia, as well as representatives of various fields of Mongolia joined the campaign and planted trees in Nalaikh District of the Mongolian capital. (Photo by Suriya/Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 10:23:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2021 shows a notice of suggestions for COVID-19 prevention at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia. As Sydney, capital of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), exited its 106-day lockdown Sunday, residents have re-emerged to celebrate a long-awaited "Freedom Day". (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) SYDNEY, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- As Sydney, capital of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), exited its 106-day lockdown Sunday, residents have re-emerged to celebrate a long-awaited "Freedom Day". As some lockdown restrictions officially ended at midnight on Sunday and non-essential retail re-opened their doors, local Australians have lined up to get haircuts, visited 24-hour retail stores, and headed to the gym since the early hours of the morning. Speaking at a press conference held at a bar on Monday, newly instated Premier of NSW Dominic Perrottet referred to the easing of restrictions as the state's "Freedom Day". "I see it as a day of freedom. It is a Freedom Day, it is. Businesses are opening up. But that means it needs to be done in a measured and safe way," he said. "There are going to be challenges, we know that. I ask again everybody right across our state to treat everybody with kindness and respect, and take personal responsibility," said Perrottet. He said vaccinations would make lockdowns a thing of the past. "We need to learn to live alongside the virus, vaccination rates are the key, we've been doing that in New South Wales," he said. At present NSW's vaccination rate sits at 73.5 percent of the over-16 population having received both doses, and 90.3 percent having received at least one dose. The state boasts considerable ground on the national average, which as of Monday sat at 61.9 percent fully vaccinated, and 82.2 percent with at least their first dose. At the same time, NSW recorded 496 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8:00 p.m. Sunday night, and eight deaths in the same period. The neighboring state of Victoria recorded 1,612 new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to midnight Sunday and recorded a further eight deaths. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 15:53:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand requires mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for teachers and health workers, the two workforces that are critical to preventing the spread of the virus, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday. High-risk workers in the health and disability sector are required to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 1, and to receive their first dose by Oct. 30, Hipkins said in a statement. School and early learning staff and support people who have contact with children and students are required to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 1, 2022, and to receive their first dose by Nov. 15, according to Hipkins. "Vaccination remains our strongest and most effective tool to protect against infection and disease, and we need as many workers as possible to be vaccinated to allow sectors to respond to the pandemic and deliver everyday services with as little disruption as possible," Hipkins said, adding most people working in these sectors have already fully or partially vaccinated. It will reassure those who are anxious about their children attending school and early learning services, he said, adding exemptions may be possible under some circumstances. The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 will be updated to require anyone conducting high-risk work in the health and disability sector to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 1, the minister said. Under these new requirements, general practitioners, pharmacists, community health nurses, midwives, paramedics, and all healthcare workers in sites where vulnerable patients are treated must receive their first dose of the vaccine by Oct. 30. "Those who are not fully vaccinated in the period leading up to Jan. 1, 2022, will also be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing," he said, adding relevant work is continuing on whether mandatory vaccinations will be required in the tertiary education sector. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 15:55:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Four militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with government forces in the northeastern state of Manipur, officials said Monday. The gunfight broke out in Kangpokpi district, about 50 km north of Imphal, the capital city of Manipur. "The operation in the area was launched on Saturday and the gunfight broke out on Sunday, following which four insurgents neutralised," an army official said. Reports said other militants managed to escape during the stand-off. According to officials, government forces have not suffered any damage in the gunfight. The slain militants were affiliated with Kuki National Liberation Army (KLNA), local media reports said. Manipur is a conflict-ridden state in India's northeast. Several separatist groups in the state have run long-armed insurgency demanding separation from the Indian union. The groups often target Indian armed forces. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 16:20:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan's industry minister Koichi Hagiuda vowed to promote the decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant and recovery of the area as a top priority during his first visit Sunday to the northeastern Japan prefecture since assuming office, local media reported Monday. Meanwhile, Hagiuda told Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori and the mayors of municipalities hosting the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that his ministry would put full efforts to deal with the release of treated radioactive water from the facility damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. In the meeting, Uchibori requested the central government to handle issues such as the lifting of an evacuation order for residents near the damaged power plant. Futaba Mayor Shiro Izawa and Okuma Mayor Jun Yoshida together asked the state to take effective measures against the reputational damage associated with the controversial plan of discharging treated water. In addition, the mayors also warned Tokyo Electric Power Co., Ltd. (TEPCO), the operator of the plant, not to sloppily manage radioactive waste from power facilities. "The state, instead of TEPCO, will lead the decommissioning of (Fukushima Daiichi) reactors," Hagiuda told reporters after the meetings. Japan is planning to begin discharging the water into the sea from around the spring of 2023, stating that water pumped into the ruined reactors at the Fukushima plant to cool the melted fuel is treated using an advanced liquid processing system, which could limit tritium to a low level in the water. However, the decision has received strong criticism from neighboring countries. China has expressed serious concerns about Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear station, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian saying that China urged the Japanese side to take a responsible attitude and treat the issue of nuclear waste disposal with caution. Meanwhile, South Korea has also voiced its "grave concerns," with Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam saying "it will be difficult to accept if the Japanese side decides to release the contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant without sufficient consultations." Local fishermen remain opposed to the planned discharge of treated water because it could destroy the reputation of Fukushima seafood. TEPCO Chairman Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, who accompanied Hagiuda on his tour of the power plant, met with Uchibori on Monday. Kobayashi told reporters after the meeting that he would hold further dialogue with locals to try to make them understand what he called the "safety steps." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 17:36:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Monday confirmed 1,348 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 326,738, according to the country's health ministry. The latest confirmed cases were local infections, and more than half of them were reported in the capital city of Ulan Bator, the country's hardest-hit area during the pandemic, the ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, 14 more COVID-19 patients, all aged above 40, died in the past day, raising the national death count to 1,377, it said. There are now a total of 75,344 active COVID-19 cases in the country, and most of them are receiving home-based care due to a shortage of hospital beds and medical staff. The resurgence of COVID-19 is due to the Delta wave in the country, home to roughly 3.4 million people. So far, 65.6 percent of the total population has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while 341,678 people have received the booster or third doses. The health ministry has said that at least 50 percent of the population needs a booster. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 19:09:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's inter-state and national borders are finally open starting Monday, with many hailing the move as the start to a return to normalcy. The easing of travel restrictions is for those who are fully vaccinated, including to return to their respective hometowns to meet with loved ones and for tourism purposes, following an announcement by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Sunday. In a televised address, Ismail Sabri urged those opting to travel to remain on guard and not become complacent, following the standard operating procedure (SOP) and other guidelines for their own health and safety. "For example, if you want to return to your hometown to see your parents or travel to another state, test yourself for COVID-19 before embarking on your journey. "For those with symptoms, including fever, cough, flu and difficulty in breathing, please postpone your plans to travel. If this is taken lightly, it's not impossible that the spread of COVID-19 will increase again," he said. Ismail Sabri added that opening state borders would also allow the hard-pressed tourism sector and other economic activities a chance to recover. The decision comes after the national immunization program reached a target of having 90 percent of the adult population being fully vaccinated on Sunday and for the country to jumpstart its economic activities, following a series of long lockdowns. It will be the first time since January that inter-state travel will be allowed without the need for permission. Those in the country had also been barred from traveling overseas for non-official or emergency reasons since the onset of the pandemic in March last year. Already people could be seen taking to the road to visit family members living in other states, with cars lining highways and roads, and people were booking bus and train tickets to make their way to relatives across state lines. Arif Naqiuddin, a resident of Selangor state, had applied for and received leave to visit his family members in Johor state, which borders Singapore, after having been stuck for months, being unable to cross state lines for social reasons. "It is great that things have finally opened up. Of course I am excited to see my relatives for the first time since last year but I am mindful to be careful. We all need to be to avoid another lockdown," he said. The country has seen a slow but steady decline in the number of new infections since late September with less than 10,000 new daily cases since early October, from a high of 24,599 on Aug. 26, while the number of deaths has also been on a downward trend. The country reported 129,518 doses administered on Sunday alone and some 74.9 percent of the population have received at least one dose and 65.2 percent are fully vaccinated. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 21:21:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- A silent protest of "stuffed bunnies" to demand better protection of girls from sexual violence was organized in Mongolia on Monday on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child. Sexual violence against girls has sharply increased in Mongolia in recent years, Batnasan Oyungerel, head of the Mongolian Women's Federation, which organized the protest, told Xinhua. In 2017, about 130 girls were sexually abused in the country, with the number rising to 330 in 2020, Oyungerel said, adding that the number only includes cases recorded by police. During the silent protest, the women's federation deployed a total of 330 stuffed bunnies at the central square in Ulan Bator, representing the 330 girls who were sexually abused last year, Oyungerel said. In 2012, the United Nations designated Oct. 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-11 21:58:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has cancelled the annual three-day Water Festival for the second consecutive year to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Interior Minister Sar Kheng said on Monday. The festival was scheduled to take place from Nov. 18 to 20. "According to a government's decision, this year, we will not celebrate the Water Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in a speech live broadcast on his Facebook page. Kheng, who is also a deputy prime minister, renewed his call on the public to continue caution as the COVID-19 was still raging across the kingdom. Water Festival is one of the largest festivals in the Southeast Asian nation, attracting hundreds of thousands of people from rural provinces to capital Phnom Penh to enjoy a regatta along a stretch of the Tonle Sap river in front of the Royal Palace. I Cambodia reported a daily record of 258 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the national total caseload to 115,068, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said, adding that 21 more fatalities had been registered, taking the overall death toll to 2,527. Additional 546 patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 108,403, the MoH said. The kingdom launched a COVID-19 inoculation drive in February, with China being the key vaccine supplier. To date, the country had administered at least one vaccine dose to nearly 13.5 million people, or 84.3 percent of its 16-million population, the MoH said. Of them, almost 11.5 million, or 71.8 percent, had been fully vaccinated with both required shots, and 923,259 or 5.77 percent, had received a booster dose, it added. Enditem South Boston, VA (24592) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 34F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 34F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. analysis Bhutan is a model for transitioning from absolute to constitutional monarchy, but time for this option is running out. Up to 60 protesters and rioters were killed by security forces in eSwatini in June. And many government and private buildings and vehicles were destroyed, causing damage estimated at R3 billion. Things have since gone quiet, but for how long? King Mswati III has shown no signs of having learnt any lessons from those events. Instead he has doubled down, appointing a hardline prime minister in Cleopas Dlamini and arresting two pro-democracy members of Parliament, Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube, under the country's Suppression of Terrorism Act. They were allegedly stoking unrest by calling for the prime minister to be elected by Parliament - not appointed by the king. Regional intervention seems to have gone nowhere. The violence and destruction of June jolted the Southern African Development Community (SADC) into sending ministers and officials to consult with the government and some members of civil society and the political opposition. SADC quietly produced a report recommending that Mswati engage in a national dialogue about the country's future. But an official noted rather helplessly that, 'There will only be a national dialogue if Mswati wants one.' And clearly he doesn't, aware that 'national dialogue' can only go one way - towards democracy. In the final communique of SADC's August heads of state summit, there was no mention of the eSwatini matter. eSwatini's youth are less indulgent of Mswati's claims to be the defender of Swazi traditional values Chatham House scholars, Fundile Maphanga and Christopher Vandome, have recently warned that Mswati is on course for a huge collision with his people. Especially youth, who are disenchanted with their lot as poverty grinds on and much less indulgent of the king's claims to be the defender of Swazi traditional values. Young people are also incensed by the royal family's ever more Bourbon-esque indifference to their people's plight. Eleven customised Rolls-Royces were recently acquired - one for the king, one for the Queen Mother, and one for each of Mswati's wives. Maphanga and Vandome note that as 'the country's current economic and social trajectory is unsustainable, the king and his advisers may seek to consider various options for reform. Lesotho and Bhutan could offer lessons of monarchical leadership reforms that would allow eSwatini to retain distinctive cultural institutions and practices, while the monarchy relinquishes executive powers within its political system.' This is an interesting suggestion. All three are tiny monarchies surrounded by bigger states. But although nearby Lesotho seems the more obvious example, it is remote Bhutan - an isolated Shangri-La of Buddhism in the Himalayas - that is probably a better model for Mswati. Lesotho is indeed a constitutional monarchy, but it isn't really clear that it was ever an absolute monarchy. The country has had a messy political history since independence from Britain in 1966. Its kings have occasionally meddled in politics, though power has mainly oscillated between politicians and the military. A Bhutan-like reform process may be Mswati's last option to save himself and the nation from disaster By contrast Bhutan transitioned quite definitively from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one, over several years. Most remarkably, the change was initiated by the monarch himself, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. In 1998 he devolved some executive powers to a cabinet of ministers and enabled the National Assembly to elect the cabinet. In 2001 he launched a constitution-writing process that reflected Bhutan's Buddhist values and cultural norms. And then Jigme Singye abdicated in 2006 in favour of his eldest son and stood back to let the transition unfold. In 2008 Bhutan held its first democratic elections which the pro-monarchy Harmony Party won by a landslide. Parliament adopted the draft constitution in July of that year. The country essentially has a conventional democratic constitution, enshrining the usual freedoms, with some Bhutanese idiosyncrasies. The constitution also creates an important place for the monarch as the nation's unifying force and head of the Buddhist faith. It emphasises the 'fundamental duties' of citizens, not only their rights. What is most remarkable about the transition though is that it wasn't the result of popular democratic ferment. It was Jigme Singye's 'top-down gift to his people.' His advisers and the public seemed largely opposed to the idea as the monarchy was so popular. So he had to persuade them of its merits. That reminded me of when I asked Mswati many years ago whether he didn't think a constitutional monarchy would be the best compromise between eSwatini's traditional values and the rising demand for democracy. He assured me that he'd consulted his people, and they didn't think that was a good idea. The Bhutan constitution shows that traditional values can be reconciled with democratic freedoms In retrospect, like Jigme Singye, he should have persuaded them to give it a try. It may now be too late for Mswati to emulate Bhutan's former monarch. Since the June bloodbath, which many blame on the king, democratic activists have withdrawn the support they might have had for a constitutional monarchy. They now want a democratic republic. But launching a Bhutan-like reform process may nonetheless be Mswati's last shot at saving himself and the nation from disaster. The Bhutan constitution shows that traditional values - which Mswati purports to espouse - can be reconciled with conventional democratic freedoms. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Governance Swaziland By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Good alternatives may be closing out for Mswati. And although Jigme Singye appeared to have been motivated by a genuine concern for his people's welfare, some commentators think he was jolted by events in a neighbouring kingdom. In 2001, Nepal's Crown Prince Dipendra shot dead King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, seven other royal family members, and himself, in their palace in Kathmandu. This bloodbath precipitated the rapid unravelling of the monarchy and the emergence of a republic in 2008. And one hears of rumbling among the Swazi royals, particularly by Mswati's many siblings, who feel they're being overlooked for patronage in favour of the king's wives and children. They believe Mswati is jeopardising the monarchy by his autocratic and extravagant lifestyle. So perhaps a palace revolt is just another one of those hazards Mswati could avoid by embarking on an - admittedly unlikely - Bhutanese pathway to constitutional monarchy. Peter Fabricius, ISS Consultant Exclusive rights to re-publish ISS Today articles have been given to Daily Maverick in South Africa and Premium Times in Nigeria. For media based outside South Africa and Nigeria that want to re-publish articles, or for queries about our re-publishing policy, email us. analysis For those of us who have read and reread, taught, and written about the fiction of Abdulrazak Gurnah, the Nobel Prize in Literature committee has confirmed what we knew all along. His superb writing deserves much wider recognition and readership. Gurnah was born in Zanzibar, the archipelago off the Tanzanian coast, in 1948. Then still a British Protectorate, Zanzibar gained independence in December 1963, only to be thrown into the turmoil and violence of the Zanzibar Revolution of January 1964. These are historical events to which he returns in his fiction repeatedly. He left for the UK in 1967 and has lived there ever since, except for a short teaching stint at Bayero University Kano in Nigeria in the 1980s. He taught in the English department at the University of Kent in Canterbury until his recent retirement. Even though he has lived most of life in England, all his novels - except for Dottie (1990), which is set entirely in the UK - are set either fully or partially on the Eastern African Swahili Coast or in Zanzibar. To date he has published ten immensely readable novels and many short stories. These are written in clean and uncluttered prose. It makes him a master storyteller, captivatingly drawing the reader into the experiences and vivid lifeworlds of the characters depicted. Connecting people and geographies The work of the imagination to follow the storyteller's attention creates connections that in their intangibility might seem elusive. And yet any reader will know these to be powerful and potentially transformative. As Ben Okri, a Nigerian writer, reminds us, such threads, which interweave stories and life, are deeply significant. This is because stories "can infect a system, or illuminate a world". The ambiguity in Okri's description of the effect of stories captures the way in which stories potentially open up the world and contest narratives that circumscribe and preclude mutuality. It also talks to the danger of stories when they participate in and serve as justification for structures of domination, exclusion and violence. Gurnah, the storyteller, probes the efficacy of stories to connect people and geographies. Yet at the same time he is acutely attentive to the divisive nature of stories of certainty: of colonial domination, of patriarchal scripts, of racism, of xenophobia towards strangers from elsewhere. His work points to the way in which such certainties furnish people with a belief in the rightness of the violence they wreak on others, in the destruction of other people's lives which they deem to matter less than their own. Instead, Gurnah's work asks the reader to consider stories as provisional accounts that cannot claim closure or complete knowledge. Ambiguity, multiple viewpoints of the same events, complex focalisation, self-reflexive irony and narrative wit are some of the features of his writing. They make his writing so incredibly compelling. It elides narrative certainty. The narrative mode is often oblique. Perhaps we can imagine it like this, or perhaps it happened otherwise. This mode is particularly apt to illuminate the itinerant lives of people who find themselves on the move and who do not seem to belong anywhere. Migration and other forms of displacement, as Gurnah's stories suggest, are common occurrences in Africa and across the globe. Therefore, it is important to see others in relation to ourselves, to perceive their right of abode even if they cannot claim national belonging. However, it is precisely the humanity of the stranger that is at stake once the status of citizenship is in question. Hospitality is revealed as conditional in the current hostile immigration climate. The asylum seeker, the refugee and the migrant are hardly afforded the dignity which the recognition of a common humanity would demand. It is this refusal to recognise the humanity of the other and its terrible consequences that Gurnah's stories explore in detail. He crafts carefully delineated juxtapositions between hostile, implacable environments in which his characters find themselves with little room to manoeuvre, and pockets of hospitality that gesture towards alternative social imaginaries where kindness and joie de vivre become possible. In contrast to an essentialist view of a citizen as someone who is described in terms of appearance or ancestry, Gurnah sets the complexity of centuries of intermingling along the East African shores of the Indian Ocean. In this way his stories question ideas of purity and difference. They emphasise the cultural and linguistic heterogeneity of East African coastal regions and their place within the continent, the Indian Ocean world, and the globe in order to stress a common humanity. Empathetic storytelling Across his oeuvre, which traverses settings in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Mombasa, Lake Tanganyika, Nairobi, Muscat, Bahrain and several locales in England, Gurnah traces a long history of transnational and transoceanic movements. His work references the Eastern African slave trade and indenture, German and British colonial oppression and less legible but equally destructive forms of social exclusion to do with economic precarity and migration. While his characters are often caught in violent and unequal plots not of their own making and beyond their control - since Gurnah's stories tend to focus on people whose lives are deemed insignificant and small - his empathetic storytelling subtly points to the importance of social connections, however unexpected, that offer reassurance and warmth. In this way, his novels also cautiously celebrate the polyglot cosmopolitanisms and generous forms of accommodation that emerged on the Swahili coast within broader structures of ambivalent encounter in the monsoon trade and imperial conquest. In a passage in By the Sea, Gurnah's sixth novel, published in 2001, seven-year-old Saleh Omar, one of the protagonists and narrators, describes his first encounter with a map of an Africa embedded in the wider world of the Indian Ocean: As [the teacher's] story developed, he began to draw a map on the blackboard with a piece of white chalk: the coast of North Africa which then bulged out and tucked in and then slid down to the Cape of Good Hope. As he drew, he spoke, naming places, sometimes in full sometimes in passing. Sinuously north to the jut of the Ruvuma delta, the cusp of our stretch of coast, the Horn of Africa, then the Red Sea coast to Suez, the Arabian peninsula, the Persian Gulf, India, the Malay peninsula and then all the way to China. He stopped there and smiled. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Tanzania Entertainment Books By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. This moment of the unbroken chalk line is pivotal, not just in relation to this particular novel, but perhaps to Gurnah's oeuvre as a whole. It makes visible the ocean on which so many of his stories float. And I suspect that this teacher's smile is also the soryteller's. It is the subtle humour which suffuses his writing that give his stories a lightness of touch, despite the harrowing aspects of the narratives. It contributes enormously to the pleasure of reading. There is the acerbic sarcasm which exposes racial aggression and renders it absurd. And there is the self-deprecating humour of the migrant in the face of an immovable and indifferent environment, which staves off self-pity and sets in motion processes of disalienation. The dry wit of the narratives allows Gurnah to forge a bond with readers, who come to appreciate it as a mode of interaction that can liquefy ossified social categories by opening up spaces of irony and ambiguity and remind us of the fragility of the human condition we all share. Tina Steiner, Associate Professor in the English Department, Stellenbosch University "We are witnessing the worst form of insecurity now because the bandits can organise teams to launch attack with impunity and because we have no means of communicating with the outside world." The residents of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have lamented continuing attacks by bandits despite the military operations and other measures taken by the state government. This is coming even as government officials and security agents say the measures have been yielding the desired results. Individuals and groups, especially from Faskari local government, have been complaining of "silent killings" in their villages. Security measures Bandits have been operating in most of the North-west states for over a decade but the situation got worse in the past few years. Banditry is the code name in the region for organised crimes like kidnapping, cattle rustling, mass abduction, arson and even armed robbery. Following the increase in the number of attacks, governors of North-west states imposed certain security measures. In Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari closed two major roads - Jibia to Gurbin Baure and Kankara to Sheme - to traffic. Commercial vehicles were advised to take Funtua road but private vehicles can still ply the Kankara-Sheme road. The governor also banned cattle markets in 14 towns. These are Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Malumfashi, Charanci, Mai adua, Kafur, Faskari, Sabuwa, Baure, Dutsin Ma and Kaita. He also banned movement of cattle in trucks and of firewood from the bush. The governor also prohibited more than two people from riding on a motorcycle and more than three in a tricycle, and sale of petroleum in jerry cans. A popular second-hand motorcycles market in Charanci was also suspended. To cut fuel supply to the bandits who ride in convoys of motorcycles to attack communities, the governor said only two designated fuel stations can now sell fuel, and of not more than N5,000 to a person, in the local government areas most affected by the crisis. Few weeks later, mobile telecommunications were cut in 13 local government areas considered to be vulnerable to attacks. The Special Adviser to Mr. Masari on security matters, Ibrahim Katsina, told PREMIUM TIMES that the measures were taken to disrupt the bandits' communication network. We are dying in silence - Residents In a statement sent to the office of the state governor, a community group, Daudawa Area Council Unity Development Association, said the measures have so far affected the ordinary people more than the bandits. Commenting on the letter, Hassan Usman, the association's chairman, said bandits now attack with impunity, knowing that residents have no means of informing security agents of impending attacks. "We are witnessing the worst form of insecurity now because the bandits can organise teams to launch attack with impunity and because we have no means of communicating with the outside world, we can't even seek more security personnel," Mr Usman said. Though he commended the security agents working in the area, Mr Usman said they also face the challenge of not being able to call for reinforcement. "Their (security agents) attempts to repel attacks always fail because of the communication error which makes things difficult," he said. Locals told PREMIUM TIMES that recent attacks on Daudawa and Yan Nasarawa (all in Faskari Local Government Area) forced many residents to flee from their communities in large numbers. In Daudawa, they killed nine people and kidnapped several others. Shops and houses were looted and later burnt. The following morning on October 4, bandits raided Yan Nasarawa and abducted several women. But locals like Auwal Hassan Nasarawa said the attack was more of foodstuffs scavenging. "They came looking for food. Almost all the houses and shops they attacked, they took away any food item they saw." Lawal Ibrahim, also from Daudawa, asked the state government to relax the mobile network shutdown so that people can report any attack. "When they attacked Daudawa on Sunday, they even said their next target was Unguwar Samanja, which is also not far from us here. We want the network to be opened so that security agents can be sent to the town and other vulnerable ones," Mr. Ibrahim said. Abu Dan Malam said when the decisions were taken by the state government, people welcomed it because "we thought they would do the needful." "What is the purpose of shutting down network when you are not taking the fight to the bandits' camps? They (security agents) still wait for them to come so that they could repel them. We need the state government to act accordingly," Mr Malam pleaded. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. We're studying impact - Katsina govt In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Katsina, the Special Adviser to Mr Masari on security matters, said the state government did not impose the measures to strangulate its people. He added that the impact was being studied and the next line of action would be decided by the findings of the state government. "We are assessing the situation to know where we have made an impact and where we have shortcomings in order to know areas of improvement. All we want the general public to know is that we didn't impose the decisions to make life difficult for them, rather to ensure the protection of life and properties. We need cooperation and understanding from the public. "The decisions were taken because we must take all the necessary measures to address the insecurity," Mr Katsina said. The police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isa, said security agents have "recorded huge success" in the fight against insecurity following the shutdown of mobile networks in some areas. He said the killings in Daudawa and Yasore communities were revenge attacks by the bandits. A PREMIUM TIMES examination shows the current administration has taken by far more loans than any other government since 1999, contradicting a claim by the Senate finance committee. Nigeria's public debt has risen the most under the Buhari administration when compared to previous governments since 1999, and foreign debt has grown three times more than the combined figure recorded by the past three administrations, a PREMIUM TIMES analysis of the government's domestic and foreign debts has shown. While the Obasanjo government met $28 billion as foreign debt in 1999, it left $2.11 billion in 2007 after successfully securing a write-off by the London and Paris clubs of foreign creditors. The Yar'adua/Jonathan government added $1.39 billion to what they met, and the Jonathan government incurred additional $3.8 billion, taking the country's total foreign debt to $7.3 billion when that administration came to an end in 2015. Nigeria's external loan reached $28.57 billion by December 2020, meaning an extra $21.27 billion had been accumulated under the Buhari administration -- three times the combined amount by past governments since 1999. For domestic debt, considered relatively less harmful to the value of Naira than foreign debt, the figure rose from N795 billion in 1999 when the Obasanjo government came to power, to N8.8 trillion in 2015 when the Buhari administration assumed office. By December 2020, Nigeria's domestic debt stood at N16.02 trillion -- twice as much the combined amount taken by the past three governments. The domestic and foreign debt figures are higher now as the government has borrowed more in 2021. "More than Three-Quarter" The figures contradict a claim by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Solomon Adeola, that "three-quarter" of Nigeria's total debt profile estimated at N33 trillion naira was incurred by past administrations dating back to the military era. Speaking at a Senate hearing on September 22, Mr Adeola in a response to a request by the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, to clarify concerns over the nation's piling debt, said, "The borrowing you are saying is accumulated borrowing. It is not a borrowing of this administration alone, it is a borrowing that stems from the days of the military to the days when the Democratic dispensation started. "It is an accumulated loan, it is not a loan that says that it is the current administration of President Buhari that has borrowed. "It is a loan that has been borrowed by the previous administration - the Obasanjo, the Jonathan, the Yar'Adua of this world. "[And] since the business of government is a continuum, the president of the day has no choice but to continue to pay back all these loans that have been borrowed by the previous administrations. "More than three-quarter of these loans you're seeing were borrowed from the previous administrations, and we are paying back - we are doing what is supposed to be done, the way it is supposed to be done. "So, when my colleague said that for every sixty-seven naira of any loan that was borrowed, we are using to pay, he should know that more than sixty naira of it are loans borrowed by previous administration. And that is where we are." Government figures obtained and analysed by PREMIUM TIMES do not support Mr Adeola's "three-quarter" claim. While previous administrations borrowed as shown above, it is the present government that has taken the bulk of the domestic and foreign loans. Debt Forgiveness In 2006, Nigeria became the first African country to settle its public debt under a scheme devised to help the world's poorest and indebted states. The country under former President Olusegun Obasanjo paid off $18 billion to secure forgiveness of the balance of its nearly $30 billion debts to the London and Paris clubs of foreign creditors. But 15 years later in 2021, Nigeria's public debt is high again, putting pressure on the government's revenue and performance. A report by the World Bank placed Nigeria among the top 10 countries with the highest debt risk exposure. Nigeria is fifth with $11.7 billion debt exposure, behind India ($22 billion), Bangladesh ($18.1 billion), Pakistan ($16.4 billion), and Vietnam ($14.1 billion). In recent periods, there has been a furore over Nigeria's borrowing plans and debt profile. The Debt Management Office (DMO) said as of March 31, Nigeria's total public debt stood at N33.1 trillion ($87.24 billion) -- accumulated between 1999 and 2021. The overall public debt, DMO said, is the total public debt stock which includes the external and domestic debts of the federal and state governments and the Federal Capital Territory. The federal government's share of the public debt jumped from N3.55 trillion in 1999 to N26.91 trillion in March 2021. This means the nation's debt stock has risen by over 650 per cent in 21 years. Contributions By Past Governments Records show that Nigeria's external debt stood at $28.04 billion in 1999 when Mr Obasanjo came into office. Following the debt forgiveness, it was $2.11 billion at the time Mr Obasanjo left office in 2007. However, while external debts declined under Mr Obasanjo, domestic debts increased from N795 billion to N2.17 trillion between 1999 to 2007. The country's currency exchange rate was between N98.02 and N116.8 to a dollar within the period, according to the central bank. At the beginning of the Umaru Yar'Adua/Goodluck Jonathan administration, Nigeria's domestic debt stood at N2.17 trillion but jumped to N5. 62 trillion at the end of their administration in 2011. External debt also moved from $2.11 billion to $3.5 billion within the period under review. In effect, the debt stock moved from N2.42 trillion to N6.17 trillion in four years, representing an average of N930 billion borrowing per year. The nation's exchange rate also fell from N116.8/$1 to N156.7/$1 during the period, according to CBN. It is important to note that Mr Jonathan completed the tenure from May 2010 to May 2011 after the death of Mr Yar'Adua. The 12 month period saw an increase in the federal government's debt from N4.94 trillion to N6.17 trillion. By May 2011 when Mr Jonathan was elected to serve a fresh term in office, Nigeria's foreign debt was $3.5 billion but went up to $7.35 billion when he left in 2015. In the same vein, the country's domestic debt climbed from N5.62 trillion to N8.8 billion. Nigeria's combined debt figure under Mr Jonathan administration went from N6.17 trillion in 2011 to N9.8 trillion in 2015. This represents a N3.63 trillion increase or an average of N900 billion loan in a year. The country's official exchange rate also stood at N197/$1 during the period under review. Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari inherited an N8.8 trillion federal government's domestic debt in 2015. However, the figure rose to N16.02 trillion as of December 2020. Likewise, the nation's exchange rate fell from N197 to a dollar in 2015 to N381 at the end of December 2020. Up from $7.35 billion in 2015, Nigeria's external borrowings stood at $28.57 billion as of December 2020. This means that the administration incurred $21.27 billion in foreign loans. But putting together external and domestic borrowing, Mr Buhari had borrowed N17.06 trillion as of March 2021, using the N381 exchange rate. This represents an average of N2.83 trillion per year since 2015. Likewise, the nation's exchange rate moved from N197 to a dollar in 2015 to N381 at the end of December 2020. Debt Service Taking Huge Toll On Yearly Budget Debt service obligations gulped 97 per cent of the Nigerian government's total revenue in 2020, according to Budgit, a civic-tech non-profit organisation. Of the N3.42 trillion generated as revenue, Nigeria spent N3.34 trillion in debt servicing, Budgit said in a July report. Also, N3.3 trillion was set aside for debt servicing in the assented 2021 budget, about a quarter (24.3 per cent) of the entire N13.6 trillion total expenditure. This trend has been in place since 2016. In 2016, the country spent almost a quarter (about 24 per cent) of its budget to service debts. Of the N6.6 trillion budgeted for 2016, the government earmarked N1.5 trillion for debt financing. The sum of N1.6 trillion was proposed for servicing debts out of the total (N7.3 trillion) budgeted for 2017. In 2018, the figure rose as N2.2 trillion or 24.17 per cent was pegged for debt servicing in the N9.1 trillion budget. In 2019, the government proposed to spend 24 per cent (N2.14 trillion) of the N8.9 trillion expenditure on debt service. In mid-September, Mr Buhari sought the approval of the Senate to borrow $4 billion (4,054,476,863) and 710 million loan from bilateral and multilateral organisations to fund the deficit in the 2021 budget. The president said the loan request is an addendum to the 2018-2020 borrowing plan and that the new borrowing is to meet "emerging needs" for some "critical projects." In July, the National Assembly had approved Mr Buhari's request to borrow $8.3 billion and 490 million loans contained in the initial 2018-2020 borrowing plan. "Bad Times Ahead" Economic analyst, Tope Fasua, said Nigeria's loan is already unsustainable because it is taking 95 to 97 per cent of revenue generated. "That ratio is not sustainable," he said. The huge amount the Nigerian government is borrowing mostly is "to cater for a lot of failures and they just borrow to keep some activities going," the economist said. "How the loans are going to be paid is not in question for them and that's very unfortunate. "The loan is unsustainable from the perspective of revenue, from the perspective of corruption and value for money and from the perspective of project implementation." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance Debt By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Only 30 per cent value for money is what we get especially on these loans, some of what we are taking are for very frivolous issues," he said. "In my opinion, we should take loans only for projects that have the ability to pay themselves back. If a project is not generating cash flow, it shouldn't be taken. "If we are taking loans for local roads and schools, who is going to pay? These are projects that should be funded from internally generated revenue." He also attributed the currency challenges to Nigeria's debt portfolio. "We have a challenge with the naira presently, and one of the key things that throws your currency off is debt unsustainability. "And mind you, most of the loans we are taking in recent times have not fallen due for payment, what we are doing is only paying the interest. Many of them have moratoriums on interest payments. "These guys have actually booked for us a bad time and a lot of trouble upfront," he said. Samuel Bamidele, Head of Research and Intelligence at Phillips Consulting Limited said although Nigeria's debt remained within the IMF recommended range with respect to GDP, the country faces a challenge when its debt stock is compared to its revenue. He also worried about how the government was using the borrowed funds. "Nigeria's debt stock at 33% of GDP is sustainable at that level, but the issue is more around servicing the debt," he said. "When your debt stock is above 40 per cent, according to the IMF Debt Sustainability Framework (DSF), it means that it's no longer sustainable," Mr Bamidele said. "So you can say that Nigeria's debt profile is sustainable at the current level but the problem is the revenue. Because when your revenue is low you will need more money in terms of borrowing to finance both capital and recurrent projects. "At a point in time in 2020, our debt service was 99 per cent. What this means is that for every N1 earned, we are using 99 kobo to service debt. "Conversation around our debt should be more geared towards how we are channeling the debt we are borrowing in terms of efficiency and proper allocation. The danger here is we are not sufficiently channeling what we are borrowing on productive capacity and infrastructure, instead we borrow to finance more of recurrent spending." "The government would continue to borrow to fund the country's budget until there is a substantial cut to the cost of governance." The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari "to cut the N26 billion presidency budget for the construction of the presidential wing at the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, 'sitting allowance', and 'welfare package', and to use some of the savings to address the growing level of deficit, as well as improve public healthcare facilities across the country." SERAP also urged him "to send to the National Assembly a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the reduced proposed spending on the construction of the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, and 'welfare package', for its approval." In the letter dated 9 October 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: "Many Nigerians will find it quite odd, unfair and unjust that the government is spending so much money on many of these items in the middle of a public borrowing crisis. The proposed spending could be better allocated to improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services." SERAP said: "The government would continue to borrow to fund the country's budget until there is a substantial cut to the cost of governance. The government should stop spending so much money on these items. Persistent borrowing is neither sustainable nor fair to the Nigerian people." According to SERAP: "Your government has a responsibility to ensure the interest of the well-being and prosperity of Nigeria and its citizens. The growing budget deficit and debt problems threaten Nigerians' access to essential public goods and services, and will hurt future generations if not urgently addressed." The letter, read in part: "SERAP also urges you to publish details of spending on construction and repairs of the presidential wing at the medical center and office furniture and fittings since May 29, 2015." "The proposed spending figures highlight the lack of political will to cut the cost of governance, starting from the presidency. This spending is unsustainable, and would take away critical funding to provide access to quality healthcare and education." "This would leave the poorest and most vulnerable people without access to these essential public goods and services, and burden the next generation." "According to our information, for the Office of the President, you recently proposed in the 2022 appropriation bill to spend N24,835,805,231 for the construction of the presidential wing at the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments." "The construction of the presidential wing will cost N21,974,763,310. N2,309,066,788 is proposed to be spent on general travel and transport while N301,138,860 will be spent on food stuff and catering materials supplies. N250,836,273 is proposed to be spent on refreshments, meals, honorarium, sitting allowance, publicity and advertisements." "For the Office of the Vice-President, N1,136,717,757 is proposed for local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, purchase of office furniture and fittings, and other expenses. The details are: N778,261,411 is proposed to be spent on general travel and transport." "N168,210,826 is proposed for office stationeries/computer, consumables, printing of documents, uniforms and other clothing, food stuff and catering materials supplies. N2,350,626 is proposed for cooking gas and fuel cost." "N99,795,229 is proposed to be spent on refreshments, meals, honorarium, sitting allowance, publicity and advertisements. N31,909,380 is proposed for computer software acquisition while N30,817,085 is proposed for the purchase of motor vehicles. N25,373,200 is proposed for the purchase of office furniture and fittings." "We would therefore be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our requests." "SERAP is concerned that the huge spending is neither necessary nor in the public interest, especially in the face of the country's dire economic position, the scant allocations to education and health, and the growing level of borrowing by your government to fund the 2022 budget." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Business Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Spending limited public funds on the construction of the presidential wing at the state house medical center, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments, honorarium and sitting allowance, and welfare packages at a time the government is borrowing to fund the budget would undermine your government's constitutional and fiduciary duties to ensure a responsible budget spending. "The country's fiscal situation must be changed - and changed quickly - through some combination of cuts in the areas highlighted above. Cutting waste and apparently unnecessary spending would go a long way in addressing the budget deficit and debt problems." "The recommended measures would also ensure that your government is spending the country's maximum available resources to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights to basic needs of the poor and marginalized groups." HEDA says prosecution would conflict with FG's position in London, Milan courts. Nigeria's leading anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre), has formally written to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over the case file of its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, for alleged cyberstalking. HEDA, in the letter to Mr Malami, which was also copied for the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said any approval by the minister of prosecution of Mr Suraju on the grounds that his alleged statements were untrue would therefore conflict with evidence submitted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) in London and Milan. The letter from HEDA signed by its Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, added that this would have considerable implications for both the JPMC case and the current appeal by the FRN in Milan against the judgment to acquit the defendants in the OPL 245 case. Former Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke, one of those accused of fraud in the OPL 245 scam, also referred to as Malabu scandal, had petitioned the police, accusing Mr Suraju and HEDA of circulating fabricated evidence against him to unduly incriminate him in the multi-million dollars scandal. The subject of Mr Adoke's petition was forgery of an email in which Nigeria as a sovereign State was shortchanged to the tune of $1.1billion (one hundred and one billion US dollars) and HEDA and its international partners have been involved in the advocacy for recovery of this money and prosecution of principal actors behind the heist. However, HEDA and Mr Suraju have denied any wrongdoing in a series of statements issued on the matter, stating that the items he was accused of fabricating featured as exhibits in the Malabu Oil scam trials in Milan, Italy. HEDA's open letter sent to the minister read, "We understand from press reports that the Inspector General of Police has submitted a case file to you for review and possible recommendation for the prosecution of Olanrewaju Suraju for cyberstalking. According to the Premium Times, the file was forwarded to your office on 20 September 2021 by ACP Ibrahim Musa, Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, on behalf of the IGP. "A copy of a report on the case, apparently written by Mr Musa at the request of Mohamed Bello Adoke SAN, has been published in the press. We assume that this was the same report that was forwarded to you. "Mr Musa's letter of 20 September 2021 ["the Musa letter"], as reported in the Premium Times, accuses Mr Suraju of making criminally defamatory statements regarding an email said to have been sent by Mr Mohamed Adoke to JP Morgan Chase in order to facilitate the transfer of funds arising from the OPL 245 deal to Malabu Oil and Gas. Mr Adoke denies sending the email and has claimed it is a forgery. The Musa letter also alleges that Mr Suraju's reporting of the email was a "calculated attempt" to "falsify relationship between [Mr Adoke] and Aliyu Abubakar while their cases are still ongoing in court, thereby misleading the public"." The anti-graft organisation said the decision as to whether or not to prosecute Mr Suraju is for the minister, as Nigeria's chief law officer to decide, taking account of the facts of the case; whether there is an arguable case to answer; the public interest in prosecuting; and the prospect of a successful prosecution. However, it noted that, "Any prosecution for criminal defamation would however necessarily rest on the basis that the statements made by Mr Suraju were untrue. The purpose of this letter is therefore to call your attention to the fact that the statements allegedly made by Mr Suraju are identical to those that have been made by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in its civil cases against JP Morgan Chase in London and its case against Shell, Eni and other defendants in Milan. "In its Re-Re-Amended Particulars of Claim to the High Court in London in the JPMC case, the FRN described the OPL 245 transaction as "corrupt" and "a conspiracy to injure [Nigeria] by unlawful means by depriving the [FRN] of monies for the grant of OPL245 to which it was lawfully and exclusively entitled." This is no different in substance or wording from statements that have been made by Mr Suraju. "The FRN also stated that on 21st June 2011 "Bayo Osolake (as a representative of the Defendant [JPMC]) received an email sent by Attorney General Adoke from the email address 'agroupproperties@yahoo.com', attaching copies of each of the Resolution Agreements". Again, this is precisely the same language and content used by Mr Suraju to report on the 21 June 2011 email. "In the Milan case, where the FRN submitted the email in question as evidence in its final summing up arguments to the Court on 10 February 2021, the FRN stated: "The closeness of Abubakar and Adoke at the time of the OPL 245 affair has, lastly, been definitively confirmed by the email acquired during the hearing of 3.2.2021, with which copies of the three RA signed - by Adoke Bello - were sent from an email address of A Group Properties to JP Morgan." Mr Suraju has simply reported this statement of fact by the FRN. "The FRN further stated to the Milan Court: "Basically, the behaviour of the AG during the negotiations, at the meeting of 15.11.2010 during which the price and corrupt agreement is defined, the indifference regarding the contractual clauses and his sole interest in the price that was due Malabu, his intervention with the President to silence the NNPC objections (which are in fact silenced), the closeness to Etete and Abubakar during the period in question, the relationship of "closeness" with the oil companies, can only and solely be read together with the abnormal property operation with Abubakar and the abnormal perception of cash." For the umpteenth time, HEDA said, "Yet again, the statements allegedly made by Mr Suraju regarding the relationship between Adoke and Abubakar were mere reporting the facts as stated by the FRN in open court. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "We would also note that Mr Adoke himself has acknowledged his relationship with Abubakar in his book Burden of Service (relevant pages attached) and that, in its judgment, the Milan court described the "agroupproperties@yahoo.com" email as confirmation of "the relationship between Minister Adoke and the companies of Alhaj Abubakar Aliyu " - a relationship which is described by the judges as proof of "a mixture of economic interests that is serious circumstantial evidence of receipt of benefits from Malabu's payments". "Although Adoke has vigorously denied receiving any payments from the OPL 245 deal, we note that the Milan court ruled as a fact that he "is the only one of the three public officials indicated in the indictment as necessary parties to the corrupt agreement to have received a benefit directly deriving from funds from the OPL 245 operation ". "The Milan judges state that Adoke received some $2 million from the deal. The money originated from Aliyu Abubakar and was paid into Adoke's account through numerous cash payments from Bureaux de Change . "We assume that you are in possession or have seen the FRN's Re-Re-Ammended Statement of Claim to the High Court in London and the final pleadings of the FRN in the Milan case. Since the lawyers were acting on your fiat, we also assume that the statements in both documents reflect the FRN's position. "For Mr Suraju to be prosecuted for reporting statements made in open court by the federal republic of Nigeria is an assault on the fundamental principle of open justice." Although a minority in Cameroon, the anglophone community, which makes up 20 percent of the west African country's population, is emerging as a force in the film industry. Now dubbed Collywood, four films have already been selected by Netflix, the movie streaming platform giant. "It was a long fight to actually get Amazon to accept Cameroonian films, based on the fact that Cameroon is highly 'Francophonised'," says Agbor Gilbert Ebot, a film producer based in Buea. Gilbert says that the laws that protect audiovisual rights in Cameroon are written to safeguard Francophone films and structures. He told Africa Calling podcast correspondent Cynthia Ngwenyoh, that to get attention he had to take the facts to Netflix in Los Angeles. Those facts are impressive; there are at least four million Cameroonians in the US, and more than three million Cameroonians in Europe. "There is also more than three million Cameroonians in Africa who can access Netflix, so why don't you give us a try," he says from his office in the Anglophone southwest region. Recently Netflix has decided to do just that. Anglophone Cameroon's pride One of Anglophone Cameroon's leading men, actor Epule Jeffrey agrees that it's a big win for Cameroon. He says the Netflix contract has done more than just shown their worth to the foreign market, but also to their fellow citizens, many of whom had little faith in the domestic film indsutry. This week, @Africa__Calling #podcast gets the scoop on #Cameroon's #Anglophone #movie industry, COLLYWOOD. Here's reporter @CNgwemoh interviewing film producer @AgborGilbertAGE. check out her story here: https://t.co/8z3E7WPgIX #Cameroun pic.twitter.com/SBeXSvjVz9 - Africa Calling (@Africa__Calling) October 1, 2021 "For us to be able to get Cameroonian films on that platform has a multiplier effect for the film business," says Jeffrey. "We are actually beginning to show Cameroonians that it is very good and viable to invest in film business," he adds. Positive international attention, especially beyond Africa, is a characteristic of the anglophone film sector, while French-language Cameroonian movies have a biggeraudience in Francophone cities like Douala where they are shown in cinemas. Francophone disorganization Cameroon cinemas are willing to promote and show local Francophone movies, but they are usually too expensive for most theater-goers, according to Pierre Junior Ebollo, manager of Eden Cinema, one of the most popular movie theatres in Douala, the economic capital of the country. Cameroonian cinemas charge audiences the price that distributors set. "They need to understand that it is not putting the price at 10, 15 and 20 thousand francs (15-30 euros) that would will make people respect their work," says Ebollo. "We have films with even higher paid actors and we play them for 1,500 francs (2.25 euros). So why do they think it is okay to put their films at such prices and sell to few people in a movie hall of 800 or 900 seats? It's not okay!" he adds. The film distributors who control the market have poor distribution policies, which limits Eden Cinema to playing just two Cameroonian films a month, says Ebollo. He believes it also discourages domestic consumption of homemade films. "I play Cameroonian films once they are made available to me, but the frequency depends on the availability, "explains Ebollo. "For instance, I signed a contract with a distribution company, where I am supposed to play between one and two films a week, but today, I have had only five. I have requested more, but to no avail," he adds. Disorganization is part of the problem. He says the limited availability of Cameroonian films at his theatre is because his distributors fail to supply the films at the expected frequency. Growing competitiveness Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Cameroon Entertainment By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. With the industry's move to online platforms like Amazon and Netflix, notably for anglophone productions, it has become more available and competitive than ever before, says actor Jeffrey, the lead in the movie "Breach of Trust". "We have the disadvantage of not being able to produce as many films as Nollywood or the South African film industries. But with time and especially with things like this, people would begin to trust and it's easier for us to convince investors," he adds. However, film producer Gilbert says the sky's the limit and he, as well as his fellow movie makers, wish to see the industry grow even more. "Our target does not limit us to Amazon, our target does not limit us to Netflix, our target does not limit us to all these great platforms. Our target is to actually get our films on Broadways, get our films on Blockbusters and get our films to actually win Oscars--why not!" he says. The approval allows for open cultivation in the country. The government of Nigeria has granted environmental approval for evaluation and open cultivation of TELA Maize, a new maize variety developed by researchers at the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, that resists fall armyworm, stem borers, and tolerate moderate drought. The government's decision was contained in a certificate issued to IAR by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), the federal government agency mandated to regulate genetically modified products in the country. The Certificate dated October 8, 2021, with permit code no. NBMA/CM/003, was issued to IAR for General\Commercial Release of TELA Maize Genetically Modified for Drought Tolerance, Resistance to Stem Borer and Fall Armyworm. It comes into effect from October 8, 2021, to October 5, 2024. A decision document accompanying the certificate from NBMA said that in arriving at the decision to grant the permit, the agency took into consideration the advice of the National Biosafety Committee, the National Biosafety Technical Sub-Committee, and the risk management report provided by the applicant. "The Agency was convinced that there are no known adverse impacts to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking into account risk to human health. The permit, pursuant to this decision, is without prejudice to other extant legal requirements. "This permit authorises the permit holder and persons covered by the permit to commercialise the TELA Maize genetically modified for drought tolerance and insect resistance," the decision document from the NBMA stated. Reacting to the decision, Professor Ishiyaku Mohammed, Executive Director, IAR, said It is really inspiring for IAR to secure NBMA approval for the commercial release of the drought-tolerant and insect-resistant Maize (TELA MAIZE). "This goes to further highlight IAR's capacity and commitment to providing effective solutions to agricultural problems facing our farmers and optimizing food security for Nigerians. The approval will open the way to combating the devastating effects of both drought and insect pests through the deployment of this new variety of maize into our farming system. "The next step is to further evaluate the performance of this new variety by farmers on their fields in all the major maize growing belts in Nigeria. Thereafter we shall seek another approval by the National variety release committee before making the seeds commercially available for farmers to plant in the 2023 cropping season. Canisius Kanangire, AATF Executive Director, said the approval has shown that Nigeria is really the giant leading the way in Africa and ensuring that smallholder farmers benefit from life-changing technologies that have transformed farming in other parts of the globe. "The approval by the government of Nigeria is a sign that we are making good progress especially in our quest to expand the options for smallholder farmers on the continent to profit from their labour by using affordable technologies that enhance productivity and reduce incidents of insect pests' infestation. "TELA Maize is coming at a time when farmers are spending so much to reduce insect and pest attacks as well as battling with the issue of drought. With TELA Maize, farmers in Nigeria will have relief from frequent constant chemical sprays which affect their health. The saving from chemical use can be converted to address other family needs," Mr. Kanangire added. Sylvester Oikeh, AATF TELA Maize Project Manager, said this is the beginning of a new era for maize farmers in Nigeria who have suffered greatly from the twin problem of drought and devastating insect pests occasioned by climate change. The resources and time spent in protecting maize against insect pests will be used for other operations. The maize produced will provide healthier grains for farmers and consumers alike. Rabiu Adamu, the TELA Maize Principal Investigator, said with the deregulation, the institute is now permitted to conduct multilocation trials to evaluate the yield and adaptability of the TELA hybrids across the different agro-ecologies in Nigeria. "The highest yielding hybrids exhibiting tolerance to drought and resistance to stem borer and fall armyworm will be released to farmers for cultivation. We hope to register some of the outstanding hybrids to commercialize through Nigerian seed companies for farmers to grow in the 2023 rainy season. Prof. Adamu added that: "The deregulation will fast-track our work to achieve the mission of the project to avail farmers with transgenic maize to solve the challenges of drought, stem borer, and fall armyworm. TELA Maize Project in Nigeria is part of an international Consortium coordinated by AATF, involving Bayer, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the National Agricultural Research Systems of seven countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda since 2018. The Project builds on gains from a decade of excellent breeding work to develop conventional climate-smart drought-tolerant maize known as DroughtTEGO varieties. About AATF Founded in 2003 to address Africa's food security prospects through agricultural technology, AATF believes that the agricultural sector is a key foundational pillar as Africa consolidates its economic growth and carves out its new position as a major global economic powerhouse and the next growth market in the world. It was formed in response to the need for an effective mechanism that would facilitate and support negotiation for technology access and delivery and formation of appropriate partnerships to manage the development & deployment of innovative technologies for use by smallholder farmers in SSA: Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance Science By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. About IAR The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru was established in 1922 as the research division of the Department of Agriculture for the defunct Northern region of Nigeria. IAR was formally transferred by law to the later established Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) on October 14,1962. It is the Institute in Nigeria with the mandate for genetic improvement of crops such as Maize, Sorghum Cowpea, Castor, Cotton, Jatropha, Sunflower, Artemisia and Groundnut and overall farming systems of all crops in Nigeria. For more information and photos contact: Alex Abutu, Communications Officer, West and Central Africa, AATF. a.abutu@aatf-africa.org +234 8068701960 Yakubu Dodo Information Officer, IAR/ABU, Zaria +234 8023739174. The victims comprise an operative of the State Security Service (SSS) and 40 civilians. The general insecurity in Nigeria still persisted last week as at least 41 persons were killed in various attacks by non-state actors across the country. The victims included one personnel of the State Security Service (SSS) and 40 civilians. The figure, collated manually from media reports, does not contain unreported cases. The figure also represents a decline in the killings in the country by over 50 per cent, compared to the previous week where 123 persons were killed. It also signifies a decline in casualties on the part of security agencies. Four security personnel were killed the previous week. Most of the killings for the week in view were carried out by bandits in the North-west while one case was suspected to be carried out by IPOB separatists. Below are the cases compiled from media reports last week: Zamfara No fewer than 18 people including men, women and children were killed by a suspected group of armed bandits in a fresh attack at Kurya Madaro Town of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area in Zamfara State. A resident of the area, Mohammed Kurya, who narrowly escaped from the attack, said in an interview in Gusau on Wednesday that the bandits stormed the town around 11:30 p.m on Tuesday. He added that the bandits included men and women who rode camels and horses with dangerous weapons. Katsina Armed bandits on Tuesday morning killed 10 people and injured several others in an attack during which they also burnt shops and houses in Yasore community in Katsina State, residents told PREMIUM TIMES. A resident of the area, Harisu Hamza, said the attackers came on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically. Sokoto Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Yan Sakai, a vigilante group in Sokoto State, killed 11 persons, including an Imam, at Mamande village in Gwadabawa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The report gathered that the victims died on the spot while four persons who sustained gunshot injuries were taken to a hospital by an official of the local government council for treatment. Imo An operative of the SSS identified as Prince Nwachinaemere Ozuzu was killed while on official duty in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The details of how he died are still sketchy but it was gathered that the operative was deployed for an assignment in Anambra State, shortly after the SSS office in Nnewi was razed. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He was, however, murdered while he was returning to his duty post. Security Expert reacts A security expert, Davidson Akhimen, while responding to questions on how the government should tackle bandits and why killings are dominant in the North-west region, said it is so because the bandits are frustrated. He added that the killings are done to get back at the government because the telecommunications shut down has affected the operation of the bandits. "I think the government is already working in the right direction especially by disconnecting the digital connection that allows bandits and kidnappers to communicate with the relations of their victims. "So it puts them in disarray and they will not be able to communicate between themselves and coordinate their activities, I think that is a very big step that the government has taken and as a result they have been recording successes. "The killings you are seeing now is as a result of fury on the part of the bandits, seeing that the government has already gotten a hand on the matter so annoyance, fury is what is leading them to kill their victims. But this is going to be short lived as government forces are pressing harder towards achieving total victory," he said. Vigilantes and bandits attacked targetted groups in local markets At least 32 persons were reported killed in two attacks on Wednesday and Friday in Gwadabawa and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas of Sokoto State. Residents of the areas gave the number of the people killed in the attacks while the state government confirmed the attacks but did not speak on the causalities figure. Residents said the tragic chain of events began on Wednesday when members of a banned vigilante group killed at least 12 Fulani people at the Mamande Market in Gwadabawa council area. Following the incident, suspected armed bandits on Friday launched a reprisal attack at 'Ungwan Mai Lalle' market in Sabon Birni local government area, killing more than 20 persons and leaving many others injured. The state government had suspended markets in the affected council areas as part of measures to check the activities of bandits. The police spokesperson in Sokoto, Sanusi Abubukar, did not return PREMIUM TIMES' several phone calls to comment on the development. But the state's commissioner for Security Matters, Garba Moyi, blamed the attacks on defiance of the ban on local markets in the area. Mr Moyi said all rural markets in the eastern part of the state were banned as part of measures to curtail banditry. "Some communities are not complying with this temporary measure despite the fact that it is for their own good," he lamented. He said a task force comprising security agents, local government chairman and representatives of district heads are enforcing the ban in each of the affected local government areas. "We will find out why they are not enforcing this order in their respective areas," Mr Moyi, a retired military officer, said. The strike, which would have kicked off on Monday, was shelved because of the intervention by the Federal Government. The National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Sunday said the planned strike by its affiliate members, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), has been suspended. The strike, which would have kicked off on Monday, was shelved because of the intervention by the Federal Government. Tayo Aboyeji, the South-West zonal chairman of NUPENG, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. According to Mr Aboyeji, the suspension is to allow union's representatives and that of government to address the knotty issues at stake. "The leadership of the union after a brief meeting with representatives of government decided to suspend the strike in the interest of the nation. "The meeting with the government continues during the week with the assurance that the union grievances will be positively addressed," he said. NAN reports that NUPENG has said on Saturday that the tanker drivers would commence strike on Monday over the deplorable state of the nation's highways and other issues. Mr Aboyeji said the union has lost many lives and property due to bad roads. "This is not the first time that we will signify our intention to go on strike but we have to call it off because it will generally affect majority of Nigerians but now our hands are tied," he said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Petroleum By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. NAN also reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Sunday appealed to the drivers to immediately shelve their planned strike in order not to further hurt the economy and Nigerians in general. Garba Deen, the NNPC spokesman , made the appeal in a statement in Abuja. "While it is not the responsibility of the NNPC to build or rehabilitate roads, the national oil company reckons that any disruption in the distribution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria will adversely affect the business of the NNPC. "It will also endanger energy security, which the country has enjoyed in recent times. "In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the petroleum tanker drivers that in addition to the ongoing efforts by other agencies of government, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the road network challenges as expressed by the PTD,' he stated. "We urge PTD to immediately call off the (planned) strike and give the current efforts by the government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all. "We also wish to strongly advise Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive season and beyond,' he said. (NAN) Civil society organizations are calling for fathers in Rwanda to have more paternity leave. But some say men's attitudes to childcare and housework need to change first. Compared to elsewhere in Africa, Rwanda has relatively generous maternity benefits. Women who are formally employed are entitled to full pay for 12 weeks after giving birth and if they have delivery complications, they can take an additional month off. Now a coalition of civil society organizations is pushing to extend paid parental leave to Rwanda's men, who currently only get four days off after the birth of a child. The Rwanda Civil Society Platform is calling for a minimum of six weeks paid paternity leave, saying that it's necessary to help narrow the gender gap in Rwanda, where women earn around half of what men do. 'Kids need both parents' The Rwandan feminist organization Spectra supports the call. "Child care is not only breast feeding or healing needed by the person that has given birth," said Spectra founder Chantal Umuhoza. "The objective is not necessarily the new mother alone but making sure that the baby is well looked after, and using other forms of care that the father can provide," she told DW. Jimford Murenzi is one Rwandan father who would take paternity leave if it were available. "Children, at whatever age they are, need both their parents," he told DW, explaining that after the birth of his son, he and his wife alternated looking after him. "Four days with me and four days with her because leaving it all to her would have been very unfair," Murenzi told DW. 'Doing it alone' But others in Rwanda aren't so convinced. Rahma Ingabire became a mother three months ago. She says that her husband of 12 years has taken a hands-off approach to fatherhood even though he has the time to help. "I gave birth to our child but the only thing that my man did was bring things, like diapers and food," she told DW. "But I would wash clothes, clean the house, change the baby's diaper and spend all those sleepless nights doing it alone when he was there," she said, adding that she doesn't believe her husband would do more just because he had paternity leave. Traditional roles Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Women By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Rwanda has as many girls enrolled in primary and secondary education as boys and a parliament which boasts the highest rate of females in the world. It also ranks seventh in the world for closing its gender gap, not far behind countries famous for their gender equality, such as Iceland, Finland and Norway. But Rwanda falls back on traditional gender roles when it comes to childcare and housework. Women in rural regions, for example, spend up to 7 hours a day on unpaid care work while men do around 1-3 hours a day, according to a 2019 study by Action Aid Rwanda. A earlier survey by the Rwanda Men's Resource Center found that 45% of men thought tasks such as changing diapers and giving kids baths were a mother's responsibility and 70% agreed with the statement that a women's most important role was taking care of her home. Changing mindsets "We need a policy where men can also be involved in unpaid care work. There is still a mindset problem and we need to change that," the founder of Rwanda Men's Resource Center, Fidele Rutayisire, told DW. Asked if it supported the idea of longer paternity leave, Rwanda's Ministry for Gender and Family Promotion said it wanted to work on changing men's mindsets around domestic duties first. "We need men on board," Assumpta Ingabire, the Gender Ministry's Permanent Secretary, told Rwanda's New Times newspaper last month. "When men fully embrace the idea of sharing domestic unpaid care work, we can go back to the drawing board. It [paid paternity leave] is not impossible but we have to first change their attitude towards this work," she said. analysis With access to markets and capital negatively impacted by the pandemic, people have found ways to cushion the damage. In Blantyre, everyone in the food business knows Limbe market. On one side, there are benches and traders selling rice, maize, beans, and other farm produce. On the other, there is a line of people selling meat. Farmers from rural areas across the country send their produce here. Malawians travel from other townships to the market: families buying for personal use, middlemen, traders buying to resell. And then the COVID19 pandemic happened. The government placed restrictions on movement, disrupting agribusiness in Limbe and across Malawi. Farmers couldn't sell their crops. Traders couldn't buy. Rose Chisowa is a 39-year old agro-entrepreneur who grows tomatoes and rice and raises pigs and chickens on a two-hectare plot near the capital Lilongwe. The pandemic forced her to do things differently at a steeper cost and required her to take out a loan. "It's been hard to get orders... since the consumers could not go to the public markets or chain stores in fear of contracting the virus. This has made us suffer the costs of advertising through different media platforms and hiring a van for door-to-door deliveries which is very expensive," she says. The cost of doing business has gone up in other ways. Yunike Phiri, a small-scale farmer, said the prices of farm inputs such as pesticides and seeds went up due to the lockdown as labour was also disrupted. "There was also loss of manpower as most of our workers were either affected or infected. We were lucky not to have recorded any deaths unlike other farmers," says Phiri. Riding out the waves Amid the lockdowns, actors including the government, civil society, and farmers themselves have tried to find ways for farmers to continue to operate effectively. Rosalia Kaundama, 38, is the Traditional Chief Lukwa in Kasungu. She is one of a dozen farmers who, before the pandemic, had formed a cooperative and gained access to warehouses. This arrangement allowed the group to sell their crops at higher prices in the market and softened the economic blow when the pandemic struck. "Farmers have aggregated their produce," explains Lingalireni Mihowa, country director of Oxfam Malawi, which has provided support to Kaundama's cooperative. "This has also helped farmers to save on transportation costs which had gone up when Covid was at its peak... The warehouses have... helped the farmers we work with maximise their profits, contrary to what a majority of the farmers are facing." Kaundama says the cooperative's access to the market is still limited, but she hopes Covid vaccines will help. The group has decided that every member should get the jab. If everyone in the village could get the vaccine, she says, markets might return to normal. Other cooperatives in the area have followed suit and Kaundama hopes the group will set an example in a country where vaccine hesitancy has increased following reports of out-of-date doses, fears over blood clots, and misinformation. Other civil society organisations have tried to support Malawi's farmers with financial management advice. "Most [farmers] have gone into debts and they can't cover up to now," says Bernet Lwara, project officer at the Small Scale Livestock and Livelihoods Programme (SSLLP). "In terms of the market solutions, we advised them to buy only the quantity that they can sell. I think Covid-19 is here to stay and farmers need to appreciate that fact." On the government side, Malawi's agriculture ministry has rolled out an information-sharing system through which farmers can get in touch with agricultural extension workers through the internet or push messages, instead of in-person meetings. Extension workers' primary role is to help farmers and companies make better decisions to increase agricultural production. This supply line of information helps keep farmers in the know while keeping them safe from being infected. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Coronavirus Malawi Food and Agriculture By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The government has also tried to make it possible for farmers to observe auctions despite social distancing rules so they can ensure their goods are sold at a fair price. "In some marketing areas like at Auction Floors where farmers sell their tobacco, we made an arrangement that allowed farmers still witness the selling of their tobacco," says Gracian Lungu, a ministry spokesman. The pandemic has negatively disrupted the supply chain and capital for farmers like Kaundama and Phiri, but a range of solutions have helped cushion the impact. This article is part of On Food Security & COVID-19, a special series in partnership with OXFAM. Charles Pensulo is a Malawian freelance journalist. Harare, Zimbabwe More than a month ago, she lost her parents, brother, and wife, to the coronavirus. Then her fiance battled COVID-19, but 27-year-old Melinda Gavi said she had not contracted the disease. Gavi joined crowds scrambling to get vaccinated at Parirenyatwa hospital in the Zimbabwean capital Harare even though she was previously sceptical about getting vaccinated against the dreaded disease. Her parents, brother, and wife were equally sceptical of the COVID-19 vaccines before they were visited by the disease, which eventually claimed their lives. In a country of about 15 million people, nearly 5.5 million have had at least had one dose of the vaccine the Reuters COVID-19 tracker, which assuming that each person needs two doses, represents 18.8% of the population. The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed in October that Zimbabwe had received 943 200 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the global COVAX Facility in September and October for its ongoing vaccination campaign. IPS has been following the rollout of the vaccines in various centres over the past few months, recording people's personal experiences in the queues. Gavi says it has taken her days to get vaccinated. "This is my third day coming here at Parirenyatwa to try and get vaccinated," Gavi told IPS as she stood in a long and meandering queue at Zimbabwe's biggest hospital. About 200 people gathered at the back of the hospital, some looking tired as they lingered in the queue. Some sat on the pavements and or flower beds, waiting for their turn to get vaccinated in the slow-moving queue. "We have limited vaccines, and often on a day we are vaccinating just 80 people and everybody else often just goes back home without getting vaccinated," a nurse who refused to be named as she was unauthorised to speak to the media, told IPS. In February this year, Zimbabwe began vaccinating its citizens against coronavirus after receiving a donation of 200 000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine. But when the vaccine first arrived, it was met with growing scepticism from social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook, which fuelled the vaccine hesitancy. This is no longer the case. Now healthcare workers have to battle hordes of people scrambling for the vaccine. "With time, as more and more people got vaccinated without severe safety fears, the public became more assured, and demand for vaccines gradually started to rise," said epidemiologist Dr Grant Murewanhema in Harare. In Bulawayo, on July 8, in the presence of IPS, at the United Bulawayo Hospital, a nurse moved along the queue of people waiting to get vaccinated, counting up to 60 recipients. She told the rest to return the next day. She told them she only had enough vaccines for 60 people. At number 60 was 47-year-old Jimmy Dzingai, who said he was a truck driver. "Oh, better, at least I am going to get vaccinated," said Dzingai then as he heaved a sigh of relief, folding his hands across his chest. Meanwhile, as they were told to leave, others did so but grumbled as they filed outside the hospital, some waving their face masks in anger, shouting at hospital authorities for turning them away. "This is not the first time I am coming here to try and get vaccinated. I have been here four times, and this is my fifth day starting mid-June - only to get excuses," 54-year-old Limukani Dlela, a man who said he lived in Matsheumhlope, a low-density suburb in Bulawayo, told IPS saying that at times the excuse was that there not enough vaccines available and at other times there were a limited number of vaccines. Corruption and nepotism have characterised this Southern African country's bitter war against COVID-19, and many people like Dzingai, the truck driver, have not been spared by the rot. As Dzingai stood at the end of the queue, four middle-aged women strode past him and all others, going straight to the head of the queue and quickly got vaccinated and left. According to one of the nurses who manned the queue, "the four were staff members and couldn't wait in the queue like everybody else." The nurse said this even though the four women, after receiving doses, immediately left the premises just like any other ordinary person. "I was talking to my bosses right now, and my truck has been loaded for me to take the delivery to Zambia. I have told my bosses I was getting my vaccine. Instead, you are telling me I'm not going to be vaccinated. You should get water to inject me and give me the vaccine certificate. I will not leave this place without the vaccine," swore the truck driver. But the nurse would have none of it. "You won't be vaccinated today. That won't happen, unfortunately," she said. Dzingai vowed to stay put at the hospital until he was vaccinated, but because the four women who jumped the queue and got vaccinated before him, it meant he (Dzingai) and three others who had waited at the end of the queue had to leave without the jab. With many Zimbabweans like Dzingai now eager to get vaccinated, the government has so far authorised the use of China's Sinovac and Sinopharm, Russia's Sputnik V, and India's Covaxin and the U.S. Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Zimbabwe Coronavirus By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. It has not, however, been easy for people to get the doses. Now bribery has become the order of the day at Zimbabwe's hospitals like Sally Mugabe Referral hospital in the capital Harare. Lydia Gono (24), from Southertorn middle-income suburb in Harare, said she had to 'switch to her purse', which is local parlance for a bribe, to get quickly vaccinated at Sally Mugabe hospital, the closest medical facility to her home. "I spent close to a week trying to get vaccinated here without success, but today I just rolled a US 10 dollar note in my hand and shook the hand of a nurse who manned the queue, leaving the note in her hand. I was taken to the front and vaccinated without any delay," Gono told IPS. Tired of the corruption and nepotism and the delaying tactics characterising the vaccination process at public healthcare centres, many middle-income earners like 35-year-old Daiton Sununguro have opted for the private medical centres to get their vaccines parting with US 40 dollars for a single dose. "Paying is better than having to wait for many hours before getting the vaccine at public healthcare facilities. I will still come back and pay the other US 40 dollars for my second dose," Sununguro told IPS at a posh private medical facility in Harare's Mount Pleasant low-density suburb. analysis Chad's interim parliament, built to prepare Chad for civilian rule, has finally been announced after a five-month wait. But is the National Transition Council merely window dressing for the military junta? Earlier this week, Chad officially swore in its interim parliament, the so-called National Transition Council (CNT). Chad's military junta --which emerged after the death of longtime ruler Idriss Deby Itno -- named the 93-member assembly. The CNT effectively replaces the former national assembly which existed under Deby's regime. For now, Chad is ruled by a military junta. Deby, who was killed under unclear circumstances in April during military battles with the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebel group, was succeeded by his 39-year-old son Mahamat Deby, a general in the Chadian army. Created to prepare Chad for civilian rule At first glance, there are members making up the CNT that are relatively unknown in Chadian politics, while some have standing. Among the known figures are former president of the national assembly and current speaker, Haroun Kabadi, and former prime minister, Kassire Coumakoye. Figures known to have opposed ex-leader Idriss Deby include Ngarledji Yorongar and Felix Romadoumngar. For his part, Ramoumngar was reassured, telling DW: "The CNT will have independence. Because when it comes to voting on texts, no one will come with arms and chains to ask us to vote on this or that text. We are not going to vote on a Constitution that will simply be applied in the National Transitional Council." Former deputy, Beral Mbaikoubou, said the CNT's work would be more transparent, and would prepare Chad for a return to civilian rule. "The strength of our institutions has been undermined for several years because the powers were all concentrated in the hands of a single individual [late ruler Idriss Deby]. Therefore, all these texts must be groomed and especially the fundamental law, the Constitution of the Republic, must be rewritten," he told DW. Problematic CNT makeup However, critics have pointed out that it took the regime five months to name the interim parliament, for a mandate of 18 months. In the meantime, there has been no sign of movement on the "national dialogue". "The delay in setting up the CNT will have an impact on the declared timetable. It will be impossible to meet the 18-month deadline," said Chadian political analyst, Ousmane Houzibe. Criticism has also been launched at the makeup of the CNT itself: it consists of at least 30% from the old National Assembly, 30% women and 30% young people. But no one from the opposition alliance, Wakit Tama, which campaigns for a return to civilian rule, has been included in the CNT. "The CNT is an echo chamber. There won't be any change," said Yaya Dillo, a veteran Socialist activist. "It will be no different from the old National Assembly, and that skews the much-expected dialogue," said Max Loalngar, Wakit Tama's spokesman and head of the Chadian League of Human Rights. Dr. Helga Dickow from the Germany-based Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institut, a specialist on Chad, explained: "The question is will some of the members who are in there, will they really stay in the parliament? At the moment, we have haven't got a clue if this parliament has got any influence at all." 'Toothless tigers?' General Mahamat Deby, who has the backing of former colonial power France, has not ruled out an extension of military rule if conditions for restoring civilian rule are not met. Even while under civilian rule, Chad's previous regime under the Idriss Deby has been described as authoritarian and intolerant of dissent. Skirmishes and armed fights between forces loyal to Deby and FACT fighters threatened to throw Chad into turmoil earlier this year. But the Wakit Tama group wants a swift return to a civilian- led government. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Chad Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Some quite heavyweight members of Wakit Tama said they would join the CNT [if invited]," Dickow added, pointing out that former opposition party members are involved, including outspoken ones. But Dickow fears their presence there is merely something the junta can show off with to the international observers. "I would say they are toothless tigers in the new government," Dickow explained. Chad's military has been a vital component of the G5 Sahel coalition built to fight Islamist terrorism in the Sahel. And while Dickow believes neighboring states like Niger and Nigeria are not interested in seeing Chad collapse, the younger Deby still must build up relations with neighboring and regional leaders, despite being groomed for this role by his father. "It certainly is a weaker regime, because the younger Deby now hasn't got all the power and international relations his father had," she said. Mr Ribadu said this on Sunday in Abuja, while reacting to reports in the social media that he accused some top government functionaries of sponsoring banditry in the country. Nuhu Ribadu, a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commits (EFCC), has blamed most of the country's challenges on fake news peddled by social media. Mr Ribadu said this on Sunday in Abuja, while reacting to reports in the social media that he accused some top government functionaries of sponsoring banditry in the country. The former EFCC boss, who spoke at a news conference, said it was time for him to clear the air on the issue, which he said had been on for some time. "July 2019 was the first time I came out to know about it, and I came out with a very strong denial, saying that it was a fabrication and had no basis. "It was a piece of rubbish with very bad grammar and factual destruction but indeed very damaging. "I reacted very strongly after that, it didn't stop and I was forced again to issue a statement denying it. "I thought that would have been the end of it, but not long afterwards, it started coming back again and I am worried and concerned," he said. Mr Ribadu said globally, people who were worried and concerned and wanted to fact-check had been getting in touch with him, adding that he had continued to respond to the issue every single day. "I want to again deny in the strongest terms and send a message to everybody to disregard the statements, it is not fair, it is not just. "It is very sinful for you to create something from nowhere and attribute it to an innocent person who doesn't know anything about it, I have nothing to do with that message. "This is my strongest denial, everybody should please disregard the statement: it is not from me, it is not true," Mr Ribadu stressed. Mr Ribadu said he had been inundated by messages from friends and associates who wanted to find out if the tweets on the issue were actually from him. He, however, said he had made a formal complaint to law enforcement agencies for the records, and possibly for them to go after those responsible for the act. Mr Ribadu said it was the responsibility of the state to take action in such situations. "Social media is today, partly responsible for what is going on in our country by trying to promote things that are not true and creating division based on religion and ethnicity among others things. "They are not being fair to us, and I think the government has a duty and a responsibility to take action, nobody else can do it. "As private citizens, we have limited capacity to take action, the government has to," Mr Ribadu said. He said whoever was responsible for accusing him of such lies, was being very unfair and unjust to him and had hurt him a lot. He, therefore, called on owners of social media to do something to protect innocent people from suffering unjustly because of lies told against them on their platforms. He added that a combination of government, established media outfits and social media companies could do something to address the situation. "Social media companies also have a role to play, I don't see any reason why Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will allow such a damaging statement to go out against somebody without stopping it. "Even though I had denied it and so many people in the same situation did, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter still allowed it to be moved around from one platform to the other.," he said. Mr Ribadu said he did ,however. had great regards for the print media and established television stations which he noted had refused to be part of peddling fake news like most social media. According to him, social media is doing a lot of damage to the people and nation. He said that the danger of fake news peddled mostly by social media could not be underestimated, saying that it cost the gynocide in Rwanda, where close to a million people died. The former EFCC boss said the same thing happened in Sereleon and Liberia. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He said that fake news portends very serious danger and could actually harm a country and its people because of it's very dangerous consequences. He said those behind it were doing evil to their people and to their countries, adding that there was no benefit for them. "I am a believer of freedom of expression, a strong and firm believer in the ability of people to be free, but at the same time, be responsible. "If it is going to cause harm to others, then you lose that freedom. "I am a victim, and I don't know why people are doing it, it's as if I am a target of something which I don't know. "But I have really suffered because of it; I have a couple of friends and colleagues who also went through the same thing," he said. Mr Ribadu said it was unfortunate that some persons out of nowhere, would create a lie and innocent people would consume and believe it. He noted that a lot of people acted on fake news which had caused them a lot of danger. (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has called on the Federal and some state governments to pay outstanding arrears of the minimum wage to its members as contained in the Memorandum of Action (MoA). The union also frowned at the delays in the release of the approved N15 billion Revitalisation Fund, non payment of salaries to its members in some state owned institutions, and non commencement of the renegotiation of the 2010 agreement. This is contained in a statement by Mr Abdullahi Yelwa, ASUP's National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Bauchi. Yelwa said that the decisions were reached during the 101st Regular ASUP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State. The statement read in parts: "ASUP equally expressed dismay at recent reports of infractions in the process of appointment of Principal Officers in Federal Polytechnics and some state-owned polytechnics in disregard to the provisions in the extant laws. "The union particularly noted the events at the Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, where the process of appointment of Rectors were flawed, leading to the shortlisting of unqualified persons. "The union notes that the council affairs in Federal Polytechnics, Oko, Offa, Auchi and Kaura Namoda has been relocated to the FCT without due consideration to the cost implication on the institutions, safety of staff and sensitive documents as well as general administration of the affected institutions." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance Education By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Yelwa, however, said that members of the public should hold government responsible in the event of breakdown of industrial harmony, adding that the union and its members had shown considerable patience and restraint. "In view of the unsatisfactory status of implementation of the MoA signed between the union and government in April 2021. "The union once again demand that the government should without further delay ensure the release of the arrears of the Minimum Wage to staff and release the approved Revitalisation Fund for the sector. "Government should set up the implementation committee to administer the fund, recommence the renegotiation of the union's 2010 agreement and withdraw institutional accreditation to state owned institutions where staff are owed salaries. "The union equally urged the government to revisit the appointment processes for principal officers in Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act," it said. According to Yelwa, the union will deepen its consultations on the next action as there will be no further warnings if the government failed to meet its demands. analysis In Burkina Faso, a historic trial is taking shape for the death of iconic leader Thomas Sankara in 1987. But the main defendant and former president, Blaise Compaore, will be absent. Justin Sogbedji looked up in awe at the 5-meter (16.5-foot) statue of Thomas Sankara. Erected last year in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, the impressive monument attracts thousands of visitors every month. Sogbedji can't seem to get enough pictures with Sankara's statue. "Thomas Sankara is a fighter. Ever since my childhood, I liked what he did," said Sogbedji, who moved to Burkina Faso from neighboring Benin three years ago. Now he can visit the statue and memorial to his hero in peace. "He fought so much for Burkina Faso," Sogbedji said. "It's amazing." For days Sankara, who came to power in Burkina Faso -- then called Upper Volta -- after a coup on August 4, 1983, has been a hot topic in Ouagadougou again. On Monday, a historic trial will finally begin to shed light on how he and 12 other military officers were killed on October 15, 1987. Jean-Hubert Bazie, a retired journalist, and the communications officer for the Thomas Sankara Memorial, is also eagerly awaiting the trial. "We hope the truth sees the light of day," he said. Place of execution The truth is tightly bound to the location of the statue, which, together with a tower, should become the centerpiece of a future park covering almost 10,000 square meters (107,000 square feet). Bazie walked along a path towards two houses. One served as the headquarters for the National Revolutionary Council (CNR), which catapulted Sankara to power. Katrin Gansler / Deutsche Welle Jean-Hubert Bazie, communications officer for the Thomas Sankara Memorial in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou. "Look at the one on the left. Thomas Sankara and 12 comrades were executed there," Bazie said. A large portrait and a wreath of plastic flowers commemorate the scene of the execution. On that Thursday, Sankara -- then 38 years old -- met here with members of his Cabinet to discuss the founding of a political party. Suddenly, gunshots rang out outside. As the men tried to escaped the building, they were gunned down. Only one, Alouna Traore, survived. The main defendant in the trial is Blaise Compaore, Sankara's former companion and eventual president of Burkina Faso. Compaore, now 70, remained president until his resignation on October 31, 2014. After leaving office, Compaore went into exile in the Ivory Coast, becoming an Ivorian citizen in 2016. Nobody expects him to attend the trial. His lawyers say he has not been summoned for questioning. As a former head of state, he also enjoys immunity. But Bazie believes Compoare has simply wanted to avoid accountability for Sankara's death for decades. Katrin Gansler / Deutsche Welle "Down with Blaise" recalls the 2014 uprisings against former President Blaise Compaore in Burkina Faso. "Sankara's father always said he's waiting Compaore to pay him a visit and tell him exactly what happened that day," Bazie said. "He's long dead now. But Compaore never made that visit." Benefiting young people In the Ouagadougou suburb of Wayalghin, where the citizens rights movement Balai Citoyen is headquartered, the trial is eagerly anticipated. "It would be better of course if Compaore were here to face the justice system of his country," Eric Ismael Kinda, spokesperson for Balair Citoyen, said of Compaore's absence. "He fled and has no trust in the system he is largely responsible for," Kinda said. That the trial is taking place at all is mostly thanks to Burkinabe civil society, said Canada-based political scientist Aziz Salmone Fall, who coordinates the international Justice for Thomas Sankara campaign. "The younger generation that Sankara never knew overthrew Compaore's regime," he said. Weeks of demonstrations in October 2014 toppled Compaore's rule, and forced him to step down. Under the transitional government of Michel Kafando, Sankara's body was exhumed and the government launched an investigation. Among other things, a military doctor certified that the body was "riddled with bullets." Previously, Sankara was said to have died of "natural causes." Katrin Gansler / Deutsche Welle Eric Ismael Kinda, spokesperson for Burkina Faso citizens rights movement Balair Citoyen. French role Fall does not want to participate in the trial in protest of Compaore's no-show. But he also believes the role of France, Burkina Faso's former colonial power, needs to be fully investigated. Only in 2017 did President Emmanuel Macron declassify all French documents regarding the death of Sankara. "I don't think it was merely a locally conceived plot. It was international. The last revolution on the African continent ended with Sankara's death," said Fall. Sankara is revered for his modesty by admirers. His vision for Burkina Faso included the country's producing its own goods and becoming self-reliant. Sankara was also a thorn in the side for many who did not want to see an independent African state succeed. In Ouagadougou, Sankara is still a hero for young people. "He fought against the forces that undermine society, like corruption, injustice, unemployment, illiteracy, poverty. We know the youth are particularly hit by poverty," Kinda said. No politician in Burkina Faso, or even Africa, has come so close to the heroic aura that Sankara has had domestically since his death. Back at the memorial to Thomas Sankara, Justin Sogbedji thought about the leaders who have followed. "No," he said, "I haven't seen anyone like him yet." The year 2011 was a great year in the Nigerian music industry. This was the year the koko master, D'Banj was much in the spotlight and headlining Don Jazzy's Mo' Hits Records; Tiwa Savage had sauntered into the industry the previous year with her debut hit single, Kele Kele love; Wizkid had been the poster boy of the music industry and showing the huge potential of a young Nigerian musician; Psquare and MI doing their thing. In the midst of the industry and activities in 2011, a rapper from Jos, Ice Prince released his debit album, ELI courtesy of Chocolate City record label which he was signed to and helped crafted his career. Fast forward to 2021, Panshak Zamani, Ice Prince's real name is celebrating a decade of the album that brought him to limelight. According to Joey Akan from Afobeats Intelligence, Ice Prince has spent a decade making rap 'cool' in Africa and redefining what it means to be 'fly' in hip hop. 10 years after his debut album, he's gearing up for another. The likes of Ice Prince among others made us appreciate Nigerian music then which was forging it's own identity of a genre of music appreciated and sought after by the Global music world. Everybody Loves Ice Prince ELI was an album that had three major hit songs namely Oleku, Superstar and Juju. Recall that the Oleku hit had the intro of another talent, Brymo in his hey days with Chocolate City. After ELI, he released his second album, Fire of Zamani in 2013 and Jos to the World in 2016. Ice Prince who remains relevant in the industry and made fame with a retinue of international collaboratioms, now use his own record label Super Cool Cats. Indeed the rapper with 4.1m followers on instagram, can be said to have made hay while the sun shines. The medical director, State House Clinic, Dr Munir Yakasai, has announced that a molecular laboratory for coronavirus test at the clinic will be activated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before the end of the month. He disclosed this at a send-off dinner in honour of the retired immediate past Head of Nursing Department, State House Clinic, Habiba Ahmed, and some outgoing corps members, who served in the clinic. According to a statement by the deputy director, Information, Media & Publicity, at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Medical Director said the laboratory, which increases the number of NCDC approved molecular laboratories in the country, would also handle urological investigations, among others. He commended the Permanent Secretary for prioritising the repositioning of State House Clinic for effective service delivery. "We now have a Special Care centre; the Dental wing which was moribund for over 10 years has been completed and now functional, drugs are available and staff welfare has greatly improved," he said. State House Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, has recommended four members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the Director-General's Community Development Service award. Umar lauded the contributions of the outgoing and serving corps members posted to the State House Clinic in maintaining essential health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the corps members were at the frontline of implementing measures to limit the spread of coronavirus as well as reducing public health risk to workers and visitors to the Presidential Villa. He, therefore, announced that in appreciation of the exemplary work done by some of the corps members, the State House management will officially recommend them for the Director-General's Award. Relishing his experiences as a corps member in 1985/86 in Ilorin, Kwara State, the Permanent Secretary recounted that he had a satisfying experience serving his fatherland. He told the corps members that the one-year NYSC programme shaped his understanding of the nation, its diversity and potential. "I loved the service. My first encounter at the orientation camp which I enjoyed was serving as a member of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) brigade. President Buhari was then the military Head of State. "I was also a member of the quarter guard in camp and I loved everything that we did. We also received N90 bicycle allowance at that time," he said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Coronavirus Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He thanked the outgoing and serving corps members in the State House for serving the nation with respect and dignity. He urged those still serving to always take pride in having the opportunity to serve the nation, contributing positively in their places of primary assignment. The Permanent Secretary later presented gifts to some corps member including Dr Godfrey Okpe, Dr Idris Keji, Chukwueloka Maduegbuna, Abbas Hassan Bala, Casmir Nwachukwu ( Nominee for DG's Award), Samuel Iko Ojo ( Nominee for DG's Award), , Muhammad Ma'aji ( Nominee for DG's Award), and Onwumah Onyelukachukwu ( Nominee for DG's Award) . Also speaking, the immediate past Head of the Nursing department thanked the Permanent Secretary and State House staff for the honour accorded her on retirement. "I feel loved by God and it is a privilege to be honoured by people you have spent a greater part of your life working with. When I meet people in the market and they reach out to me and call me Matron, it gives me pleasure and reminds me that for the rest of my life, I will always want to be a Nurse," she said. Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has declared that the allegation of the federal government pampering bandits and being hard on secessionists such as the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has no basis. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the minister described the allegation as a misconception and fake news rolled into one. He said, "We noticed that of recent, there is this misinformation as regards the way the federal government, especially the military, is handling the issue of banditry and terrorism. Police Arrest, Parade 34 Suspects For Kidnapping, Armed Robbery(Opens in a new browser tab) "There is this misconception that the federal government is softer on the terrorists in the north-east and the bandits from the north-west and the way they handle separatists and other criminals from the south-east and south-west. "I want to say without any hesitation that this is a fallacy. It is a misrepresentation, misinformation and fake news all rolled into one. The truth of the matter is that the federal government does not make a distinction between terrorists and bandits. As far as the federal government is concerned, they are all criminals and they are treated the same way," he said. Mohammed said it was important to set the record straight because "it is a continuation of the destructive rhetoric of some commentators." The minister cautioned that the issue of security must not be politicised because "bandits kill soldiers; they kill policemen and innocent people. So, why will the military be softer on one set of criminals than the other?" Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He said the surrendering of Boko Haram insurgents showed that peace is returning to the war-ravaged region, adding that the military had heightened the "assaults and attacks" against the insurgents which have enabled it to reclaim more territories. "There is no doubt about the fact that the government is winning the war against the terrorists. A few years ago, when we came in 2015 - of the 20 local government areas in Borno, about 13 were under the effective control of Boko Haram. "On December 5, 2015, we travelled to Bama, Konduga, Kaure and Maiduguri. The distance from Maiduguri to Bama is about 78 kilometres, but no single vehicle is on the way. It was like a suicide mission. "The week after we left, a commander was killed on the same route. When we got to Bama, of the over 6,000 houses in Bama, not one was standing. They have all been bombed by Boko Haram. "Today, go to Bama and see for yourselves. And when we went in 2015, you couldn't travel more than a few kilometres outside Maiduguri metropolis," he said. No fewer than 110 drug dealers were arrested in a raid on hideouts in nine states across the country in the past one week. A statement yesterday by the spokesman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, said during the raids by operatives of the agency many of the notorious hideouts of drug dealers were dismantled and assorted illicit substances seized. He said in Lagos, notorious drug joints in Maza Maza, Alakija, Festac town, Amuwo Odofin, Oluti, Isheri roundabout, and Igando were raided on Thursday 7th October, 2021, when at least 16 suspects were arrested. The arrested suspects, according to him, include: Lucky Elibe; Abdullahi Jabir; Amos Kalli; Nweke ThankGod; Tukwosi Arowolu; Odinaka Oramu; Jeremiah Ishaya; Maxwell John; Usman Garba; Christian Okibe; Mba Peter; Sarah Offiri; Wasiu Adeniji; Bode Olaitan; Yetunde Ahmed; and Abdullahi Jibril. He said seven others were also arrested in different locations in Lekki area of the state. They are: Emmanuel Sunday; Buhari Ibrahim; Kudus Taiwa; Samuel Jeremiah; Adebayo Adams; Joshua Madube and Mary Jane Nweke. One Okoropo Mathew was arrested in Obalende area of the state, with four others, Sulaiman Hammadu; Olalekan Abiodun; Lukman Kamarudeen and Toyeeb Isa nabbed in Agege area of Lagos. Babafemi revealed that no fewer than 17 suspects arrested by men of the 149 Battalion (Rear), Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo, were also transfered to the agency for further investigation. Seized from the suspects are different quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Tramadol, Methamphetamine, Diazepam, Cannabis and other psychoactive substances. According to the spokesman, the arrest of a 19-year-old female drug dealer, Mngunengen Achir in Aliade area of Benue State with 5.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis and 112 grammes of Diazepam on Wednesday 6th October took a disturbing twist when other members of her cartel abducted a retired NDLEA personnel from that community who they assumed was still a serving officer, took him to a forest and demanded for the release of the suspect in custody before their victim would be freed. Another raid of the house of a drug kingpin in Ruga area of Mararaba, Karu local government area of Nasarawa State, led to the recovery of 30 bags of cannabis weighing 362.5 kilogrammes, while in Akwa Ibom State, three male suspects were arrested on Wednesday 6th October during a raid of drug joints in Oron area with over 25 kilogrammes of drugs seized. In Ondo, a notorious drug dealer at Ogbani-Oja Okitipupa, Okitipupa local government area, Adedugba Adeyemi, a.k.a Oyinbo, was arrested in his fortified den, where different quantities of Cocaine, Heroin and Skunk were recovered. Seven other suspects were arrested in some drug joints in other parts of the state, including Shasha market, Akure North local government; Asolo camp, Usho, Owo local government, Albert Link Street, Finger Licking hotel and Shittu street, all in Akure, the state capital. In Kano State, one Shamsuddeen Muhammad was arrested with 21.6 kilogrammes of cannabis, well concealed inside empty cartons, while in Oyo state, no fewer than 12 persons were arrested at drug joints raided and dismantled across the state. He said some of the destroyed black spots include: Alfa area, Sabo motor park, Idisin Ijeru area, Odo Oba, Gambari in Oyo area; Igboro joint in Saki town, Agberele forest joint in Saki west local government area, Ago Are market in Atisbo local government area, Eleyele motorpark, Eleyele forest, Apete complex, Sabo garage, Ojoo, all in Ibadan as well as Odo Oba, Ogo Oluwa local government area. He said in Kwara State no fewer than 38 suspects were arrested and 29.585 kilogrammes assorted drugs including Cocaine, Meth, Tramadol, Diazepam and others recovered from them across seven drug joints in Lafiagi, while in Rivers State, at least three persons were arrested from drug joints in Oyigbo and Kara oil mill area of the state on 9th October. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs Stock Markets By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. In a related development, more than five kilogrammes of Methamphetamine and Cannabis concealed in soles of ladies shoes, body cream and auto spare parts heading to Australia, Pakistan, South Korea, and Hong Kong have been intercepted in four courier firms in Lagos by narcotic officers in the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, DOGI, of the Agency. In his reaction to the latest clampdown, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers and men of the nine state Commands for taking the battle to the doorsteps of the drug cartels within the communities and in the forests. He said their contributions towards saving the lives of innocent youths; women and adults from the merchants of death would never be forgotten, while charging them and their colleagues in other commands to remain resilient as they continue with the offensive action against the narco-syndicates. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, has called for streamlining of agricultural loans through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) in order to improve small holder farmers' access to grants, boost food production and generate revenue for the country. Abubakar also gave assurance of the federal government's commitment to diversifying the economy through agriculture and stated emphatically that the plan would boost nutrition and food security, increase the local farmer's income and create more jobs for Nigerian farmers. He disclosed this in a statement released by the Chief Information Officer, for Director, Information, FMARD, Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna, during a familiarisation tour to some Agricultural institutions in Kaduna State recently. According to him, the BOA would continue its role as a development financial institution in the agriculture sector to provide agriculture financing for smallholder farmers as "it will stimulate improvement in the lives and growth across the farming communities." He maintained in the statement that "President Muhammadu Buhari is very passionate about the need to grow what we eat and eat what we grow so as to de-emphasise unnecessary importation of food which constitutes a drain on our foreign exchange." Abubakar, however, disclosed ongoing plans by the ministry in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria to streamline Agricultural loans to smallholder farmers for proper utilisation and more effective production and efficient services scheme for Nigerian Farmers in the various value Chains. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He reiterated that the ministry under his watch would ensure that the BOA obtained a licence to operate maximally and deliver services towards achieving its core objectives and mandate. Abubakar remarked that the diversification agenda of the present administration is one of the cardinal policies aimed at achieving nutrition and food security, reducing poverty rate and improving Agribusiness in the agric sector. In his remarks, the Acting Managing Director of the BOA, Mr. Alwan Ali Hassan, appealed for the "completion of the restructuring and recapitalisation of the bank as approved by the shareholders on August 18, 2021, especially in the area of engaging the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the release of the Capital allotted to them." Continuing, Hassan urged the federal government to write-off the loan component of the Cassava Bread Initiative Fund and the Agricultural MechaniSation Intervention outstanding loan. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to cut the N26 billion presidency budget for the construction of the presidential wing State House medical centre, local and foreign travels, meals and sitting allowance, and use some of the savings to address the growing level of deficit, as well as improve public healthcare facilities across the country. In the letter dated October 9, 2021, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP also urged Buhari to send to the National Assembly a fresh supplementary Appropriation Bill, which reflects the reduced proposed spending for its approval. The group said many Nigerians would find it unfair and unjust that the government is spending so much money on many of these items in the middle of a public borrowing crisis. It opined that the government would continue to borrow to fund the country's budget until there is a substantial cut to the cost of governance. The letter read in part: "SERAP also urges you to publish details of spending on construction and repairs of the presidential wing of the medical centre and office furniture and fittings since May 29, 2015. The proposed spending figures highlight the lack of political will to cut the cost of governance, starting from the presidency. This spending is unsustainable, and would take away critical funding to provide access to quality healthcare and education. "This would leave the poorest and most vulnerable people without access to these essential public goods and services, and burden the next generation. "According to our information, for the Office of the President, you recently proposed in the 2022 Appropriation Bill to spend N24,835,805,231 for the construction of the presidential wing at the State House medical centre, local and foreign travels, meals and refreshments. The recommended measures would also ensure that your government is spending the country's maximum available resources to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights to basic needs of the poor and marginalised groups in the country." The Africa-France summit in Montpellier startedf Friday with a number of separate discussions on democracy, development, the restitution of art, and sports. The event culminated in a town hall style truth-telling as 11 African participants addressed President Emmanuel Macron on the center stage in front of a mainly African audience. "We have come to propose solutions and to dialogue with you because we have a different and more admirable future to propose," Ateki Seta Caxton, a youth participant from the anglophone North West region of Cameroon, said. "Not necessarily because we are going to be comfortable about what will change, but because at this point, it is the only thing that makes sense." Caxton effectively set the tone for conversation with Macron in relation to the changes that need to be made in the relationship with France and the African continent. Kenyan civil society member Adele Onyango asked Macron to look at France's troubled relationship with Africa, demanding an examination of inefficiencies, gaps in integrity, and unethical behavior. "We as Africans feel the pain of colonization every single day," Onyango, said. "The air of denial that France chooses to sit in is uncomfortable not only for Africa but also for France... How can you trust the source of your pain when the source doesn't acknowledge it?" she added. France's double standard Onyango evoked what she considered France's double standard--claiming to stand for human rights, while collaborating with agencies, leaders and individuals whose position on a wide range of societal issues in Africa is less than clear. Although youth want to change this, "there are some who are benefitting from this current dysfunctional relationship--be it private businesses from France in the continent, with no ethical practices, or corrupt individuals from both France and Africa," said Onyango. While there were a number of delicate issues raised by a group of African youths, the most telling were the problems with the reportedly troubled French Agency for Development (AFD). French Agency for Development The AFD, which was the subject of a Mediapart online magazine investigation on the lack of transparency and alleged corruption, is nearing its 80th anniversary of existence. It is now time for a number of changes, according to Burkinabe Eldaa Koama, a young internet entrepreneur. "We want partnerships that are clear, transparent," she said, adding that the name, needs to be changed, so as to move away from the 'development' position which evokes the image of an African continent populated by people living in misery that need saving. Macron responded by saying that the name would be changed and agreed that some of vocabulary used was demoralizing. He added that France would not be offering development aid, but what he repeatedly called "solidarity investment." "Our objective is to accompany you more and more in your projects," said Macron. En ce moment-meme, au Nouveau Sommet Afrique France de Montpellier. pic.twitter.com/7GHhwns3P9 - La France au Soudan (@FranceauSoudan) October 8, 2021 Other youth delegates called France out for its support for African dictators and criticized its military interventions. However, the president pointed out that the military is only there at the request of African countries. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Europe and Africa Children By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He denied that France supported dictators, telling one Guinean youth delegate that France had formally objected to the now-deposed Guinean president Alpha Conde's run for a third term. He also said he understood their position, saying that France has a big role to play, "an immense responsibility". France is a country, he said, that organized foreign trade and colonization.It not the only one, but it largely contributed. "So yes, we have to recognize this responsibility," he added. This is the reasoning behind the creation of an"Innovation Fund for Democracy in Africa", with "independent governance", as well as cultural initiatives. This fund, which will receive 30 million euros over three years, is placed to help "agents of change", focusing on governance and democracy. La responsabilidad exige a las bancadas una reflexion profunda sobre la intencion de regular la cuestion de confianza sin considerar las sentencias del TC. Debemos preservar el principio de balance de poderes. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that an Armenian farmer was killed by Azerbaijani gunfire on October 9 in Nagorno Karabakh. It added that an investigation is ongoing. In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense said the civilian was shot dead by the Azerbaijani military while conducting agricultural works. The Russian peacekeeping contingents command is investigating the incident with the involvement of both sides. Aram Tepnants, a 55-year-old farmer, was shot dead by Azerbaijani sniper fire in a field near Martakert. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations reports that the roads across Armenia are passable. The ministry said that fog is reported in Sisian-Zanger section and Goris town of Syunik province. The Georgian side informed that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. France won the UEFA Nations League final with goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe earning them a 2-1 win over Spain at the San Siro stadium on Sunday. The first half was largely dominated by Spain, albeit without any significant goal chances. "We showed our character against a very strong team. We never gave up," Reuters quoted Benzema as saying after the match. Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal broke the deadlock in the second half with a low driven strike before Karim Benzema immediately equalised with a curler. Mbappe then grabbed the winner, 10 minutes from the end, racing on to a through ball from Hernandez. Earlier on Sunday, Italy had claimed third-place in the Final Four tournament by beating Belgium 2-1 in Turin. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Former Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan has publicly denied any wrongdoing. The indicted ex-ministers lawyers released a statement saying that Tonoyan denies all accusations. After being relieved of duties as Minister of Defense, Davit Tonoyan refrained from making comments taking into account classified information and the interests of the Armenian national security and the inter-state relations. Today also Mr. Tonoyan is putting these interests above personal ones and doesnt use the large volume of information he possesses for his own defense in the public dimension. Mr. Tonoyan is sure that the results of the examination conducted by specially skilled persons will give substantiated and impartial answers to the allegations on poor-quality and not meeting technical requirements armaments for the Armenian military, the statement said. Through his lawyers Tonoyan said he will fight for justice and to restore his reputation. Former Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan is under arrest on charges of embezzlement in an ongoing investigation into abuse of power and falsifications committed in the supplies process for the military allegedly during his tenure. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will pay a working visit to the Russian Federation on October 12, his Office said in a statement. Nikol Pashinyan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The parties will discuss issues related to the implementation of the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, as well as further steps to strengthen stability, resumption of economic ties and current developments in the region. Nikol Pashinyan and Vladimir Putin will also discuss issues on the agenda of Armenian-Russian allied relations, as well as further cooperation in integration unions. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Regional challenges will be on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the spiritual leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan in Moscow, Head of the Information Department at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Fr. Yesayi Artenyan told Armenpress. We are not familiar with the agenda, we will provide additional information when the meeting takes place. I can only state that the meeting will touch upon our regional challenges of today, he said, however, he couldnt tell the exact date of the meeting, as its not clear yet. Earlier today the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reported that Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II will visit Russia on a two-day trip on October 11 to meet with Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' Kirill in Moscow. According to the statement, the Catholicos will also participate in a trilateral meeting of the regions spiritual leaders. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who is in the Vatican on an official visit, met with the Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of State for Relations with the States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents Office, the President of the Republic once again highlighted the continuous development of the interstate relations between Armenia and the Holy See, emphasizing the significant contribution of the Secretary of State in that matter. "We appreciate the messages delivered by His Holiness during the war that befell the Armenian people last year, and also following that, as well as the humanitarian aid to Ashotsk Hospital," President Sarkissian said. He reaffirmed Armenia's interest and commitment to deepen interstate relations with the Holy See, noting that these relations have always been characterized by high-level political dialogue, based not only on Christian values, but also on common historical and spiritual heritage and shared approaches to the modern world challenges. The President of Armenia welcomed the decision of His Holiness Pope Francis to establish an Apostolic Nunciature in Yerevan, which will be officially inaugurated soon and which once again demonstrates the mutual commitment to develop relatiosn and deepen cooperation between Armenia and the Holy See. President Sarkissian and Cardinal Pietro Parolin also talked about cultural cooperation. The interlocutors stressed the existing fraternal relations and strong ties between the Roman Catholic Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Catholic Church. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will pay a working visit to the Russian Federation on October 12, his Office said in a statement. October 11, 2021, 13:28 Armenian PM to depart for Russia on working visit STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: Nikol Pashinyan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The parties will discuss issues related to the implementation of the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, as well as further steps to strengthen stability, resumption of economic ties and current developments in the region. Nikol Pashinyan and Vladimir Putin will also discuss issues on the agenda of Armenian-Russian allied relations, as well as further cooperation in integration unions. Gevorg Machanyan has been elected the new Chairman of the Board of the Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) at the regular meeting of the board, UBA informed NEWS.am. October 11, 2021, 15:27 Union of Banks of Armenia has new board chairman STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: He will replace Artak Ananyan, who chaired the UBA Board from 2020 to 2021. According to the UBA charter, the chairman of its board is elected for a one-year term. Gevorg Machanyan has more than forty years of experience in the banking system. Could digital technology be part of the solution to climate change, as well as the problem? (AFP/ARUN SANKAR) From the energy that goes into making smartphones to the fact that even emails create carbon emissions, the world's internet addiction comes with costs to the climate. But could digital technology be part of the solution to climate change, as well as the problem? Ahead of next month's COP26 climate talks, AFP looks at five ways in which tech could help to limit the impact. - Artificial intelligence - Among the many items on the COP26 agenda, countries are preparing a roadmap for using artificial intelligence (AI) to fight climate change. AI relies on complex calculations by high-powered computers that can eat up vast quantities of energy. Training a single AI algorithm system can use nearly five times the emissions produced by a car over its lifetime, according to University of Massachusetts researchers. But AI is already helping to make a wide range of industrial processes more energy-efficient, simply by making calculations that humans can't. Consultancy PwC estimates that greater AI use in four key sectors of the economy, including agriculture and transport, could cut global emissions by four percent. Peter Clutton-Brock, co-founder of the Centre for AI and Climate, said artificial intelligence was not "a silver bullet" that could reverse climate change. "But there are some really interesting and exciting applications that are emerging," he said. These include using AI to analyse data on deforestation and melting sea ice, to better predict which areas will be affected next. - Apps and search engines - Sceptics may argue that a single person can only have a limited impact, but the eco-conscious have various apps at their disposal to monitor their personal carbon footprints. Various apps estimate the emissions produced by a car or plane ride, while others allow shoppers to scan items and see information on how eco-friendly they are. Google last week announced tweaks to its search tools to show drivers the most fuel-efficient routes and display emissions information for flights. Story continues The search engine Ecosia, meanwhile, uses the profits from its ads to pay for reforestation, with more than 135 million trees planted so far. - Remote work - Has the shift towards remote work during the pandemic been good for the environment? It's still unclear, say researchers. Last year the huge drop in commuting was hailed as a contributor towards a drop in global emissions, as much of the world hunkered down. But signing in online still means employees use energy at home -- and in the winter, heating individual dwellings can be less efficient than a single office for a whole team. The International Energy Agency found that if all white-collar workers stayed home one day a week, global emissions could be cut by 24 million tonnes -- roughly equivalent to London's emissions in a year. Workers with long car commutes could certainly cut their carbon footprints by staying home, the IEA said. But it concluded that drivers with a daily commute of less than six kilometres (3.7 miles) might actually use more energy by staying home with the heaters on. - Cloud computing - For years it was feared that the giant, energy-hungry data centres the internet depends upon could become a major contributor to climate change. But a study published in the journal Science last year suggests these fears have not been realised, thanks to unexpected leaps in efficiency. By 2018 data centres were still only consuming about one percent of the world's electricity, despite rocketing demand for data storage. Tech giants' desire to cut their electricity bills is partly to thank for this. Google, for instance, used AI to reduce the costs of cooling its data centres by 40 percent. - Smart cities - The United Nations estimates that cities account for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. And with the population forecast to grow ever more urban, designing energy-efficient cities is a top priority. The Internet of Things (IoT) -- connecting objects with sensors that can communicate and make intelligent decisions -- is already being used in urban design. A pilot project in Amsterdam, for example, used IoT to guide drivers to empty parking spaces, reducing the time spent driving around the city searching for one. kjl/cw Animal cruelty is more than just a legal issue, its a community issue. If you improve animal welfare in a community, you improve public safety for everyone. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake According to the FBI, animal cruelty is a bridge or indicator crime," meaning it can and often does lead to a variety of other crimes. Animal cruelty is proven to have a direct link to domestic violence as well ("The Cycle of Violence," Phil Arkow, 2014). Animal abuse at an early age is also a proven indicator of future violence, and many of the world's serial killers engaged in the torturing or killing of animals prior to escalating to crimes against humans. When serial killers are interviewed by law enforcement or mental health professionals, documentation proves that nearly all had abused animals at one time or another, mostly when they were young (DOJ). Currently, the United States has 4.25% of the world's population, and yet we have over 67% of the world's serial killers! Why do people abuse animals? People often lack the ability to empathize, or they do not have the necessary coping skills that many times result in anger taken out on an animal. They may have experienced socialization or desensitization to abuse, poor impulse control or a personality disorder. Some believe that their abuse of animals is justified to satisfy their need for power or control; animal abusers themselves may have been abused as well. Why might children abuse animals? Children are curious by nature, and they are also very susceptible to peer pressure. Sometimes a child may target an animal because of physical or emotional abuse against them, and they misplace the hostility associated with their own abuse onto an animal. They can also be reacting to stressors from a variety of sources: home life, bullying, lack of acceptance from peers, etc. Histories of childhood animal abuse have also been shown to be related to the increased use of psychological abuse and sexual coercion in intimate relationships as well. ("Family Influences & Adolescent Outcomes," Henry and Sanders 2007). Intimate partner, child or elder abuse Crimes against animals and human abuse, whether it is against children, spouses, intimate partners or the elderly, many times go hand in hand. Sadly, the pattern of abuse can and does get passed down through generations as a behavior that is tolerated. Signs of animal abuse in a household are also red flags that others in the home may not be safe. Investigators do not necessarily need a smoking gun to immediately prove the animal abuse; rather, looking for peripheral crimes can lead to discovering and proving it. The abusers often abuse an animal in the home, as the animal is powerless, and then they later target a spouse, partner or a child. Animal abusers many times exploit the emotional connection a family member has with an animal for power and control, as well as a tool to keep the abuse a secret. At times, abusers also hold the animal hostage as means to keep their partner or family member from leaving the situation, or to force them into silence. As of July 2006 in New York state, when an order of protection is issued, a companion animal may be placed on that order to protect it as well as the person. In a 1998 study, 71% of the partners had killed, harmed or threatened an animal and 32% of the children in the study had harmed or killed an animal. Of the women in domestic violence situations, up to 48% of them did not leave the situation. Over 75% of the incidents of animal abuse and domestic violence occurred in the presence of women and children. Research has also proven that batterers who abuse pets often use more forms of violence, and are more dangerous (Ascione, 1998). Who commits the most animal abuse? Men are far and away more often the abuser of animals. These same abusers are five times more likely to be arrested for violence against humans, four times more likely to be arrested for property crimes and three times more likely to be arrested for property or disorderly conduct crimes. Additionally, 43% of the school shooters in the U.S. were known to have abused animals (HSUS, 2021). In a 2008 study by the Chicago Police Department of 332 documented animal cruelty offenses: 70% of the suspects had been arrested for other felonies 86% had numerous arrests 70% had narcotics arrests 67% had been arrested for assault/battery 27% had gun arrests 13% had sex crime arrest 59% were gang members In our community and county, we are not immune to domestic violence as our police agencies field numerous complaints for this issue on a weekly basis. Since early 2020, the Finger Lakes SPCA has seen a significant uptick in animal cruelty cases throughout the county. When networking with other agencies, we discover many of the individuals we interviewed have also been the subject of other complaints or crimes they have been involved in, e.g. endangering the welfare of a child, drug offenses, etc. Additionally, we have also seen an increase in the abandonment of animals, a nationwide trend during COVID-19, especially with cats. There are a number of programs in place to help the victims of domestic violence. If you know of someone being abused, speak up! Call 911 for an emergency situation, or reach out to the variety of programs that are available: Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca: (315) 255-1703 Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resource and Child Advocacy Center: (315) 253-9795 Cayuga County Mental Health: (315) 253-0341 All are wonderful resources for help, or dial 211. If you see something, say something! If you witness animal cruelty, call 911 or our animal cruelty reporting line at (315) 707-8147. Remember, it only takes a little time to just be kind. Thomas W. Adessa is a humane law enforcement officer with the Finger Lakes SPCA of CNY at 41 York St. in Auburn. Portions of the information in this column were derived from a 2014 lecture by animal welfare speaker Phil Arkow and DOJ crime data. For more information, visit flspcaofcny.org or call (315) 253-5841. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Nobel Peace Prize doesnt solve thorny political problems. It didnt draw a line under apartheid when South African activist Albert Luthuli won it in 1960, or bring freedom to the Soviet Union when physicist and human rights campaigner Andrei Sakharov did in 1975. But it does, unfailingly, shed light on causes that need global attention. And rarely has a cause been in greater need of support than press freedom in 2021. Fridays win for Maria Ressa indefatigable Filipino journalist, co-founder of digital media company Rappler and bete noire of President Rodrigo Duterte and Dmitry Muratov co-founder and editor-in-chief of Russias Novaya Gazeta, an opposition voice in a country that leaves no room for criticism is a joint victory that highlights their resilience in the face of near-daily harassment. Both continue to publish critical work in countries run by strongmen who will stop at very little to silence them. Novaya Gazeta has been under pressure throughout Vladimir Putins presidency. Fifteen years ago nearly to the day, Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative journalist working for Muratovs paper who chronicled abuses in the region of Chechnya, was shot dead in Moscow. The statute of limitations for the crime expired on Thursday. Ressa, meanwhile, critical of police violence in Dutertes drugs war, has been tangled in libel and tax evasion cases. The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. But this years prize celebrates more than just the outstanding work of its recipients. It acknowledges many thousands of other reporters who run risks daily keeping democracy and free speech alive. Its a victory for civil society. More journalists than ever were in jail last year and the number of media workers killed rose by a third compared with 2019, numbers that speak to a global attack that is stifling democracy. According to the latest survey from Reporters Without Borders, journalism is completely or partly blocked in nearly three-quarters of the 180 countries ranked by the organization. Its a grim picture that few pause to take in much less to consider its consequences. Russia has been waging the most aggressive crackdown in years on independent media, labelling critical outlets as foreign agents, hampering their ability to operate. But there are more pervasive everyday pressures, including the squeeze on media owners, the rise of state-owned outlets and the fostering of disinformation by the powerful. Not to mention basic financial troubles that reduce the ability of any news gathering organization to adequately investigate and report. Its significant, in that sense, that the committee chose two different journalists working in different parts of the world, under different political regimes. The Philippines is still a democracy, though one left bruised by Dutertes years in power. Russia is far harder to define that way. But free speech, assaulted by demagogues and misinformation, is under fire everywhere, and by extension so, too, is democracy and peace. We need only think back to Donald Trumps years in the White House to remember a time when even in the United States, where press freedoms are guaranteed by the constitution, the president referred to critical media as enemies of the people. The Nobel Prize is often castigated for awarding prizes to those who have not achieved enough. The committee has certainly not always got its choices right. But it very clearly understands its role as an amplifying force, one that takes into account not only what individuals have achieved, but the positive effects that attention might bring to the issue at hand. It loudly proclaimed, in the words of Ressa on hearing the announcement, that a world without facts means a world without truth or trust. And one where giant challenges like coronavirus and climate change cannot be conquered. There are risks too. Regimes may not take kindly to having their critics lauded, and can come down even harder. But for those who live in countries like Putins Russia, those risks already exist. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New petrol licensing norms in the country allow setting up of EV charging stations and CNG outlets at the pumps even before the start of petrol and diesel sales, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified. The clarification was made for the ministry's November 8, 2019 notification that eased norms for setting up of petrol pumps by new entities. The order provides for petrol pumps to sell one new generation alternate fuel like CNG, LNG or electric vehicle charging point alongside retailing of petrol and diesel. However, it did not prescribe an order of them being set up. (Also read | Petrol, diesel price hike rally continues amid festive season) The ministry informed that the 2019 order however did not prescribe the order in which the dispensation of conventional fuels and the new generation alternate fuels would be started. At the time, it was not made clear that dispensation of bio fuels and CNG or starting of EV charging points can begin before dispensing of petrol and diesel. As per government's new liberalised petrol pump licensing rule, any entity with a minimum net worth of 250 crore can apply for authorisation to retail petrol and diesel. Besides doing away with the earlier requirement of investing 2,000 crore in oil and gas sector to be eligible for starting a fuel retailing station, the new rules mandate that the licensees should set up a minimum of 100 outlets with at least 5 per cent of them in remote areas. (Also read | Govt to make it essential for auto companies to make flex-fuel engines: Gadkari) Also, the licensee is required to "install facilities for marketing at least one new generation alternate fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG), biofuels, liquefied natural gas, electric vehicle charging points, among others, at their proposed retail outlets within three years of operations. Currently, most of the 78,751 petrol pumps in the country are owned by state-run oil marketing companies such as Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL). (with inputs from PTI) German autobahn have been famous the world over for having absolutely no speed limit and allowing man and machine to combine in a pure homage to speed. A large part of the autobahn was constructed during the Nazi regime in the country with the stated objective of fast-tracking the economy in the 1930s. Similar Bikes In the decades that followed, a number of rules did come into effect which sought to moderate speeds of some vehicle categories but the autobahn is still a network of highways that allows for the absolute limits of a vehicle can be tested, enjoyed and pushed to. But German F1 racer and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel recently said that it may be time to impose speed limits here. File photo: A crashed bus lies on the side in Schoenwald near Berlin. The accident took place on Autobahn 13. (AP) It may seem strange that someone who is known the world over for his mastery over speed on an F1 track believes autobahn needs speed limit but there are reasons Vettel outlines. According to German outlet Auto Motor Sport, Vettel is more inclined towards safety when on the move rather than the freedom that high-speed driving may bring with it. I don't suddenly feel unfree when I travel to other countries such as Turkey, the USA or Great Britain and drive there," he reportedly said. It is not a question It's about a freedom, but only about something that people have gotten used to. At some point the speed limit will come anyway - whether it is now or in a few years. I have no problem with free driving disappearing. Whoever steps on the gas wants to do it where it is safe. In this case, that would be the race track. You can test your limits there without endangering others." Vettel also points to how certain speed restrictions could be better for the environment. You have to look at the big picture. A speed limit would save almost two million tons of CO2 emissions. There are accidents in Germany that only happen because we don't have a speed limit. If you only save the life of one person, that's a no-brainer for me," he was quoted as saying. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- SAIC Motor said its vehicle sales reached 515,804 units last month, dropping 14.36% compared to the previous year. As of Sept. 2021, the Shanghai-based auto giant had posted year-on-year sales decline for the fifth month in a row. SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) still ranked highest among subsidiaries in terms of Sept. sales. The company scored a 6.74% increase in year-to-date sales despite four straight months of year-over-year decrease. Two major joint venturesSAIC Volkswagen and SAIC-GMlogged year-on-year dip in both Sept. and Jan.-Sept. sales. In spite of the decrease in overall sales, SAIC Motor still boasted robust growth for new energy vehicle (NEV) business. Last month, the group's NEV wholesales amounted to 64,233 units, leaping 61.3% over a year earlier. As for deliveries, SAIC Motor handed over about 70,000 NEVs to consumers in Sept., representing a 145% hike. MG eHS; photo credit: MG The combined NEV sales of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Co.,Ltd., the group's self-owned passenger vehicle subsidiary owning three brands (Roewe, MG, and R Auto), surpassed 17,000 units in Sept., shooting up 186.6% from the previous year. Notably, the total sales of such mid-/high-end NEV models as the MG eHS, the MG ZS EV, the Roewe Ei5, and the Roewe ER6 exceeded 10,000 units. Thanks to the strong demands of the ID. series, SAIC Volkswagen's NEV sales topped 7,000 units last month, zooming up 169.8% over a year ago. In overseas markets, SAIC Motor sold around 442,000 vehicles during the first three quarters, which were more than the full-year volume of 2020. About 72,000 vehicles were sold outside China last month, representing a 70.7% year-on-year upward movement. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On October 9, SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (SVOLT), a leading Chinese battery manufacturer carved out of Great Wall Motor (GWM), entered into a cooperation agreement with the government of Jintan District, Changzhou City for a power battery manufacturing project, SVOLT announced via its WeChat account. SVOLT, Jintan District signing agreement; photo credit: SVOLT Under the agreement, SVOLT plans to invest about 15 billion yuan ($2.33 billion) in the construction of a new energy vehicle (NEV)-related battery base in Jintan District. The project will cover an area of 1,100 mu (around 733,000 square meters) and will be built in two phases. It is expected to have an annual battery capacity of 40GWh. Headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, SVOLT has agreed investment plans worth a total of 23 billion yuan ($3.573 billion) for Jintan District. As of now, the company has launched capacity construction projects, including those finished and in the works, involving over 200GWh, which is also the volume SVOLT aims to complete in 2025. Last month, SVOLT struck a deal with Chengdu Municipal Government to build a power battery manufacturing and R&D base in the capital of Sichuan Province. Upon completion of the construction, the facility is expected to feature an battery capacity of 60GWh per year. Besides, the battery maker broke ground on its power battery production factory in Suining, another city in Sichuan province, at the end of March. The project is set to record an annual capacity of 20GWh. According to data from market research firm SNE Research, SVOLT ranked 10th in August among global power battery makers with an installed power battery capacity of 0.2 GWh, for the first time entering the top 10 list. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Last month, Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Honda) saw its China deliveries slump 28.1% from a year ago to 121,448 units, the Japanese automaker said on Monday. As of September 2021, Honda has recorded year-on-year decline in China retail sales for five consecutive months amid the global chip shortage. Among the new vehicles delivered in Sept., 16,567 units were equipped with the hybrid powertrain system Sport Hybrid, falling 19.6% compared to the prior-year period. Both GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda posted two-digit decrease in Sept. deliveries. The joint venture with GAC Group delivered 61,287 new vehicles, representing a 25% decline from a year earlier. Meanwhile, 60,161 consumers took delivery of the vehicles from Dongfeng Honda, representing a 31% drop year-over-year. With 1,107,814 vehicles delivered, Honda's China business recorded a 3.9% growth for the Jan.-Sept. period, 6 percentage points lower than the increase in Jan.-Aug. volume. The deliveries of Honda's hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) leapt 31.2% to 169,613 units during the first three quarters. For the first nine months, GAC Honda's deliveries edged up 0.6% to 540,392 units, while Dongfeng Honda also logged a 7.2% year-on-year rise with 567,422 vehicles handed over to consumers. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Evergrande NEV company increases registered capital Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Investment Holding Group Co. LTD., established in January, 2019, increased its registered capital by 24.81% to $2.515 billion. Photo credit: Hengchi CATL sets up new energy company in Suzhou Chinese battery maker CATL officially established an energy company in Suzhou with a registered capital of RMB2.5 billion. The companys business covers battery manufacturing and sales of advanced power electronics. Chinas hydrogen refueling stations network needs planning in advance Miao Wei, former minister of Information and Industry Technology (MIIT) said the biggest challenge for applying the fuel cell technology in mid-large long-distance commercial vehicle segment is the network of hydrogen refueling stations, which needs planning in advance. King Long September sales down slightly Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd., produced 4,318 buses in September, a slight increase of 0.63% from a year ago while its monthly bus sales fell 0.12% year on year to 4,295 vehicles. Honda Motor posts 28.1% YoY dip in Sept. China deliveries Last month, Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Honda) saw its China deliveries slump 28.1% from a year ago to 121,448 units, the Japanese automaker said on Monday. Geely Auto achieves 60% of 2021's sales goal in first three quarters Geely Auto announced on Monday the new vehicle sales reached 921,796 units for the first three quarters of 2021, rising 5% from the previous year and fulfilling 60% of the Group's annual sales target of 1.53 million units. Nissan Motor China sales continue to decrease YoY In September, Nissan Motor sold 104,443 passenger and commercial vehicles in China, dropping 26.2% year on year. The company attributed it to external factors such as the pandemic, the chip shortage, the slowing down of the economy, and the fierce competition among the light commercial vehicles field. Asensing finishes C-round investment Chinas intelligent driving MEMS solution provider, Guangzhou Asensing Technology Co., Ltd. (Asensing), announced the completion of its C-round of financing led by Sequoia Capital China. SemiDrive joins hands with Neusoft for smart cockpit development Chinas automotive SoC developer, Nanjing SemiDrive Technology Ltd. (SemiDrive), has formed a strategic agreement with Neusoft, Chinas leading software company for new-generation intelligent cockpit development. SVOLT to pour 15 billion yuan in 40GWh NEV battery project in Changzhou SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (SVOLT), a leading Chinese battery manufacturer carved out of Great Wall Motor (GWM), entered into a cooperation agreement with the government of Jintan District, Changzhou City for a power battery manufacturing project, SVOLT announced via its WeChat account. XPengs 100,000th vehicle rolls off production line Chinas smart electric vehicle company XPeng celebrated the production of its 100,000th vehicle today, marking another new milestone for the company after it hit the 10,000-unit monthly delivery milestone in September. ARCFOX opens first direct delivery center in Beijing ARCFOX witnessed the grand opening of its first direct distribution center in Beijing, also the 78th delivery center in the country, signifying the automakers crucial step towards an innovative distribution and service layout. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinas intelligent driving MEMS solution provider, Guangzhou Asensing Technology Co., Ltd. (Asensing), announced the completion of its C-round of financing led by Sequoia Capital China. The INS570D system; photo credit: Asensing The company received hundreds of millions of RMB from Sequoia Capital China, Matrix Partners, GLVentures, and existing shareholders, including SDIC Fund, Yuexiu Industrial Fund, and Vinno Capital. According to the company, the funds will be put to develop next-generation functional and safe, high-precision positioning technology, improving product design ability, and expanding production. After this round of investment, the annual delivery capability of Asensing will be elevated to millions of units. In the meantime, the company intends to continue improving its client services. High-precision positioning technology is a crucial component of a safe, intelligent driving experience, providing accurate PNT (positioning, navigation, and timing) under all ODD circumstances. Through innovative deep research and development, Asensing is pushing forward the new standard of advanced assistant driving positioning safety definition within the industry. As of now, Asensings high-precision integrated positioning system has passed the ISO 26262 ASIL-D safety standard. Clients to the company include several major auto manufacturers in China, serving over 30 intelligent vehicle models. Asensing has been providing high-performance, quality-made high-precision integrated positioning products for passenger vehicles since 2018. By the end of August 2021, the company has delivered 100,000 units of the said product, realizing over tens of millions of kilometers of on-road mileage through its clients. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On October 9, SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (SVOLT), a leading Chinese battery manufacturer carved out of Great Wall Motor (GWM), entered into a cooperation agreement with the government of Jintan District, Changzhou City for a power battery manufacturing project, SVOLT announced via its WeChat account. SVOLT, Jintan District signing agreement; photo credit: SVOLT Under the agreement, SVOLT plans to invest about 15 billion yuan ($2.33 billion) in the construction of a new energy vehicle (NEV)-related battery base in Jintan District. The project will cover an area of 1,100 mu (around 733,000 square meters) and will be built in two phases. It is expected to have an annual battery capacity of 40GWh. Headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, SVOLT has agreed investment plans worth a total of 23 billion yuan ($3.573 billion) for Jintan District. As of now, the company has launched capacity construction projects, including those finished and in the works, involving over 200GWh, which is also the volume SVOLT aims to complete in 2025. Last month, SVOLT struck a deal with Chengdu Municipal Government to build a power battery manufacturing and R&D base in the capital of Sichuan Province. Upon completion of the construction, the facility is expected to feature an battery capacity of 60GWh per year. Besides, the battery maker broke ground on its power battery production factory in Suining, another city in Sichuan province, at the end of March. The project is set to record an annual capacity of 20GWh. According to data from market research firm SNE Research, SVOLT ranked 10th in August among global power battery makers with an installed power battery capacity of 0.2 GWh, for the first time entering the top 10 list. Gasgoo not only offers timely news and profound insight about China auto industry, but also help with business connection and expansion for suppliers and purchasers via multiple channels and methods. Buyer service: buyer-support@gasgoo.com Seller Service: seller-support@gasgoo.com All Rights Reserved. Do not reproduce, copy and use the editorial content without permission. Contact us: autonews@gasgoo.com. Lisa Deem of Flagstaff has been awarded a 2021 Governor's Heritage Honor Preservation Award for her work with the Elden Pueblo Project in Flagstaff, a nonprofit educational partner of the Arizona Natural History Association and the Coconino National Forest, along with other educational initiatives that focus on the science of archaeology, regional history and cultural resource stewardship. Deem first became involved with the Elden Pueblo Project in 2001 and has served as the projects program manager since 2003, according to a press release. Deem has substantially expanded the educational initiatives offered at Elden Pueblo, according to Coconino Forest archaeologist Peter Pilles, who nominated her for the award. She developed a Scout workshop, earning badges in archaeology for both Boy and Girl Scouts. During COVID-19 closures from March 2020 through July 2021, he added, Deem developed several online programs to aid teachers and conducted online, interactive Zoom programs for classes. In 2007, Lisa enrolled Elden Pueblo as the first Arizona site in the "Hands on the Land" program, a national consortium of public lands agencies supporting outdoor classrooms for schools and teachers across the country. About 2,000 students from Boy and Girl Scouts and public, private and charter schools, annually attend Elden Pueblo programs. Deem annually writes grants to provide opportunities for local students to attend Elden Pueblo programs. Grants also help fund training and employment of interns, primarily Northern Arizona University anthropology students. Elden Pueblo recently received a grant from Arizona Community Foundations Venture Education Fund to provide practical experience for student interns in site stabilization, maintenance, education programs and interpretive trail guides, including an ethnobotany walk focused on native plants along the existing trail system. Since 2001, Deem has also volunteered on numerous archaeological survey projects, artifact analysis, mapping, documentation and the development of programs for the Arizona Archaeological Society. Deem's volunteer contributions are in addition to her full-time job as management analyst for the City of Flagstaff Water Services. She has also worked as a grant specialist for the City of Flagstaff. "Lisa's contributions have made an enormous difference in educational programs attended by students from all over Arizona," said Pilles and Peter Wisniewski, district archaeologist for the Flagstaff Ranger District. "She developed the curriculum that connects students with the science of archaeology, and especially honors the cultural heritage of the Hopi and other descendant Native communities with ties to Elden Pueblo." Since 1982, the Arizona Preservation Foundation and the State Historic Preservation Office have recognized the achievements of not-for-profit organizations, public lands agencies, businesses and individuals in the field of historic preservation. In 40 years, seven volunteers from the Coconino National Forest have received a Governor's Award for their service. The award will be presented Oct. 29 at the annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference set to take place in Tempe. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PHOENIX -- Arizona can't take more than $1.1 million from Flagstaff as a financial penalty for the city having its own minimum wage, at least not now. In a ruling Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James Smith sidestepped arguments by the city that the assessment runs afoul of the Voter Protection Act. That constitutional amendment bars lawmakers from tinkering or repealing what voters have approved. And in this case, the city argued the assessment runs afoul of Proposition 202, the 2006 voter-approved law that, in establishing a state minimum wage, specifically allows cities and counties to set a higher figure. Instead, Smith chose to focus on the narrow legal issue that the state didn't meet the deadline for imposing the assessment. And given the potential financial hardship to the city, the judge said he can't allow the state to seize the cash. But Monday's ruling isn't the last word, as attorneys for the state can still make arguments at a yet-to-be-scheduled full-blown trial. Smith, however, said there are other potential flaws in the state law that could cause him to permanently block not only this assessment but also preclude similar actions against other cities like Tucson, where voters next month will decide if they, too, want a minimum wage higher than the current $12.15 an hour in state law. And that starts, the judge said, with lawmakers adopting something that implicates -- and appears to contradict -- what voters approved. "Proposition 202 resulted from a direct democratic process," Smith wrote, approved by a 2-1 margin. And it not only set a state minimum wage but also specifically permitted cities to set an even higher figure. "It demands liberal construction to further its purpose," he continued. "This reality may mean fewer policy constraints on a court tapping the brakes on the subsequent legislation." Monday's ruling could provide welcome news to proponents of a similar plan that the Tucson City Council put on the ballot for next month. It seeks to raise the minimum wage in the city in steps until it reaches $15 by 2025. The decision suggests if voters there follow suit that courts will question -- and possibly overturn -- any effort to take away state aid. The fight is over a state law which allows assessments against a city to reimburse the state for costs attributable to a higher local minimum wage. There is no clear direct cost, as the Flagstaff ordinance first approved in 2016, with its current $15 minimum, does not cover state workers. But the state contends there are other expenses. For example, the Department of Economic Security tried to calculate what its vendors, like those who provide services for the developmentally disabled, will have to pay their employees and then bill the state. That figure, DES said, was $891,300. Add in other agencies and the bill to Flagstaff topped $1.1 million. Smith pointed out, though, that the law requires the assessment to be made no later than July 31 of each year. Only thing is, the current version of the law -- the one with the Flagstaff assessment -- did not become effective until Sept. 29. Put simply, the judge said, it came too late. Monday's ruling still allows the state to seek to enforce the assessment -- and to defend the law allowing assessments should other cities follow suit -- following a full trial. But Smith, in his 12-page ruling, made it clear he sees other problems with the statute beyond the state missing the July 31 deadline. It starts, the judge said, with the fact that the law provides no direction or guidance in how each state agency computes its cost, making it sort of arbitrary. "Thus, there is not a uniform methodology," he wrote. "Each budget unit could include or exclude whatever parameters its leadership wanted," Smith continued. "And each could employ whatever methodology its leadership chose." That, the judge said, is difficult to reconcile with Proposition 202 and its specific permission for cities to choose a higher minimum wage. "The state's interpretation would let municipalities do so only if they agreed to pay assessment that they cannot contest that may have only the foggiest connection to the minimum wage," Smith continued. "That could be repugnancy that the Voter Protection Act prohibits." There are other issues. "Analyzing the effects of minimum wage increases is complex," he wrote. For example, he said economists also consider things like possible increased tax revenues and decreased need for public assistance, none of which is considered under the law. Conversely, there's the question of job losses from higher wages. Smith also raised the question of why lawmakers chose to single out a city's decision to have a higher minimum wage for an assessment. "For example, the state doesn't impose reimbursements on municipalities with increased labor costs due to higher transaction privilege or property taxes, remote location and such," he wrote. In barring the assessment, Smith said it's not like the state is harmed. He said the amount equals 4.6% of the city's anticipated balance this fiscal year, money it wants to keep in reserves for economic downturns, natural disasters or other emergencies. By contrast, that $1.1 million the state wants equals 0.008% of the state budget. "It is not a hardship for the state," Smith wrote. "Fiscal consequences to Flagstaff are more significant than fiscal consequences to the state." The City of Flagstaff sent out a press release shortly after the ruling applauding the decision. "The City is pleased with this result and will push forward to obtain a permanent injunction," the statement read. "In the meantime, the City hopes the State will accept that it cannot collect this 'assessment' to penalize the Citys voters for exercising a right expressly granted to them in a statewide initiative nearly two decades ago." The state could appeal the preliminary injunction prohibiting the assessment collection. Or the Legislature could come back next year and pass a new law changing the deadlines and specifically allowing the collection of indirect costs. But the ruling puts it in a conundrum, said Roopali Desai, Flagstaff's attorney, especially because calculating indirect costs is a complex process and because of Smith's concern over it violating the constitution. "Our hope is that they realize that no matter which way they go about doing this, its going to be a problem and violates the law," Desaid said. A spokesman for Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the assessment, said the ruling was being reviewed. There was no immediate response from the attorney general's office which sought to defend the assessment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 7 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 6 Ever since principal Tony Cullen was forced to resign by the corrupt FUSD district and board (nine months short of his pension, might I add), Flagstaff High School is getting worse and worse each week as it rapidly declines in regards to our childs safety and learning quality. This year continues to be a struggle for my daughter and many other students, not to mention patents. Thankfully, this is our last year in the FUSD school system, but I encourage you other parents to be very proactive in these people who care for your children and teach your children seven-plus hours a day, five days a week and demand change. But honestly, the only change we are going to see is if these clowns like Dave Roth and his assistant principal as well as the district are voted out, and then the community has an opportunity to actually choose who they want in charge of their children. "US troops have been deployed in Taiwan for at least a year," reads a headline from the Wall Street Journal. Quoting anonymous US defence officials, the article claims that "two dozen" members of US forces have been secretly stationed in China's Taiwan, helping separatist forces prepare for a potential military confrontation with the mainland. Although the story was neither confirmed or denied by the US, it ultimately seems plausible given the provocative and destabilizing actions Washington has taken in undermining its own commitment to the one-China policy and salami slicing in a subtle backing of Taiwan independence by encouraging the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In doing this, the United States is playing with fire. This amounts to an illegal incursion into China's own sovereign and internationally recognized territory. It's also an explicit violation of America's own specific commitments since its establishing official diplomatic relations with China in 1979. Such provocative moves could lead to a crisis that the world can hardly afford. A week ago, President Joe Biden stated that the US and China had agreed to keep what he described as the Taiwan agreement. He did not give insight into what this means, but nevertheless this refers to a number of communiques the two countries set out together when establishing diplomatic relations. Although this agreement did not resolve all points of difference pertaining to Washington and Beijing, what it did establish is that the People's Republic of China is the sole and only legal government of China, and therefore the one-China policy in accordance. But there was more to it than that. The Shanghai Communique of 1972 establishes that the US would refrain from posting military forces on the island. The text states, "The liberation of Taiwan is China's internal affair in which no other country has the right to interfere; and all US forces and military installations must be withdrawn from Taiwan." The US itself also stated in that document, the United States "reiterates that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, or interfering in China's internal affairs, or pursuing a policy of 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan.'" However, if its forces are on the island, the US is dangerously supporting separatism and breaching its own agreement that it would not post troops. Apart from deploying its military personnel there, it has been repeatedly selling arms to the island. In August, the US State Department approved an arms deal worth $750 million to Taiwan. These are among a slew of attempts in US militarization of the Chinese province. This is the US that repeatedly preaches a "rules-based" order. This is a violation that could pose enormous consequences uprooting peace, stability and prosperity in the region with a step towards a potential war. It should be clear that the one-China policy is an inalienable and non-negotiable foundation of China's foreign policy as a whole. Beijing is prepared to do whatever it takes in order to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and at whatever cost may be applicable. Biden's administration is not as unreasonable or erratic as Trump's. It has shown more willingness to compromise in certain areas, yet has nonetheless continued to ramp up a campaign of military containment targeted at China and to utilize Taiwan as a pawn on that chess board. This is a dangerous, destabilizing and destructive step which will only force China to take drastic countermeasures that could risk a spiral of escalation of tensions in ties. Washington talks about peace, but has been acting the other way round. The same tactic has been applied repeatedly on Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, to name but a few. Now, the US intends to militarize Taiwan, again under the context of peace and freedom. But did Washington realize that what it is facing this time, unlike what it encountered in previous crusades, is a country resolved, competent and prepared to fight against any provocations on its sovereignty? China's determination for national unification, just as Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his speech marking the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution on Saturday, can never be underestimated. The US should evaluate what it can afford before any provocations. (Source:CGTN) Families got a taste of the outdoors this weekend when the Filley Stone Barn hosted its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday. The event was held in partnership with Pioneer Days last Wednesday and Thursday, in which fourth graders from area elementary schools were invited to see and experience the trades of the time period in which the barn was built. The kids can saw a log with an old saw, shuck and shell corn, and they can watch the blacksmith and ride the horse-drawn carriage or wagon, said Cassandra Dean, the Gage County Historical Society Museum Administrator. We want the community to know the history of the barn of see some of these old trades." The barn was built in 1874 by Elijah and Emma Filley, the first upland homesteaders in Gage County. It was constructed by a group of community masons, carpenters and farmers from the area that were needing jobs during a financially difficult period. The limestone was all quarried from the Blue Springs area and hauled to the site two miles southwest of Filley. It is the largest bank barn in the state of Nebraska. On April 11, 1977, the barn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Filley Stone Barn and just over three acres, plus $10,000 for restoration were willed to the Gage County Historical Society in 1978 by Edwin Pedersen. Restoration of the barn was completed in 1982 and an additional 20 acres was added to the site in 1986. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 She spent some time in Washington working with the Kalispel Tribe and its language program before coming back to the Flathead Reservation for her bachelor of arts degree in tribal historic preservation from Salish Kootenai College. She later taught Native American history and Salish at St. Ignatius High School. Now, shes in her second year of masters research in linguistics and collects data from first-language Salish speakers. I knew that I kind of already had this immersion fluency where it was this natural way of understanding the language," Decker said. "But I know that theres just so much that goes along with the languages as far as the functions and the rules to really be able to preserve the language." Her work now is a race against the clock as tribal elders age. Decker figures she only has a decade or so left with these fluent speakers. Its a really, really important time to document everything that they have, Decker said. When Decker was pregnant with her first child, she would speak Salish to her in the womb. She also spoke in Salish with tribal elders while she was pregnant. Suzanne Asha Stone, executive director of the International Wildlife Coexistence Network, brought up a number of nonlethal methods ranchers can use, such as making sure they have an adequate number of livestock guardian dogs and using certain kinds of lights that give the impression of human presence. "It was incomprehensible that these pups had to die," she told the Statesman. "These ranchers are guests on our public lands. Wildlife deserves to be there just as much as they do, if not more so. It's really tragic." Jordan said the first goal going forward is to get the federal government to reinstate federal protection for wolves. Authorities are reviewing the potential of relisting gray wolves in the West under the Endangered Species Act. But the other important step is education, he said. "People need to understand how important wolves are ecologically," Jordan said. There is a lot of misinformation about wolves, Liao said. He started learning about the animals in his environmental science class at school, where his teacher talked about the Timberline pack, he said. Randy Kraft knows all about the interest in an exposed shipwreck on the Missouri River near Wilton. "I got a caller from California, and he's all fired up to fly up here with his wife," said the owner and founder of Scuba One, a Mandan-based diving outfit. Unfortunately, there isn't much to see, but "it's exciting for a North Dakota project," said Kraft, who has dived one time on the Abner O'Neal. The steamboat hit a snag, or obstruction, and sank in July 1892, in 8-10 feet of water while carrying about 9,000 bushels of wheat downriver. The wreck has little to explore; there are no rooms, "it's just the ribs," according to Kraft. Low water levels, like now, routinely reveal the wreck. Explorer Jacques Cousteau sent a team to the site in 1984, according to Tribune archives. The State Historical Society of North Dakota took aerial footage in the fall of 2020, when the wreck lay exposed. Professional archaeologists hadn't visited the site in 30-40 years, according to Historical Society Chief Archaeologist Andrew Clark. The Historical Society also wanted to test out its new camera drones at the site and document its location. Researchers would like to find schematics of the steamboat design, and they're working on a detailed article about the Abner O'Neal, Clark said. Aerial photos show visible snags upstream of the wreck, illustrating "how dangerous that stretch of river was and even still is," he said. The Burleigh County Dive Rescue and Recovery team checked out the wreck in August 2020 after conducting training nearby. Sgt. Jeremy Alm, who dived on the wreck as a teenager, said the dive team went to the site for "something different to do," mainly for fun. Scuba diver Les Helm, of Mandan, has been to the wreck twice, once in high water with a "ferocious" current, and in water so low his crew could walk around the site. He last visited more than 30 years ago. "I watch too much television and see treasure ships. I expected something better," Helm joked. He also has dived on a sunken U.S. Army Corps tugboat near Garrison, and on shipwrecks in Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, the Red Sea and the Caribbean. The State Historical Society in 1970 counted 32 boats sunk on the Missouri River in North Dakota, at least 20 of them wrecked by ice. Clark urges visitors to "be respectful," to take only photos and to not disturb the Abner O'Neal or trespass onto neighboring private land. The Abner O'Neal was built in 1884. It worked the river between Pierre, South Dakota, and Fort Benton, Montana, beginning in 1890. The steamboat's crew escaped the sinking, but the boat and its cargo were a total loss. Neither was insured. The Historical Society maintains some artifacts from the wreck, including a pipe wrench and a metal ship lantern. A timber fragment and a piece of a bottle are on display at Cross Ranch State Park near Washburn. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The latest North Dakota coronavirus news: school aid, artists aid and more. Education aid State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler has announced a new grant program to fund learning opportunities outside of school for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts and other organizations, including for-profit companies, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and higher education institutions, as well as regional education associations and city and county government agencies, are eligible to apply for Out of School Time grants. Federally funded three-year grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with up to $2 million available. Grant applications must address students academic, social, emotional and mental health needs, and provide learning opportunities outside of school, along with activities to complement students regular academic programs during the school day. Grant recipients will be required to collaborate with schools that serve students who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1. Potential applicants with questions should contact program administrator Becky Eberhardt at raeberhardt@nd.gov, or 701-328-2295. The grants will offer enriched educational opportunities to students before and after school, on weekends, and in the summer to counter the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their instruction, Baesler said. Aid for the arts The North Dakota Council on the Arts recently awarded $214,750 in federal American Rescue Plan pandemic assistance to individual artists and $127,580 to arts organizations. An additional $117,515 has been designated to North Dakota arts organizations through a regional partnership with Arts Midwest, funded through the National Endowment for the Arts. The aid opportunity drew a lot of interest -- there were 155 applications totaling nearly $1.8 million. There will be a second round of funding. The application deadline is Friday. For more information, go to https://www.arts.nd.gov/grants/american-rescue-plan. Testing and vaccines A comprehensive list of free COVID-19 testing offered by local public health units in North Dakota can be found at health.nd.gov/covidtesting. In Bismarck, PCR and rapid antigen tests are administered Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the strip mall at 2805 Morrison Ave., Suite A. PCR tests also are administered Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Northland Health Centers, 914 S. 12th St., Suite 101. People who have registered for COVID-19 testing through TestReg.nd.gov now can access results for tests completed after June 10 through a state service called the Citizen Portal. Instructions can be found at https://bit.ly/3jqiudf. People can go to https://www.ndvax.org or call 866-207-2880 to see where COVID-19 vaccine is available near them. Both Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health and Custer Health in Mandan are offering vaccine to the general public. To register with Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, go to https://www.ndvax.org and search for a Bismarck vaccination event. For assistance, call 701-355-1540. Morton County residents should go to https://www.ndvax.org and search for "Custer Health" or call 701-667-3370 to register. Custer Health has a vaccination clinic at 1100 32nd Ave. SE in Units D and E, off Memorial Highway. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week. Down A Bismarck-based photography business left clients hanging last week when it announced it had abruptly closed and would not offer refunds. Glasser Images Owner Jack Glasser told customers the effects of the pandemic caused irreparable damage that has forced this decision to happen extremely rapidly and immediately. The sudden announcement caused couples who had booked photographers for weddings to scramble and other customers wondering if they would get copies of photos theyd already paid for. Its hard to understand why Glasser didnt first attempt to get customers their photos or help clients make other arrangements before announcing the sudden closure. The North Dakota Attorney Generals office is investigating and received more than 170 complaints as of Friday afternoon. Up More than 1,000 University of Mary students, staff and faculty participated in the eighth annual Day of Service last week. The event, which involved 50 volunteer sites in Bismarck-Mandan, is the largest single-day service event in North Dakota, according to organizers. Its a good way to foster a tradition of volunteering while also helping students become more active in the local community. Down Kids around the country have been stealing from or vandalizing their schools, inspired by a TikTok challenge called "devious licks." The trend on the video-sharing social media platform has reached Bismarck-Mandan, with some Bismarck students charged in connection with damaging school property. Mandan Middle School informed parents the school saw incidents of stolen items and vandalism in September. A Mandan school official also told parents a trend for October was smack a staff member on the backside and advised families to speak to students about the consequences of social media trends. Up Public health organizations, health care facilities and pharmacies are all offering ways to make it easy to get a flu shot this year. Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health will conduct a drive-thru flu shot clinic at the Bismarck Event Center on Tuesday, with COVID-19 vaccine also available. Custer Health in Mandan also is offering flu shot/COVID-19 vaccine clinics this month, including a clinic scheduled Monday at the Memorial Highway clinic. With hospital capacity limited statewide, its important to take preventative steps to stay healthy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Quickly and Easily Scale and Secure Your Serverless Applications According to Forrester, 25% of developers will be using serverless technologies by next year. However, many organizations have concerns about how legacy application security approaches can support serverless applications. Discover the new serverless security trends that have been cropping up in response to these concerns in this report. State of Serverless Application Security Report Serverless computing is the next step in the two-decade-long process of removing friction from the software development life cycle (SDLC). Discover the most important insights and observations about serverless computing in Contrast Securitys State of Serverless Application Security report. AppSec for the Newly Hired CISO-CSO If youre a CISO or CSO whos just assumed their position, read this guide for recommendations on how to assess application security in your first 100 days on the job. Pipeline-Native Scanning for Modern Application Development Tap into this white paper to learn about an approach to application security that uses demand-driven static analysis to automatically triage vulnerabilities according to next-step actions within a modern development environment. 2021 Application Security Observabilty Report The application layer is an increasingly attractive target for cyber criminals. Learn about key analyses & insights from Contrasts Application Security Observability Report that covers 7 key topic areas. Pipeline-Native Scanning for Modern Application Development For scanning to become an effective tool for vulnerability remediation, organizations need a tool that will be used by developersand is purpose-built for modern applications and CI/CD pipelines. In this guide, explore the pipeline-native approach for scanning applications for vulnerabilities. Pipeline-Native Scanning for Modern Application Development For scanning to become an effective tool for vulnerability remediation, organizations need a tool that will be used by developersand is purpose-built for modern applications and CI/CD pipelines. In this guide, explore the pipeline-native approach for scanning applications for vulnerabilities. Contrast Scan is Faster, More Accurate, and More Efficient Access this white paper to learn how security scanning processes can be improved for faster deployment and scanning times, quicker remediation times, and more efficient delivery cycles. Pipeline-Native Static Analysis: Why Is It The Future of SAST Access this e-book for a guide to how a pipeline-native approach integrating DevOps/Agile workflows and tools can lead to faster development cycles, and higher quality code from development and security teams. State-of-the-art Protection And Observability Is Appsec Exactly Where It Is NeededIn Production Runtimes The latest Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that 43% of data breaches were the result of an application vulnerability over the prior 12 months. This lack of effective protection isnt an anomalyin fact, its the norm. Use this guide to explore what state-of-the-art application security looks like in this new norm. DevSecOps Requires a Platform Approach to Application Security Traditional security tools have severe limitations when it comes to todays complex and distributed applications. They struggle to accurately test for vulnerabilities, keep track of open-source components and protect applications in production. Download this white paper to explore a harmonized platform approach to DevSecOps. 2021 State of Open-Source Security Report Open-source libraries are growing in complexity, increasing risk while making it more difficult to secure modern applications. The 2021 State of Open-source Security Report uses telemetry from actual applications protected by Contrast OSS and Contrast Assess to reveal trends about library usage, vulnerabilities, and best practices. Read it here. CONTRAST OSS: AUTOMATED OPEN-SOURCE SECURITY WITHOUT THE NOISE Open-source software comes with its risks. Not only does your team have to work with complex licensing issues, but open source channels can lead to security vulnerabilities. These open-source risks require unique AppSec solutions. Learn how to get started with the right application security tools in this guide. At The Coalface: Intelligent Automation In Local Government During Covid-19 And Beyond Intelligent automation has the potential to transform public services, but where should councils even start? Download this paper to hear how three local government leaders rolled out intelligent automation in their councils. Plus, uncover 8 key pieces of advice for your organization. How Intelligent Automation is Driving Transformation As RPA evolves into intelligent automation it is providing an impressive new digital capability to support transformation. Blue Prism teamed up with UK Authority to uncover valuable insights into intelligent automation, and why it may become an important tool in the transformation of public services. Download this white paper to learn more. Rethinking Public Sector Service Delivery with Intelligent Automation This eBook focuses on four critical public services and how intelligent automation can help save operating costs, improve service levels, and take the pressure off overworked staff. Access it now. Building Better Citizen Services with Intelligent Automation Implementing a digital workforce can be beneficial to government workers. Download this paper to explore the multiple use cases where a digital workforce can help streamline services and get started thinking about your intelligent automation journey. The Journey to RPA Five Phases to Unleashing the Power of a Digital Workforce Many governments agencies are finally uncovering the prospect of incorporating a digital workforce into their organization. But implementing it takes time. This whitepaper outlines the journey to RPA in five phases, while providing insight on the best path to follow and addressing issues you may encounter along the way. Access it here. Blue Prism Global Healthcare Survey Report: In this report, Blue Prism surveyed over 400 leaders in the healthcare sphere to get a glimpse of the role that automation plays and their plans for the future of digital transformation. Open now to uncover key findings from the study. How to Use Intelligent Automation to Better Understand and Serve Your Customers, Creating Superior Insurance Experiences This report focuses on the business case for using automation to understand and serve customers more effectively enabling greater efficiency, better response times, and, ultimately, a better customer experience. Download now to explore the value of automation during times of change, when flexibility and scalability are a must for businesses. Blue Prism Announces Award-Winning Process Intelligence to Optimize Automation Performance Blue Prism and ABBYY, a digital intelligence company, recently announced the availability of Blue Prism Process Intelligence powered by ABBYY Timeline in the Blue Prism automation platform. Open now to see what customers have to say about the features it offers, as well as key soundbites from Blue Prism and ABBYY CEOs on what you can expect. Everest Group Peak Matrix for RPA Technology Providers 2021 RPA is a flourishing market, rapidly evolving in terms of product features, deployment options, training, and more. However, to achieve success, it is vital to select the right RPA solution for your enterprise. Download this report to explore the market leaders identified in 2021 and learn more about their strengths, limitations, and offerings. Executing an Intelligent Automation Strategy at Scale with a Proven Operating Methodology When first establishing an intelligent automation program, the biggest challenge you may face is figuring out how to sustain and scale the program to be beneficial across the entire enterprise. Open up this blog post for eight proven steps to ensure your intelligent automation program becomes an ongoing value generator across operations. Intelligent Automation Platforms The NelsonHall Vendor Evaluation & Assessment Tool (NEAT) analyzes the performance of vendors offering intelligent automation platforms. This custom report presents the findings of the NEAT vendor evaluation in the overall market segment covering vendor performance, summary analysis, and the latest market analysis. Open now to learn more. Taking automation from tactic to strategy This IDC white paper walks you through the steps of crafting an automation strategy, covering all aspects of the who, what, how, and why so you dont miss a thing. Download now to get started. Transforming Intelligently: Why Now is the Time to Think Strategically About Automation In this webinar, join Eric Tyree, Head of AI at Blue Prism, as he discusses using intelligent automation and technology to drive a business advantage for the future. Click in now to start watching. Mass General Brigham: Enterprise Automation Impacting Lives In this video, hear how Mass General Brigham has used intelligent automation to save the organization millions of dollars in savings, and learn about their future plans for automation. Click in now to watch. Intelligent Automation for Manufacturing Manufacturers are facing ever-evolving challenges. This paper explores how they can integrate new technologies into existing and automated workflows to meet the challenges head on and even thrive in business. Open now to learn more. Eversource Energy: Leveraging a Digital Workforce to Deliver Business Value In this panel discussion, Rockie Solomon and Yuval Gilbert from Eversource Energy join EYS Huzaifah Basrai and Jamaal Stanford to discuss the importance of achieving success with automation and how process optimization enhances the delivery experience. Tune in now to learn more. Building the roadmap to enterprise-scale intelligent automation in financial services The financial services industry is undergoing a major reset. Many employees are now working remotely and there is a widespread digitalization of platforms and processes. The question that remains is what happens next, and how will financial services companies build on that progress? Open up this paper to find out. AI in RPA: The Executive's Guide to AI and Intelligent Automation In this video, Blue Prisms Head of AI, Eric Tyree, talks RPA 101 and how intelligent automation built on AI can result in an enterprise digital workforce built smart and at scale. Tune in now to learn more. Goto.energy Intelligent Automation and Shareholder Value: Raising Profit Margins in Utility In this discussion, Evan Salway, CFO of Goto.energy, joins Jason Burton from BluePrism to talk about Go.to energys digital first strategy. Watch now to learn how using intelligent automation throughout the entire business has helped Goto.energy shake up the utilities sector, attract investors, and raise profit margins. Becoming Strategic with Intelligent Automation COVID-19 drastically changed businesses digital transformation journeys across many industries. In this whitepaper, Dr. John Hindle and Dr. Leslie Willcocks look at how leading business in five major sectors have made the shift from hunkering down to going big with automation. Download now to learn more. Pfizer: Getting medicine to market faster In this video, Vivek Khurana, Director of Digital Automation at Pfizer, discusses Pfizers RPA journey and evolution into intelligent automation. Tune in now to learn more about Viveks experience implementing RPA, how he thinks RPA has changed the way we work, and some best practices he has learned along the way. Elevating The Patient Experience Through Times of High Volatility and Beyond Open up this eBook to see how automation and cloud technologies are helping to re-shape the healthcare space, and explore feedback from healthcare organizations that have gone through their own transformation journeys, covering challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for your own organization. The Hershey Company - Adding a Digital Workforce to the Supply Chain saves close to $50 million In this video, Hershey Company representatives discuss Hersheys intelligent automation journey, and how it ultimately ended up saving the organization millions of dollars. Tune in now to learn more about the project, how they accomplished their goals, best practices they uncovered, and more. Discussion with the Hershey Company, Sysco and Unilever: Intelligent Digital Workers Transform Supply Chain Status Quo In this panel discussion, representatives from the Hershey Company, Sysco, and Unilever discuss how their organizations are transforming the supply chain with intelligent digital workers. Tune in now to hear them answer your burning questions about RPA, intelligent automation, and digital transformation. The Pillar of Shame has stood as a memorial to the lives lost during the Tiananmen Square Massacre for 24 years. Its removal is another sign that the Hong Kong government will not tolerate dissent even in the form of memory. [] The University of Hong Kong requested that members of a prominent but now-disbanded social rights group remove from campus grounds its famous statue, the Pillar of Shame, which pays tribute to victims in Beijings violent crackdown during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. The group, Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which was established during the Tiananmen Square protests, received the universitys request for removal on Oct. 8, requiring that the statue be gone no later than Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. The gruesome sculpture, colored in red, orange, and pink, and a towering 26 feet tall, has stood atop a podium in the Haking Wong building of the university for the past 24 years. At its foundation, an etched phrase reads, The old cannot kill the young. The letter came from Mayer Brown LLP, a London-based international law firm representing the university. Other than the request to remove the statue, the letter did not go into much more detail. Two liquidators from the Alliance, Richard Tsoi and Elizabeth Tang, asked the university to clarify their reasoning behind the request. If the Alliance fails to remove the Pillar of Shame before the deadline, the sculpture will be deemed abandoned and the University will not consider any future request from you in respect of the Sculpture, and the University will deal with the Sculpture at such time and in such manner as it thinks fit without further notice, the letter entailed, according to the Hong Kong Free Press. Tsoi, a retired member of the Alliance, called the request unreasonable and that universities have their social mission in historical responsibility. The request for removal follows the Alliances vote last month to disband, after its leadership was either arrested for violating Hong Kongs wide-sweeping National Security Law (NSL) or stepped down amid pressure. A full-scale investigation was launched into the Alliance on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces, causing all operations to freeze and assets to be liquidated. The Pillar of Shame was created by Danish artist Jens Galschit and given to the Alliance in 1997 as a gift. The statue serves as a warning and a reminder to people of a shameful event which must never recur, according to Galschit. Galschit was shocked by the demand that his artwork be removed from the campus. He was not personally contacted by anyone but instead had to hear the news from the media. He maintains full ownership of the statue. But a hasty removal poses challenges for the logistics of preserving the piece, according to its artist. It is really difficult to remove it. It is really not fair to remove it in a week while its been there for 24 years, Galschit said, adding that it would normally take two to three monthswith cranes and containersto properly move a sculpture of such size. The university continued: Based on the latest risk assessment and legal advice, the University has written to the said organisation requesting it to remove the exhibit from the university campus. The University will continue to liaise with various stakeholders to handle the incident in a legal and reasonable manner, the university said in a public statement, referring to the Alliance as an external organisation. The statue stands as a memorial to those lives lost in the bloody Tiananmen Square Massacre, an event during which it is estimated that thousands of student protesters were killed by Chinese troops while demonstrating for freedom of speech and press, a democratic system, and an end to censorship. Not only did the statue stand as a reminder of a tragic event that remains a bitter memory for Hong Kong citizens; it also stood as an emblem of hope for a freer future. The bond and camaraderie shared between citizens with a common vision thwarts any attempt by the Hong Kong government to wipe out the memory of the massacre. However, much like the meaning of art itself, the act of forcibly removing the statue signifies something outside itselfnamely, Hong Kongs censorship of any dissenting beliefs in its fear-inducing, Beijing-dependent society. ", https://news.yahoo.com/us-cant-fight-china-taiwan-221900627.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall The US can't fight China for Taiwan, but it can help Taiwan make China think twice about starting a war Taiwan has become a focal point for tensions between the US and China. Many in the US have called for a commitment to defend the island against Chinese attack, but a war with China over Taiwan would likely be devastating. The US can and should help Taiwan improve its ability to defend itself and better deter China. Daniel L. Davis is a senior fellow for Defense Priorities and a former US Army lieutenant colonel. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that US Special Forces and Marines had secretly been training Taiwanese troops on counter-invasion tactics. On Friday, the semi-official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, the Global Times, warned the presence of US troops in Taiwan will accelerate "preparations for military actions" and that once "war breaks out in the Taiwan Straits, those US. Military personnel will be the first to be eliminated." In combination with the recent increase in the number of Chinese warplanes flying into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone, this latest development continues a trend of rising tensions between the United States and China over the flashpoint of Taiwan. If you're new to the painting game, sitting in the middle of a crowded (and likely expensive) art class, only to feel judged by your fellow art peers, sounds like pure nightmare material. In order to express yourself, through painting or any art form, you should feel safe and supported, which is why online classes that let you go at your own pace and experiment in confidence is about as good as it gets. If you're looking to channel your inner Degas or Van Gogh, do yourself a favor and indulge in The Ultimate 2022 Learn to Paint Bundle. In addition to it being way more affordable than fancy art classes in a traditional classroom, this six-course program lets you explore a wide range of painting styles, including digital painting through virtual reality and even "adult coloring." Whether you painted a few things back in college or are strictly a "paint by numbers" type of artist, these courses are all designed for painters of all levels, even those who are just picking up a brush for the very first time. There's even a whole course dedicated to the basic introduction to the art of painting, providing you with a basic foundation in the use of color, value, edges, and shapes. There are also more unconventional courses in this e-learning bundle, including an introductory course to virtual reality painting through the Google Tilt Brush, allowing you to "step into your paintings" and assess scale, lighting, and more. There is also a course that explores the idea of "adult coloring" as a therapeutic tool, letting you create your own mind maps and shift physical, mental, and energetic imbalances in a holistic, and quite frankly, fun way. Having carefully curated more than 2,000 online video courses, the Skill Success e-learning hub gives students the opportunity to master new skills at their own pace, right from their own computers. Plus, each course is led by expert instructors with vast experience on the topic at hand, providing learners with easy-to-follow lesson plans, fun yet informative quizzes and exercises, and so much more. Get your creative juices flowing with The Ultimate 2022 Learn to Paint Bundle, now just $19.99 that's less than $4 bucks a class! Don't count Trump out, says Bill Maher. "Here's the easiest three predictions predictions in the word. Trump will run in 2024. He will get the Republican nomination. And whatever happens on election night, the next day he will announce that he won." Ever since Biden took office days Maher, Trump has been busy purging the GOP of the few people in the party who didn't say Trump won in 2021 and supporting GOP-led state legislatures bills to give them them power to overrule election results. When it comes to the 2024 election, Maher says Democrats are "living in a dream world." 2024 comes and Democrats treat it as a normal election year. They are living in a dream world, where their choice of candidate matters; their policies matter; the number of votes they get matters. None of it does. I won't even predict who the Democratic nominee will be. Because it doesn't matter. It could be Biden. It could be Harris, it could be Amy Klobuchar could be Timothee Chalamet. As long as they have a "D" by their name, they will be portrayed as the leader of the army of Satan. But even if they win, Trump won't accept it. But this time, his claims of illegal voting by immigrants, or mail-in ballots coming in after the deadline, or the system was hacked by Venezuela, or whatever Giuliani comes up with on the fly, they will be fully embraced by the stooges he's installing right now. December 16, 2024. This is the day electors gather to vote for President, Arizona and Wisconsin both send a slate of bogus Trump electors, setting up a showdown on January 6, and daring Kamala Harris to do what Trumpers wanted Mike Pence to do throw out election results. The difference being, this time, those results really are phony. And this time, it's not just 600 diabetic Fox News junkies and a nut in a Viking helmet. Ten million Trump voters have signed a pledge to come to Washington, of course, nine-and-a-half million flake. But half-a-million still show up and they're heavily armed and incensed when Harris does what Mike Pence wouldn't. Demonstrations grow in the streets. The kind of antifa-versus-Proud-Boy violence we've seen in Portland erupts across the country. People are afraid to go out anywhere where their political tribe isn't in the majority, which hurts commerce. The stock market is spooked by the unrest and tumbles as Inauguration Day approaches. President Biden is under extraordinary pressure to do something to stop the coup before his authority over the military and the Justice Department evaporates at noon on January 20. What happens when two presidential candidates show up on Inauguration Day, both expecting to be sworn in like a bad sitcom pilot? The ding dongs who sacked the Capitol last year? That was like when al Qaeda tried to take down the World Trade Center the first time with a van. It was a joke. But the next time they came back with planes. I hope I scared the shit out of you. Thank you very much. Ever since Darwin first wrote on carnivorous plants, in his still-fun-to-read 1875 book Insectivorous Plants, there have only been 11 independent origins for plants that eat animals. Now scientists have discovered a new one, the "North American flowering plant Triantha occidentalis", also known as the "western false asphodel." The plant has been known for over 100 years but nobody realized it ate insects. It thrives in damp areas where other carnivorous plants like sundews and butterworts flourish, though, which was one clue. So recently a group of scientists began examining some T. occidentalis that grow in a provincial park just south of Vancouver. They discovered that the plant is missing some genes for photosynthesis, which was another clue; you normally only see that in plants that are "heterotrophic" and get their energy from sources other than the sun. Also, the stem of T. occidentalis is covered with tiny hairs that are sticky as heck which could be used to trap insects. Except the location of the hairs violated theory. Normally, insect-eating plants put their sticky-trap parts far away from their flowers, because they need some flies to safely reach those flowers, to pollinate them. The fact that T. occidentalis had sticky-trap hairs up the stalk, right up to the flower, didn't add up. That made it seem not carnivorous. Anyway, there was only one way to figure out if the plants were eating insects: Feed them some! So they scientist went out into the field, manually put fruit flies on the stems of T. occidentalis and when they came back a week later, found the flies had been devoured. As Atlas Obscura writes Before presenting the flies to the plants, scientists gave each insect a tracking tag. Researchers mixed an amino acid with nitrogen-15, a stable isotope, into the flies' food. If researchers subsequently find the same isotope in plant tissue, it's an indication that they've been transferred from the animals. Using tweezers, Lin affixed the flies, one by one, to the plants' leggy stems, which are dotted with stubby glandular hairs, reddish and sticky as rubber cement. Lin's team returned to the park after a week, then two, and found stems speckled with exoskeletons. The researchers harvested plants to haul back to the lab. They found that T. occidentalis was indeed siphoning that nitrogen and accumulating it in its stem and fruits. It was clear that the plant was getting energy from consuming the insects, but the researchers aren't sure exactly how they pulled it off. "We didn't examine how they absorbed the nutrients," Lin says. "I suspect they use the glandular hair but it's just a guess." However the plant managed it, the exoskeletons remained: The plants "can only digest the inner part of the insects," Lin says. The scientists' paper, paywalled, is here. As they note, this discovery is really provocative, because it suggests that there may be far more insect-eating plants that we have yet to identify but which could also be living right under our noses! Given the existence of Triantha in close proximity to major urban centers on the Pacific coast, our study serves as a vivid reminder that other cryptic carnivores may yet remain to be discovered. BTW, this is what the plant looks like (Photo of T. occidentalis courtesy Wikipedia) The FBI says it collared an engineer and his wife after they attempted to sell design data about nuclear-powered warships to a foreign power. Their contact, unfortunately, for them, was an FBI agent. On June 8, 2021, the undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Jonathan Toebbe as "good faith" payment. Shortly afterwards, on June 26, Jonathan and Diana Toebbe traveled to a location in West Virginia. There, with Diana Toebbe acting as a lookout, Jonathan Toebbe placed an SD card concealed within half a peanut butter sandwich at a pre-arranged "dead drop" location. After retrieving the SD card, the undercover agent sent Jonathan Toebbe a $20,000 cryptocurrency payment. In return, Jonathan Toebbe emailed the undercover agent a decryption key for the SD Card. A review of the SD card revealed that it contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. On Aug. 28, Jonathan Toebbe made another "dead drop" of an SD card in eastern Virginia, this time concealing the card in a chewing gum package. After making a payment to Toebbe of $70,000 in cryptocurrency, the FBI received a decryption key for the card. It, too, contained Restricted Data related to submarine nuclear reactors. The FBI arrested Jonathan and Diana Toebbe on Oct. 9, after he placed yet another SD card at a pre-arranged "dead drop" at a second location in West Virginia. Whenever I read that the FBI has arrested someone for a serious crime such as terrorism or espionage, my first assumption is that the FBI spent millions of dollars recruiting someone with an obvious vulnerability to radicalization then spent a year cultivating, manipulating and ultimately bullying that person into committing a crime using criminal materials the FBI supplied. But this is much juicier. As reported/claimed, Toebbe solicited work directly from a foreign power by snail-mailing them a taster. Implied: it was either intercepted or the foreign power decided he was too hot and stupid to have anything to do with and turned him in. Nat-sec chatterers wondering where the suspects are on the MICE chart (and who the foreign power is) suggest that the profile is not Russia or Iran-level adversaries, but a goldilocks country friendly enough so that it doesn't feel like betrayal, but not so closely allied that the material would be a phone call away anyway. France or Israel, perhaps. It all seems very Coen Brothersy. When Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples launched their epic fantasy space opera comic Saga in 2012, it was an immediate hit critically acclaimed, as well as one of the best-selling independent comics in history. That success is well-earned; the book brilliant blends every imaginable ridiculous trope of sci-fi and fantasy epics with an incredibly grounded and emotional family story at the center of it. It's nerdy, it's vulgar, it's hilarious, and it's radically heartfelt. If you're not familiar, Saga is a sort-of Romeo & Juliet riff two star-crossed lovers, in this case, coming from two planets that have been at war for so long that no one even remembers why, and yet the entire galaxy has somehow gotten wrapped up in their feud. Alana is a winged Landfallian soldier; Marko is a horned magic-user from Wreath. They fall in love, and our story begins with the birth of their child, Hazel, as the three of them go on the run in order to escape, uhh, well, pretty much everyone in the universe, who all have different reasons for wanting to get their hands on this adorably rare mixed-race baby (and/or kill it and either one of its parents). After the release of issue #54 in the summer of 2018 which saw quite the turn of harrowing events Vaughan and Staples announced that the book would be taking an indefinite hiatus. But this past weekend at New York Comic-Con, Vaughan announced that the book would be coming back in January 2022: "Saga launched at Image during the company's 20th anniversary in 2012, so it seems more than fitting that the series is returning to shops just in time for our 30th anniversary next year," said Eric Stephenson, Chief Creative Officer and Publisher at Image Comics. "I can think of few better ways to celebrate what Image is all about than by welcoming back one of the most incredible storytelling teams in comics history as they embark on the second half of a true epic-in-the-making." If you haven't read Saga before, this is a great time to catch up. It's truly fantastic. And, like all Image Comics, you can read the first issue for free online. The striking workers are part of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, or BCTGM. BCTGM also represents the Nabisco workers who were striking this summer over similar concerns. Save money on your mortgage by locking in a lower interest rate. You may be able to reduce your payments with the help of lower interest rates. Click on your state to find out how. Its like a death of 1,000 cuts, Kerry Williams, an employee at the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, plant, told The Guardian. We had to work through this COVID for the last two years, and theyve just shown disrespect for the union name. They even want to remove our union logo from the cardboard cereal box. Construction work is poised to begin on Uniland Development Co.s proposed new warehouse in Lackawanna, as the Amherst-based development firm seeks ease a shortage of industrial and storage space in the region. Citing the lack of options for manufacturing and distribution companies, Uniland is preparing to erect the warehouse on a 9.12-acre parcel of land that it acquired from an affiliate of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. The site at 8 Dona St. along Route 5, is located on a portion of the 130-acre former Bethlehem Steel complex that the ECIDA is working to redevelop. A Uniland affiliate paid $209,000 to the Buffalo & Erie County Industrial Land Development Corp. on Thursday to acquire the brownfield parcel. The initial work began on Friday, with clearing the land, which was already remediated by the ECIDA. Uniland spokesman Ryan Weisz said the construction materials were already delivered to the site, so crews can move right into construction. Theres no waiting around, said Uniland spokesman Ryan Weisz. Its pretty exciting, everything theyre doing out there, and were happy to be part of it. The story of Mamie Kirkland, who died in 2019 at 111 years old, was told Sunday on the North Park Theatres screen. When she was 7 years old, her family fled the deep South after her father was told he was going to be lynched. More scary times would follow. She witnessed the East St. Louis Race Riot in 1917. When her family left there and settled in Alliance, Ohio, she watched as members of the Ku Klux Klan threatened to burn down her familys home because it was on a street where Blacks were not permitted to live. But Kirklands story is not one of anger over the past injustices caused by the horrendous treatment of Blacks but one of forgiveness and choosing to live with joy. She was the reluctant star of her story, one shared by many Black Americans who fled racial terrorism, segregation and bigotry for hope of a better life in the North during what became known as the Great Migration. Tarabu Betserai Kirkland, who made the award-winning documentary on his mother 100 Years From Mississippi stood at the back of the theater as more than 400 people filed in for the screening at the Buffalo International Film Festival. His only wish was that his mother had lived long enough to share this special day with him, he said. No mothers or children infected with Covid-19 have died at Oishei Childrens Hospital, Turkovich said, though that has not been the case elsewhere. The New York Times and other news outlets have reported about both mostly in communities with lower Covid vaccination rates as well as mothers with the disease delivering stillborn babies. +2 Doctors and a Buffalo mom recommend those who are pregnant get the Covid-19 vaccine Large studies now show that the risks of Covid-19 to fertility and pregnancy are dwarfed by the benefits of becoming immunized against the disease. In a large-scale study of more than 870,000 women in the U.S. who became pregnant during the pandemic, researchers reported in August that percentages of serious complications remained small in pregnant women who were vaccinated and unvaccinated. Still, they found that those who contracted the coronavirus were six times more likely to be admitted to intensive care during pregnancy; 14 times more likely to suffer respiratory failure and need mechanical ventilation; and 15 times more likely to die, according to the study, first reported in JAMA Open Network. None of the children or pregnant women admitted to Oishei Children's with Covid-19 in September or so far this month were vaccinated against Covid-19, Turkovich said. The chaotic, back-and-forth audience discussion on Sept. 20 ended at about 7:30 p.m., when an announcement was made that the meeting would not restart and everyone would have to leave the Clarence High School library, where the session was held, and the school itself, according to the Bee. The School Board held a virtual special meeting on Sept. 23 to cover agenda items, including hiring decisions, that were not addressed at the meeting three days earlier. At the beginning of the Sept. 23 meeting, Fuchs read a statement apologizing to district residents, particularly those who attended the earlier meeting and followed masking rules, for the premature end to the session. The work of the board was "interrupted by those who had no interest in the agenda for the evening proceeding," he said. School boards throughout the country have become battlegrounds for those upset with masking and vaccine requirements. Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys Offices to meet in the next 30 days with federal, state, Tribal, territorial and local law enforcement leaders to discuss strategies for addressing harassment, intimidation and threats of violence toward school board members, teachers and workers. In his first years as mayor, Brown saw what was happening and quickly came to back it. Sources said he always signed letters of support when the agencies wanted to bring more refugees to town and made himself a presence at the growing number of refugee social events popping up around town. As the refugee wave continued to transform the city's West Side, a similar but somewhat different story played out on the East Side. Attracted by the cheap and plentiful housing in the Broadway-Fillmore district and nearby neighborhoods, Bengalis from New York began migrating north about a decade ago. Now, community leaders like Atiqur Rahman estimate there are thousands of them. Asked if any politician did anything to encourage the influx of people with roots in Bangladesh, Rahman said: "No, I don't see that. It's mostly people like me and some other people." A welcoming city The efforts of the city's refugee resettlement agencies, along with those of immigrant community leaders who for years touted Buffalo as an affordable and welcoming destination, paid off, boosting the city's population to 278,349 people from 261,275 in 2010. To hear Brown tell it, it's no coincidence that that increase occurred under his watch. "Commanding an air base that's larger with more employees and larger budgets than the City of North Tonawanda gives me a definite advantage over my opponent," Pecoraro said. Tylec said the city needs to plan ahead for projects while keeping taxes low. "We have to really look at our budget process," Tylec said. Tylec said voters are concerned about infrastructure in the wake of some street flooding during heavy rains this summer. "We're pretty old, so we need ongoing repairs," said Tylec, who has worked at Clark Patterson Lee, an architectural and engineering firm, for more than seven years. Tylec said he would serve full time as mayor and "put my architecture career to the side." He said anyone who thinks he's too young to be mayor is wrong. "I've held my own the last four years as their alderman," Tylec said. "I know I have the experience in many different fields. I think I'm well-rounded enough to really move the city forward. I don't think age is something someone should raise a brow to. WASHINGTON Edie Rebrovich wanted to stand up. Her son Gary moved Edie's wheelchair as close as it would go to the chain-link fence surrounding the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and then she grabbed the fence with one hand and pulled herself to her feet. Statues of weather-battered soldiers facing the unknown looked straight toward Edie, a witness to the real-life backlash from such struggles. At 90, she traveled Saturday to Washington with 34 other Western New York veterans on Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight, a volunteer effort that gave the gray-haired vets accompanied by chosen guardians an opportunity to visit the nation's great military monuments. The local chapter is part of a national movement that began years ago, with a focus on honoring elders from the World War II generation. Today, living witnesses to that war are increasingly precious. According to Tom Petrie, president of the Buffalo Niagara organization, only five World War II veterans all well into their 90s made Saturdays journey. Twenty travelers served during the Korean War, while others fought in Vietnam or were in uniform for the Cold War era. For her part, Edies adult life was shaped by bloodshed in Korea. Raised in Fallentimber, Pa., she was the daughter of a mineworker who took shrapnel in the shoulder in World War I, a guy who died too young from black lung. Edie enlisted as a teenager in the Womens Army Corps and ended up as an X-ray technician at a military hospital in Texas. Her days were spent caring for young men who came in all shot up, as she quietly described it, including a soldier from Akron hit in the arm by machine gun fire. His name was Emil Rebrovich, and their conversations led to a date at the USO, and later to marriage. The couple, after the war, returned to Emils hometown. He was a barber who also worked at the Country Club of Buffalo, where Edie spent years as the head server. While they eventually divorced and Emil died more than 15 years ago, their son Gary came to understand bit by bit, as he grew older, how the war never really ended for his father. Long before the Honor Flight journey with Edie, Gary heard a few of Emil's tales about friends lost while trying to endure bitter cold, in combat. Emil carried memories that often jolted him from sleep at night, and Gary knowing his mother did her best in those years to provide comfort gave her time Saturday to reflect on all of it, at the monument. She understood why it is there, as well as anyone on the plane. At the memorial, where construction is underway to place the individual names of tens of thousands of Americans lost in the Korean War into lasting stone, Gary pushed Edie along a trail threading through all that work, and little kids she had never seen before would sometimes run to her and say: Thank you for your service. It was one of the countless gestures of gratitude the veterans received throughout the day, a central part of why organizers wanted so badly to get started again. Five Western New York veterans who had signed up for the trip died amid an Honor Flight pause, due to the pandemic. To hesitate much longer would have risked losing more veterans who might never have experienced that spontaneous one-day burst of gratitude. The pilgrimage began at 2:45 a.m., when everyone gathered at the headquarters of National Fuel, a major sponsor. The veterans and their guardians took a bus ride to the airport, where complete strangers stopped to applaud, a response that continued everywhere they went. A couple of delays meant they did not fly home until 10 p.m. There was a moment when all the tired veterans lined up in an airport concourse in Buffalo, just after fire trucks on the tarmac sprayed arcs of water as a welcome. Edie Rebrovich and Shirley Chiodo, a fellow veteran celebrating her 86th birthday, happened to be in front of the line, as bagpipers from the Greater Buffalo Firefighters Pipes and Drums prepared a memorable welcome. Edies eyes filled with tears, and you had to lean down close to hear her explain what Petrie and his staff understood, when they resumed the flights. This means the world, Edie said. The Honor Flight was the 10th from greater Buffalo to Washington. Three times, it was postponed for the pandemic, which led to a concern summarized bluntly by Robert DeAngelo, 94, one of several veterans who served in both World War II and Korea. He needed to prove to his doctors he was up to the journey, especially after a series of medical setbacks sent him into long-term care. I had bad dreams it would never happen, DeAngelo said. He was given a closeup seat for the emotional summit for Honor Flight, the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemeterys Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Petrie and the other Western New York volunteers were asked to select a few representatives to take part in a subsequent wreath-laying at the tomb. It was a hard decision. Anyone with them would have been a fitting choice. The officials considered the best way of making a statement about the entire group, and they settled on Honor Flight vice president Roberta Schlehr, joined by three veterans: Donald Saville, 96, who left Orchard Park for the Navy during World War II, was accompanied by Cheektowaga native and Korean War veteran Ed Piniarski, 91, and by 77-year-old Denny Wittmeyer of Boston, a guy who served with the Army in Vietnam. The ceremony was memorable as much for utter silence as for the sharp bark of commands. When it was over, the three men needed a few minutes to gather themselves, because the tomb for reasons specific to each of them captured the core of why they took the Honor Flight. Saville recalled his cousin Irwin, who went missing during the Marine landing at Guam and was later declared dead. A hell of a nice guy, said Saville, who also reflected on Irwin's legacy earlier in the day at the Pacific portion of the World War II memorial. Some kids from the Greater Cleveland Young Marines knowing nothing of Irwin's story asked if they could snap Saville's photograph. Savilles daughter, Lora Lee McKellar, put her hand on her dads shoulders as he thought of how Irwin had always been kind to him, an older cousin who made a young kid doing chores on a farm feel like he mattered. Seventy-seven years after Irwin went missing, Saville gave in, overwhelmed, as a wave of sudden emotion left him all busted up. Piniarski, 90, was there with a kind of gratitude best offered through sheer presence. He was the youngest of nine children. Six of his brothers, he said, served in either World War II or Korea. The solemnity of every spot he visited only reinforced what Piniarski hopes he has offered on every day of his long life, an ethic that left him in tears at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He is thankful for the arc that brought all seven brothers home and allowed for his own time with his wife Lucy. Honor Flight provided an opportunity to remember thousands upon thousands of others he knows were no different than he was soldiers, sailors and Marines who deserved exactly the same chance, but never made it home. It was a trip of a lifetime, Piniarski said, his emphasis on the last four words. As for Wittmeyer, 77, a retired carpenter, he has gone through six rounds of chemotherapy since learning in April that he has lung cancer, an illness that he said his doctors tie to exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant used in Vietnam. He made the flight thinking of Andrew Shimp and Frank Ragusa, two friends killed on the same day in Vietnam. The spotlight, he said, belonged on them. Im an average guy," Wittmeyer said. "Im a veteran. I got cancer. Im trying to beat it. Im no hero. Im nothing. All day long, wherever he went, strangers told him something else. Thirty-five veterans were on the plane, each of them feeling what Isaiah Frederick, 87, expressed at the Korean War memorial about the war that he survived just before he and his wife Hazel moved to Buffalo, where he took a job at Bethlehem Steel. Thats a lot of life, Frederick said of what was lost and what goes on. Vietnam veteran Dale Snyder of Randolph, trying to capture the feeling, described it as "the whole ball of wax." Jim Bauer, 91, felt it most of all at the moment they returned. The span from when the veterans gathered at National Fuel to when they said goodbye equaled about 22 hours on the go, which might have seemed like it would exhaust women and men sometimes nearing a century of life. It is hard to be exhausted, as Bauer found out, when you climb off a bus on a gentle October night, wearing your old Buffalo Bills jacket, and you are greeted by joyous great-granddaughters holding homemade welcome signs and then you get a reception not so different than the one you received when you came back from the war. Lori Bauer, Jim's wife of 71 years, weaved through the crowd to kiss him the way she kissed him when they were newly married, back when they were not much more than kids. Their oldest daughter, Lynn, was born while Jim was in Korea, and he did not hold the infant for the first time until she was 3 months old and he was here for good. He went on to build a career as a toolmaker at Dresser Industries. Jim and Lori had five girls they lost Lynn to cancer in 1986 which led to 13 grandchildren and 32 great-grandkids. One grandson, soon-to-be-Lt. Shawn McAdams of the Cheektowaga Police Department, served with the Marines in both Iraq and Afghanistan and then accompanied Bauer on the Honor Flight. McAdams hoped to hear some revelations from his grandfather, a gentle guy shaped by a generation that rarely spoke much about war. The only way McAdams knew Bauer served at all was from a single photo at his house of him in dress uniform, hanging on the wall. The grandson enlisted as a teenager because I felt the calling, and because he admired a similar choice by a good friend. McAdams and Bauer had a brief conversation about the military after the younger man came home in 2006 from Iraq, but McAdams still knew little of what his grandfather went through. In Washington, that conversation finally happened. After taking in the sweeping oval of the World War II memorial, the two men settled onto a nearby bench, where Bauer revealed something his grandson never realized: His longtime hearing loss was a direct result of the Korean War, he said, caused by serving with an artillery unit before anyone offered protection from the shattering noise of every blast. It was a revelation, the kind of account McAdams hoped to hear when he nominated his grandfather for Honor Flight, just before the pandemic. Bauer had a couple of health scares since then, and the grandson worried they might never get a chance to make the trip. Saturday, from the Patriot Guard escort at the beginning to an American Legion honor guard farewell at the end, McAdams said Bauer was astonished at the spotlight. He felt as if he had done nothing to deserve it, and he kept trying to pay for the meals and snacks provided to the veterans. Facing this unexpected Niagara of appreciation, he gave thanks to everyone else. Thats how he is, McAdams said. Still, if Bauer did not feel worthy of the attention, he needed only one sentence in the cool night at journey's end to explain exactly why he served. For all of this, he said, just before he was engulfed by four generations of Bauers, all grateful he came home. The next Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight is tentatively scheduled for May 2022. You can learn more by visiting the Honor Flight site, through this link. Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Along with death and taxes, consider insider jargon as a human inevitability. We all love the idea of belonging and our code words help to set us apart and even convince us of our own brilliance. Sometimes, though, jargon gets in the way of communication and when the subject encompasses big ideas such as the best role for police the lack of clarity carries a high cost. Thus, for example, defunding the police misstates the effort to let police focus their attention where it does the most public good while diverting some share of its money to organizations better suited to tasks such as mental health crises. The jargon promotes misunderstanding and allows critics to wield it as a club against advocates whose point is at least worth debating. Many Democrats believe its promiscuous use last year contributed to the partys weak performance in the 2020 congressional elections. Which brings us to the problem of sanctuary cities, yet another jargon-based missed opportunity from the political left. The subject came up this week as India Walton, the Democratic nominee for Buffalo mayor, tossed out the gibberish phrase in calling for police and other city officials to refuse to cooperate with federal investigations of undocumented residents in Buffalo. The best way to learn how to drive is by driving next to a driving instructor who will teach you the do's and don'ts. The best way to learn how to hunt is by hunting next to a hunting instructor. Fifty other counties in New York approved that new program for 12- and 13-year-old hunters but Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz vetoed it on the mistaken belief that it's too dangerous. I've been hunting a good while. The most dangerous hunting situation is when an excited hunter full of adrenaline shoots at something moving that he absolutely believes is a deer or turkey, but it isn't. That blunder can be made by young and old. New regulations in New York require hunters to wear a certain amount of fluorescent orange colors afield. This will curtail the unsafe practice of wearing full camo. Many hunters will whine but it's a needed safety regulation that was adopted by many other states long ago. New cops often take a course that teaches them when to shoot or don't shoot. Young hunters need the same kind of training. Poloncarz's veto was a well-intentioned mistake. Bob Catalano Derby 55V Configurable Buck, Boost or Buck-Boost LED Driver with Dual Brightness Control Automotive-Compliant Switching LED Driver for Exterior Head Lamps and DRL Lamps The IS32LT3959 is a single inductor, multi-topology controller with constant on-time for driving a ground referenced high-voltage LED string. This single channel switching LED driver integrates a PWM engine with external control to achieve dual brightness capability for Rear Combination Lamp (RCL), Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) and headlights. The IS32LT3959 is a single inductor, multi-topology controller with constant on-time for driving a ground referenced high-voltage LED string. This single channel switching LED driver integrates a PWM engine with external control to achieve dual brightness capability for Rear Combination Lamp (RCL), Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) and headlights. MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lumissil Microsystems, a division of Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. (ISSI), announced today an LED driver to further expand its portfolio of automotive exterior lighting solutions. The IS32LT3959 is a single inductor, multi-topology controller with constant on-time for driving a ground referenced high-voltage LED string. This single channel switching LED driver integrates a PWM engine with external control to achieve dual brightness capability for Rear Combination Lamp (RCL), Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) and headlights. The IS32LT3959 switching LED driver supports advanced features such as ultra-low 1.5A shutdown current to conserve battery power, 3% output current accuracy for optimal LED brightness control, programmable Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) engine for standalone LED dimming capability and spread spectrum to minimize the device EMI profile. Other key features are programmable single LED short detection, both analog and digital dimming, LED current monitoring pins, device and LED temperature monitoring, single inductor requirement for all switching topologies and comes in a thermally enhanced eTSSOP-28 package. It operates from a wide 4.5 to 55V supply voltage and is guaranteed to meet specifications over the -40C ~ +150C operating temperature range. The IS32LT3959 is our latest automotive-compliant, AEC-Q100 LED driver designed to meet the demands of next generation exterior vehicle lighting designs, said Ven Shan, Vice President of Marketing. This driver incorporates the latest features in a compact 28-pin package to provide power and space savings; while at the same time lowering the overall system costs due to its many integrated functions. Story continues The integrated PWM engine can be configured to operate up to 2kHz with a 5 to 95% duty cycle. A single pin will enable or disable the PWM engine so that when enabled the LED current level is subject to the PWM duty cycle and when disabled the maximum current is output to the LED string. This support for two LED current levels enables cost effective lighting systems since the same LEDs can be used for both tail and brake lamps. This dual brightness capability can also be used with DRL for higher brightness during the daytime and a lower brightness level at nighttime. Availability and pricing The IS32LT3959 is available now in production quantities, with AEC-Q100 qualification and supporting PPAP documentation. The device comes in a thermally enhanced 28-pin TSSOP package is priced at $0.95 each in 10k pcs quantities. About Lumissil Microsystems Lumissil Microsystems is the analog/mixed-signal product division of ISSI, a fabless semiconductor company that designs and markets high performance integrated circuits for the following key markets: (i) automotive, (ii) communications, (iii) industrial/medical, and (iv) digital consumer. Lumissil Microsystems primary products include LED drivers for low to mid-power RGB color mixing and high power lighting applications, audio, sensor, high-speed wired communications, optical networking ICs and application-specific microcontrollers. ISSI/Lumissil is headquartered in Silicon Valley with worldwide offices in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, and Korea. Visit our website at https://www.lumissil.com About Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. (ISSI) ISSI is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets high performance SRAM, DRAM, Flash memory (including NOR flash, NAND flash and managed NAND solutions (eMMC)), and Analog/Mixed-signal integrated circuits. ISSI provides high-quality semiconductor products and has been a committed long-term supplier to its customers. ISSI is headquartered in Silicon Valley with worldwide offices in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, and Korea. Visit our website at http://www.issi.com/ CONTACT: Lumissil Microsystems; Ven Shan 408.969.4622 vshan@lumissil.com Aaron Reynoso 408.969.5141 areynoso@lumissil.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97061dbc-8a6e-4fce-b2e5-f8e5574d6572 The first 5,000 OpenPunks NFTs will be released in batches between October 11 and October 20 in the form of Mystery Boxes and live Auctions. OpenPunks OpenPunks OpenPunks SINGAPORE, Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global digital asset exchange Gate.io recently launched their new range of OpenPunks NFTs, a community-driven NFT collection aimed at inspiring users and creators alike. The company has officially started releasing the first 5,000 OpenPunks NFTs on the dedicated NFT Magic Box marketplace. "We are always excited to bring new products to market. The first 150 OpenPunks mystery boxes sold out within two minutes, indicating users' increasing appetite for NFTs. Users will be able to pick the OpenPunks they like most based on attributes such as type, role, skin tone and hair colour and purchase the ones with the combination they like best," said Marie Tatibouet, Chief Marketing Officer at Gate.io. The first 5,000 OpenPunks NFTs will be released in batches between October 11 and October 20 in the form of Mystery Boxes and live Auctions. Different batches of OpenPunks NFTs will unlock daily at 01:00 am (UTC) and 06:00 am (UTC) respectively on Gate.io's dedicated NFT Magic Box marketplace. Inspired by the likes of Loot, OpenPunks are an entirely attribute-based series of NFTs where users can provide their own design based on the attributes that their OpenPunks feature. Attributes include type, role, skin tone and hair colour and come with a dedicated rarity badge that allows users to establish how rare each NFT is. fQyYP4L0pvK5m7V8EXVtg7RP4FYTV-gI4mpId_yJvHVYQdMupoQVtXeSfE63JMZ4LKjIq0ndob9-I6nfE8Tv8YIPUV2hjE7xtpQJxyQ7hidPA69aVXpoWaV-GNsRowRWS_XyA33P=s0 Despite being introduced in 2015, it wasn't until 2021 that NFTs started going mainstream. According to data from market tracker DappRadar , the global NFT market saw over $10.7 billion in sales during Q3 2021, a staggering 704% increase over the preceding quarter. This surge has been driven as interest in NFTs has reached an all-time high. Popular blockchain gaming platform Axie Infinity broke records with over $2 billion in NFT trades being performed by users. Similarly, one of the leading NFT collections, CryptoPunks, has seen over $1.6 billion in sales, while others such as Bored Apes, Pudgy Penguins, CovidPunks and more continue to grow. Story continues OpenPunks were created in order to inspire both users and creators alike, while promoting growth in the global NFT ecosystem. Users are invited to let their creativity run wild while purchasing, creating and trading different OpenPunks on the platform. About Gate.io Gate.io allows blockchain enthusiasts to trade and store assets in over 890 of the leading cryptocurrencies for over 6 million users from over 190 countries. The exchange offers spot, margin, futures and contract trading in addition to DeFi products through HipoDeFi, custodial services through Wallet.io, investments through Gate Labs and its dedicated GateChain platform. The company also offers a wholly integrated suite of products such as its Startup IEO platform, NFT Magic Box marketplace, crypto loans and more. Diksha Sharma diksha@mail.gate.io Related Images Image 1: OpenPunks Gate.io Is Releasing the First 5,000 OpenPunks on NFT Magic Box This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment (PA) Former Royal Marine Paul Pen Farthing has spoken of his relief after dozens of his staff from his animal shelter in Afghanistan have successfully been flown to the UK. Mr Farthing, 52, said workers from the Nowzad charity and their families have been flying into Britain from Islamabad, Pakistan over the last month after leaving Kabul on September 11. After sorting out their British visas and taking PCR tests, the Afghan nationals have flown over in groups with their families before being placed in quarantine hotels across the country. A total of 50 have moved so far and 17 are still in Islamabad being processed. People & animals was deal for #operationark @nowzadrescue family made it possible& whilst #dogs & #cats arrived weeks ago staff have been arriving in groups to UK. Made me cry if honest seeing this photo. to all @PeterEgan6 @domdyer70 We should all be so proud of this! pic.twitter.com/m0YJdner8j Pen Farthing (@PenFarthing) October 10, 2021 Mr Farthing said: Its a total relief to be honest, knowing that theyre safe now in England or on their way to England and starting new lives with all the opportunities for them. Weve got a shortage of veterinarians here in the UK so having these passionate people to add to the team is only going to help us all. Im looking forward to the day when theyre going to get out of quarantine and then I actually get to see them in person. Story continues Thats going to be absolutely amazing. Some staff will now retrain to qualify as vets in the UK while others will get different jobs and study English to improve their language skills. Mr Farthing said that the charity has received offers of accommodation, jobs and support from Britons who are keen to help the Afghans settle into their new lives. For the animals, a total of 94 dogs and 68 cats were rescued from Afghanistan after Nowzad launched its Operation Ark campaign. A total of 10 dogs have been adopted so far and 30 dogs are still waiting to be rehomed. (PA Media) The rest of the dogs are due to be reunited with their owners who already adopted or owned them prior to the US and UK withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan. Most of the animals are also still in quarantine due to paperwork reasons or their owners have not been able to collect them yet but some have been rehomed in Britain in recent weeks. A branch of Nowzad still remains in Kabul but now solely operates as a donkey rescue centre. It is being run by Nowzad staff who did not want to leave Afghanistan. Mr Farthing and his wife Kaisa were also reunited with their dogs, Ragnar, Cora and Ewok, at the end of September after the pair had to quarantine following their visit to Afghanistan. Reflecting on the difficulties over the last few months, Mr Farthing said he would not change how he and his staff handled the evacuation of the animals and workers from Kabul. Huge respect to Pen Farthing a man of courage integrity & determination who never gave up on getting his people & animals to Britain. He inspired us all & put the Great back into Great Britain well done that man @PenFarthing @PeterEgan6 @rickygervais @Nowzad #OperationArk pic.twitter.com/2uI4MczKNW dominic dyer (@domdyer70) September 13, 2021 From our side of things, we dealt with the cards that we were dealt with and we had to make plans based on the information we had and the situation as it was evolving, he said. Definitely the American government and the British government could have planned this withdrawal a lot better and in a different way, without a shadow of a doubt. Recently Ive seen that the British representative to Afghanistan has just met with the Taliban their leadership, in Kabul. Thats only a month after the withdrawal. We have to ask, why did they put everybody through that? We could have had a completely different outcome to this. I think they put the emphasis on the fact it was an emergency evacuation and so everybody had to go with it. Theres not a lot we could have done any differently. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: The Government continues to do all it can to ensure safe passage for those who wish to leave, and is committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan. Read More Former head of Royal Marines died as a result of hanging VC hero Beharry praises Royal British Legion ahead of service marking centenary Afghanistan girls football squad will be relocated to UK shortly Work is under way in Malaysia to protect a rare new species of oyster discovered by a team led by a Queens University researcher. Dr Julia Sigwart, from the School of Biological Sciences, and colleagues named the new species Crassotrea (Magallana) saidii. It was discovered during a collaboration with academics at Universiti Putra Malaysia aimed at increasing the oyster population in the Muar River in the state of Johor, south of the Malay Peninsula. While local fishers knew about the species, it had not been officially named because until DNA testing took place, scientists were not convinced it differed from a similar, more common species. It lives in one tiny estuary and may be threatened by urbanisation. Dr Sigwart said fishing in the area is carried out in the traditional way, involving free diving and collecting fish by hand. The fishers depend on catching and selling these oysters as their source of income but the process is recognised as being horrendously dangerous and tragically one of the fishermen who was involved in the project died this year, she said. A local businessman, Md Saidi Bin Mohamed, keen to raise awareness of the oyster considered a delicacy with a unique flavour and once only allowed to be eaten by the Sultan of Johor and his closest advisers was concerned about whether these fishing processes were sustainable and contacted the Universiti Putra Malaysia to see if they could help. Dr Sigwart, whose research group at Queens works to understand global patterns of biodiversity, was tasked with documenting all oyster species in a practice known as taxonomy and says that there are around 20 species of oysters that can be eaten. As part of this project, she named the new species Crassotrea (Magallana) saidii after Md Saidi Bin Mohamed, who has been actively promoting research and conservation for the sustainability of this oyster since 2013. The name recognises his dedication, commitment, passion, and discovery of the new species. Story continues The newly named species is about 120mm by 6mm with a relatively flat shell with brown scales. Dr Sigwart said a species cannot be protected unless its existence is confirmed through scientific validation. Official validation helps manage sustainability as scientists have more influence in encouraging the government and those who fish to protect it, she said. It also ensures it has the best possible market value when it is sold as food. The population does seem stable but its worrying that the only known occurrence of this species in the world exists in such a small area and we dont know what is coming downstream that might threaten it. Tropical South East Asia is a very biodiverse region and this particular area of the Muar River is a rich and important habitat which can tell us a lot about climate protection and global biodiversity. The discovery of the species is the subject of a research paper published in Marine Biodiversity on Tuesday. C-Level View | Feature "The Rise of Social Media" Ponderings from a 3-Credit Course A Q&A with Gardner Campbell Gardner Campbell, an associate professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University who thinks deeply about the philosophy of communications, has been teaching a new course this fall called "The Rise of Social Media." He and his students are exploring the history, trends, and perhaps even the future of what we now call social media. Earlier this year, in our Q&A, "Social Media Now Has A Past Can We Learn from Our Mistakes?" we examined the basis for the course and promised to follow up after it was in full swing in the fall semester of 2021. Below, we ask Campbell for some early insights from the time he's spent with classes so far. "By studying the Web at the beginning of the course, students will have a much better idea of how social media came to be." Gardner Campbell Mary Grush: What are the expectations of students coming into a course about the rise of social media? Gardner Campbell: I think some students are very happy to have landed in the course, even though it might not be exactly what they were expecting. I was struck by the students who said, early on, "This isn't a course on the rise of social media; it should be called 'The Rise of the World Wide Web.'" There are two things that are interesting about that remark. One, I shared the syllabus so that they wouldn't be surprised. But as to the other, I don't think that many students understand the Web as the first really mainstream platform riding on the Internet, allowing, at a very basic level, everyone to use the Internet. And following that, social media were all Web-based. My students don't seem to perceive this relationship between the Web and social media. I do have a few students who have a detailed knowledge of the Web and the social media universe, but for most, they don't even realize that when they open an app, most or all of what follows happens through the Web, and that the Web still sets the conditions for most of what's possible. Grush: How will the course bring them around to a better understanding of the relationship between the Web and social media? Campbell: By studying the Web at the beginning of the course, students will have a much better idea of how social media came to be. You don't have to look far to see how early ideas of computing from Vannevar Bush in the 1940s led to what Doug Engelbart tried to do in his famous 1968 demo and throughout his career with the augmenting intellect conceptual framework, and how both of those led to Tim Berners-Lee as he was thinking about design principles of the Web in the early '90s. Looking at this progression, my students may come all the way to an understanding of participatory culture, a term central to Henry Jenkins's 2006 MacArthur Digital Media and Learning report. My students are surprised at those connections and how they drove a certain kind of innovation that has had a direct connection to the world they live in today. Most of our students are aware of all the social media arenas open to them. They are very involved in it: Some follow Tik Tok religiously, a lot of them use Reddit for news, and nearly all use Instagram. On the other hand, they don't understand the larger context. That's in large part because they don't know the history and the relevant concepts that brought this revolution. It's wonderful to watch them as they make their way toward a deeper understanding. Page Content Beautiful, safe and prosperous communities are places where families can grow strong and build legacies for the future. Corridors are vital to the health of Charlottes communities, serving as links that connect people to the resources and businesses they need to live and thrive. With a $24.5 million investment, the City of Charlotte is renewing its commitment to six key corridors. To develop safer communities, the city will implement the SAFE Charlotte initiative which includes violence interruption, hospital-based violence intervention and $1 million in grants to local organizations. The initiative also includes pathways to employment and affordable housing. Violence interruption is an evidence-based program that utilizes a public-health approach to address violent crime. In partnership with Cure Violence Global, and Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), the city and Mecklenburg County will launch Alternatives to Violence (ATV) in the Beatties Ford area. For more information about the Corridors of Opportunity or the Alternatives to Violence program, contact Cherie Smith at Cherie.Smith@charlottenc.gov. The city and partner agencies will host a virtual ATV Summit on June 10 as part of the program launch. Interested residents should register online to attend the summit. Alternatives to Violence Community Summit Thursday June 10, 2021; 6 p.m. Register to attend the summit About the Cure Violence Model Cure Violence Global is a non-profit, public health organization that has developed a successful methodology that works to interrupt violence in the place and during the time it happens. Cure Violences methodology includes resourcing community members to work with people who are at the most risk for perpetrating violence. The methodology is specific, based in public health principles, and uses data to target areas and individuals that are most likely affected by violence. Interrupters are community members and trusted messengers who use their credibility and relationships to mediate conflict and stop violence before it happens. Interrupters work in their neighborhoods, talking to people on the street, during the times that violence is known to happen. Outreach specialists maintain a caseload of persons they support in receiving services and resources to prevent future violence. Cure Violence has helped set up evidence-based violence interruption programs in Durham and Greensboro, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana, Chicago, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City, New York; Washington, District of Columbia; St. Louis, Missouri; and Camden, New Jersey. Subpoenas issued as part of a GOP-ordered investigation into how the 2020 presidential election was conducted are unlawful, said Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul on Monday, who urged Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to call off a probe he said has been irrevocably tainted by bias. Kaul faulted lead investigator Michael Gableman for hiring Andrew Kloster, a Republican attorney and former member of President Donald Trumps administration, a hardly neutral fact-finder who has already proclaimed without providing any evidence that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, fair and square and that election training in the state was woefully inadequate. This investigation suffers from glaring flaws that destroy any credibility that its results could have, Kaul said at a press conference Monday. My request to Speaker Vos is simple: Shut this fake investigation down. In a statement, Vos, who accused Kaul of taking a partisan stance on the matter, said subpoenas he signed earlier this year on behalf of Gableman, a retired state Supreme Court justice, were issued correctly and he has no plans of calling off the review. In order to restore confidence in our election system, Justice Gableman will continue his investigation, said Vos, R-Rochester. The condemnation of the inquiry from the states top lawyer, who is representing the Wisconsin Elections Commission, comes after Rep. Janel Brandtjen, who chairs the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee, said she has been kept in the dark on Gablemans investigation. While Gableman has tried to distance his effort from the widely panned partisan election review in Arizona, Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, has called for a similar review she has characterized as a full cyber forensic audit. Gableman, who has largely limited his public comments to YouTube videos and friendly talk radio hosts, did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Vos has allocated nearly $680,000 in taxpayer money for the one-party investigation, which is focused on some of the procedures voters and clerks relied on in casting and processing ballots. Although some have raised the prospect of fraud, no claims of large-scale cheating have been substantiated, and the investigation, so far at least, is not seeking to review any ballots. In a video posted on YouTube Saturday, Gableman claimed, without providing evidence, that his investigation had found compelling evidence that Wisconsins election laws were not properly followed by election officials at both the state and local levels. There is also evidence that ambiguities in the law were expansively interpreted so much so to potentially undermine ballot security measures, Gableman said in the video, without providing specifics. A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Biden defeated Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Four voters out of roughly 3 million who cast ballots have been charged with fraud. Gableman on Saturday said the investigation is not a prosecution and said city clerks and mayors who have been subpoenaed will be granted immunity. Intraparty rancor Brandtjen, who has tried to subpoena voting machines, ballots and other election data in two counties, pushed back against Gablemans comments. Brandtjen, whose subpoenas have not been signed by Vos and have been rejected by the counties, said in a statement Monday that she objected to Gablemans promise of immunity. Brandtjen said she has not been provided copies of Gablemans subpoenas, while also criticizing the former justice for comments he made in a Friday interview with WISN-AMs Dan ODonnell in which he called the election review in Arizona a waste of money. Even Justice Gableman seems to find it difficult to have a comprehensive understanding of how elections work, Brandtjen said in reference to comments Gableman made last week to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A cyber forensic audit, including the recounting of physical ballots and an audit of the machines, would finally rebuild trust in Wisconsin elections. Kaul on Monday questioned whether Gableman even has the authority to grant such immunity, adding that the subpoenas were not only overbroad, but his request to have officials, including elections commission administrator Meagan Wolfe, testify in secret meetings this Friday was improper. Kaul said Gablemans request to meet with Wolfe in private is unlawful and any meeting should be held in public before a legislative committee. In a letter to Gableman Monday, Kaul said he hopes to reach a mutual agreement on the matter, but added he may take court action if an agreement is not reached. Aiming at Evers Gablemans Saturday statement took aim at Gov. Tony Evers over the Democratic governors criticism of the partisan investigation, with Gableman accusing Evers of having an incomplete and misguided view of the probe. Evers in late September described the investigation as a $700,000 boondoggle after Gableman said the burden will be placed on local election clerks to prove that the 2020 election was conducted fairly, which Evers called a bit outrageous. If I was a clerk Id be lawyered up and make sure that youre doing the right thing, Evers told reporters at the World Dairy Expo last month. I hate to see an inquisition like this, especially when youre being told you have to prove it was a good election. Everybody knows it was a good election. Everybody knows there was no fraud. Gableman contended that local election officials should have no reason to be concerned about the investigation if they complied with the law. If the governor believes that it has been proven the election has been conducted flawlessly, then he is completely ignorant to the concerns of Wisconsin voters who have great concerns regarding the sanctity and the security of their vote, he said. In a video last month, Gableman said hes not trying to overturn the election results, even though he told Trump supporters in November, without evidence, that he thought the election had been stolen. Gableman has said he plans to look into advice the bipartisan state Elections Commission gave to clerks, and donations the Facebook-funded nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life gave to Wisconsin communities, to help run the 2020 election. On Saturday, Gableman said the alternative to his investigation would be to look the other way while millions of dollars in private funds may have been used in the public management of elections to achieve a preferred outcome at the expense of election integrity. If indeed this occurred would be the true definition of a boondoggle, and it would also mark the beginning of tyranny and the end of the American experiment in democracy, Gableman said. Sham review Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a statement the video further underscores that Gableman has predetermined the results of this sham review. This video only further underscores the governors comments that this is a $700,000 boondoggle on taxpayer dime to confirm what independent reviews have already proven: Wisconsin had a free, fair and secure election, and President Biden won, Cudaback said. Republicans have claimed CTCL essentially took over administration of the 2020 election, specifically in Green Bay. The city has forcefully pushed back on that narrative, arguing the allegations are completely without merit and that it followed state and federal laws. A federal judge found nothing in the law to prohibit use of the grant money, which went to more than 200 Wisconsin communities last year to help cover election costs during the pandemic. Most of the money went to the states five largest Democratic-leaning cities, including Madison, which are the focus of Gablemans investigation. The mayors and clerks in Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Racine and Kenosha had been ordered by Gableman to testify as part of the investigation later this month. But in an about-face last Thursday, investigation officials said they had backed off an initial request for interviews to now only include records that have already been produced in response to public records requests, rather than interviews and hundreds of thousands of additional documents. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In their own words "Chancellor Blank is a distinguished leader and economist who has always been a fierce advocate for continuing UW-Madisons proud tradition of excellence in research and innovation, especially in the midst of political headwinds and budget cuts during her time at the UW. Im grateful for Chancellor Blanks leadership during her near-decade as chancellor at UW-Madison, and I wish her all the best as president of Northwestern University." Gov. Tony Evers Chancellor Blank is an extraordinary leader whose commitment to the Wisconsin Idea, including her efforts to expand the Universitys outreach to every corner of the state, have UW-Madison well-positioned for success in the future. The impact of her leadership has been felt throughout the UW System and entire state, and she will be sorely missed. I appreciate that she will continue as chancellor through this academic year as we prepare for a transition and know she will continue her record of excellence at Northwestern. UW Board of Regents president Ed Manydeeds The University of Wisconsin is one of the finest universities in the world, and Chancellor Blanks tenacious advocacy and strong leadership have helped build on that legacy during her tenure. On behalf of the University of Wisconsin System, I want to thank her for her service to our state and wish her well at Northwestern. Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson "I have greatly appreciated the chancellors calm unflappable demeanor and smart, practical approach to many challenges facing the UW and our community over these past nine years. She had a tough job and she did it well in a very collaborative manner. Her wry sense of humor will also be missed." Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Many thanks to Chancellor Blank for serving the people of Wisconsin and for her leadership at the university. During her eight year tenure, Chancellor Blank has been committed to educational excellence, academic innovation, and enhancing community and business outreach. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos For more than eight years, Chancellor Blank has served our states flagship university exceptionally and effectively while ensuring students were well-positioned to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. As an economist and former U.S. Commerce Secretary, she brought tremendous insight to understanding and engaging with the business community. As a fierce advocate for research, she also supported innovation both on and off campus, ensuring Greater Madison grows as a place that solves global challenges for years to come." Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce president Zach Brandon "At a time when federal R&D spending has leveled off and even decreased in some categories, the UW-Madisons research expenditures have continued to expand. In the fiscal year ending June 30, the university recorded an increase of more than 100 grant proposals compared to the previous year, demonstrating a breadth and depth of innovation. The UW-Madison also received $1.5 billion in federal grants, up 15% over the prior year. This has been accomplished through a combination of funding sources, including generous private donations, and despite the fact the UW-Madison remains the nations only major university without its own bonding authority." Wisconsin Technology Council president Tom Still "We are greatly appreciative for her nine years of dedicated service to UWMadison students and the state of Wisconsin. The Chancellor has been with us in some of the most trying times in recent UWMadison history. Despite a global pandemic and challenges from the State Legislature, she led a historic expansion of the Buckys Tuition Promise program and promoted inclusion education by ensuring all new students attend Our Wisconsin. Associated Students of Madison Offering gift cards to pregnant women on Medicaid who smoke if they receive home visits and calls encouraging them to quit could save money by reducing health care costs from conditions such as preterm birth and asthma, according to a UW-Madison study. The study involved more than 1,000 pregnant women on Wisconsins Medicaid program in 2012 to 2015 who smoked or recently quit and were at risk of starting again. Half were paid up to $460 to get home visits and tobacco counseling calls through a program called First Breath. The other women got up to $80 to participate in related testing. Six months after their babies were born, 14.7% of those who got the financial incentives for counseling werent smoking, compared to 9.2% of the other group. A cost-benefit analysis showed it would cost $3,399 to help an additional baby grow up smoke-free, an investment that would pay for itself by decreasing associated medical costs. For example, the researchers said asthma risk is 85% greater for young children if their mothers smoke, and asthma treatment costs $3,279 a year for children on Medicaid. Other related conditions include sudden infant death, wheezing and cognitive defects. If (Medicaid) can be successful at reducing smoking rates, they could be essentially saving themselves money that theyre putting into something like these incentives, said Marlon Mundt, a UW-Madison health economist and lead author of the study, published recently in the journal Preventive Medicine. Most pregnant women on Medicaid who smoke want to quit but face many barriers, including high stress levels and often living with other smokers, said Kristine Alaniz of the Wisconsin Womens Health Foundation, which runs the First Breath program. The odds are really stacked against them, Alaniz said. The quitting process is fraught with emotional and physical challenges, so those financial incentives provide a clear, tangible reward system that helps people stay focused. Sunni Gennis, of Weyauwega, participated in the study before and after the birth of her son, who is 7 years old. She has another son who is 4. She quit smoking for only about two weeks but said the program helped her cut her cigarette use by half today and find therapy to end an addiction to prescription opioids. The home visits were extremely beneficial to me, Gennis said. I dont know that I would have given it my time if (money) wasnt offered. The Wisconsin Womens Health Foundation began incorporating smaller financial incentives into the First Breath program following the study and hopes Medicaid adds them, Alaniz said. The state Department of Health Services has no plans to adopt such incentives, spokesperson Jennifer Miller said. The study results provide an interesting perspective on how to further address tobacco cessation for individuals who are pregnant, she said. About 7% of U.S women report smoking during pregnancy, and 85% of women who quit smoking while pregnant relapse in the six months after delivery, the researchers said. Smoking rates are considerably higher among pregnant women on Medicaid, Alaniz said. In the study, those in the incentive group got $20 to $40 gift cards for each home visit, counseling call or test for tobacco abstinence. The average total received was $220. About 16% of women in the study got a tobacco cessation medication from their doctor to help them quit, one of the related expenses built into the cost-benefit analysis, Mundt said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) The Philippines is among the countries in Asia Pacific least likely to woo foreign investors in, according to a global think tank. The country ranked 13th out of 14 economies in the region in Oxford Economics' foreign direct investment (FDI) attractiveness scorecard, according to its research briefing published Monday. "[W]e see the Philippines as being one of the least attractive among the APAC economies. This adds further weight to our forecast that the extent of economic scarring caused by the pandemic will be especially large in the Philippines," it said. Last July, the country placed last in the United Kingdom-based organization's economic scarring scorecard, noting the Philippines could log the biggest drops in output compared to pre-COVID-19 levels by 2025. Oxford Economics noted the Philippines scored high in terms of labor dynamics given its ongoing urbanization and relatively young workforce, a description it shares with Indonesia. However, both countries performed poorly in infrastructure and business environment along with ease of doing business, it added. Still, Oxford Economics noted the Philippines' policy efforts to attract FDIs. "The Philippines lowered the corporate tax rate to 20% from 30% at the start of 2021 and plans to ease mandatory local employment requirements for foreign investors," said the think tank. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas revealed FDIs plunged by 24.3% in May, but rebounded by 60.4% the month after. Inflows were at a milder pace of 52% in July. China and Vietnam topped the FDI attractiveness scorecard, with Beijing leading about 6% increase in inflows for the region last year, according to the firm. "We believe prospects for FDI inflows into APAC over the medium term remain strong, even though pandemic-driven supply disruptions and uncertainties over the pace of recovery may see some firms rethink their supply chains," said Oxford Economics. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) More than 300 physicians, past and present health leaders, and five former Health secretaries stood up against President Rodrigo Duterte's supposed attempts to block Senate investigations on alleged anomalies in COVID-19 response funds. The Philippine College of Physicians, including its past presidents, signed a strongly-worded letter of indignation and call to action addressed to the government. Even former Health secretaries Carmencita Reodica, Manuel Dayrit, Enrique Ona Jr, Esperanza Cabral and Paulyn Ubial signed the statement asking Duterte not to "obstruct" the Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry. "The PCP, past presidents, and other people who have signed the statement think that the President is actually obstructing the investigation," Cabral said. Last week, Duterte signed a memorandum that directed Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other members of the Cabinet to ignore summons of the Senate committee led by Richard Gordon. He said the probe hampers pandemic response efforts since key officials will have to attend the hearings that usually last for a whole day. He also warned senators he will send them to jail if they cite Cabinet members in contempt. RELATED: Senators slam Duterte's 'unconstitutional' order barring Cabinet members from hearings Maricar Limpin, president of PCP, slammed Duterte's order. "We all deserve to know the truth," Limpin said in a media briefing. "Aayawan ho namin ang anumang tangka na pigilan ang testimonya o cover-up ng totoong nangyayari kaya kami ay naririto ngayon para manawagan for transparency, exigency, and accountability." [Translation: We will reject all efforts to block or cover-up the testimonies on what truly happened, so we are here to demand transparency, exigency, and accountability.] Dr. Norberto Lingling Uy said Duterte should be the first to launch a probe or order his officials to attend investigations if his priority is to uncover possible anomalies in the handling of pandemic funds or if he values his countrymen. Dr. Eugene Ramos, a former president of PCP, said the letter personally signed by hundreds of leading physicans in the country is a big deal since doctors typically do not engage in protests related to politics so they can focus on their duties. But this time, silence is no longer an option, he said. "Hindi karaniwang korapsyon ang nangyayari ngayon," he stressed. "Ito kaming mga doktor na nagngingitngit ngunit gusto pa ring tumulong kung may pag-asa pa. Ngayon kami ay makikialam na." [Translation: This is not your regular corrupt activities. Doctors are fuming but we still want to help if we can fix this. We are speaking up now.] Ramos added: "Health is central to life and its development. We cannot afford to leave the nation's health in the hands of politicians whose priorities are on something else." Another former PCP president, Dr. Vicente Tanseco Jr., said the medical professionals will not take it sitting down. "Kami ay nandito dahil sa conscience," Tanseco said. "Matagal kaming nananahimik ngunit ngayon hindi na kaya ng aming conscience." [Translation: We have been quiet for the longest time. But we are speaking up now because our conscience can no longer take it.] Aside from their appeal to Duterte, the doctors also called on government officials to support the pursuit of truth. They also asked the Department of Justice to conduct an impartial investigation, and urged the Ombudsman to file appropriate cases against those found to have engaged in anomalous transactions. Silence from the Philippine Medical Association Limpin and Dr. Tony Leachon, a health reform advocate, confirmed that the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) have not expressed support for their protest. PMA is the umbrella organization of all doctors and medical practitioners in the country. "If they don't recognize there is a problem and turn a blind eye, then you are an accomplice to perpetuating a crime," Leachon said. "There is apathy and lack of proactive measures from the mother org." Limpin said she remains hopeful the PMA will stand with them in their fight. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) The country received on Monday a total of 1,196,910 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses. Around 924,300 Pfizer shots donated by the United States government through the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Monday afternoon aboard an Emirates flight. The shipment completed the 1.8 million vaccine doses delivered by the US government to the Philippines through the COVAX facility, which is also part of the 10 million vaccine donations earlier pledged by Washington. Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, chief of staff and spokesperson of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, said the vaccine doses will be distributed throughout the country and will be used for the pilot vaccination of children aged 12 to 17 years old starting Oct. 15. Meanwhile, 272,610 additional Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived on Monday night at the NAIA Terminal 3 via an Air Hong Kong cargo flight. Mayor said the Philippine government bought this batch of Pfizer vaccines through a loan from the Asian Development Bank. "We thank the United States government for facilitating for the procurement of these vaccines. These will really help the Filipinos and the government in our vaccination program," said Mayor. Kevin Riley, a Foreign Service Officer of the United States Embassy to the Philippines, welcomed the shipment with Mayor. "It is very important for all Filipinos to have access to safe and effective vaccines. We're very pleased that these US-made vaccines are here today and will help save the lives of millions of Filipinos from COVID-19," said Riley. It is the second straight day the country received Pfizer vaccine shipments, after the arrival of 918,450 shots from the COVAX facility on Sunday. As of Oct. 10, over 23.1 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while some 26.4 million persons have received their first dose. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) The government will set up command centers nationwide specifically to ensure stable medical oxygen supply during the pandemic, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday. Lorenzana, who is also chairperson of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, bared the plan to put up a One Oxygen Command Center in all regions of the country during a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and other Cabinet officials. He noted that such a facility has already been activated in the Zamboanga Peninsula region, which has seen a rise in COVID-19 infections. RELATED: Mayor: Zamboanga City experiencing third surge in COVID-19 cases Lorenzana also said a green lane will be created in ports for faster transport of medical oxygen. Meanwhile, the government will work to ensure uninterrupted power supply in manufacturing plants, he added. According to the Department of Health, new COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and nearby regions have been declining in recent days. However, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire urged the public not to let their guard down, as some areas are still seeing a rise in infections and hospitalization rates. She noted cases remain high in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley, while a spike in figures has been observed in Zamboanga Peninsula, Bicol Region, and Mimaropa. (CNN) Abdul Qadeer Khan, the man known as the father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, has died in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, according to the country's Ministry of Information. He was 85 years old. Khan was given a state funeral at Islamabad's Faisal Mosque on Sunday. The funeral, attended by thousands of mourners including Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, was held in pouring rain. Khan was hailed as a national hero in Pakistan for helping make the country a nuclear-armed state, but was viewed by many in the West as a villain. In the United States, Khan was best known for selling nuclear technology to nations such as North Korea and Iran. In 2004, at the urging of the US, Pakistani authorities placed Khan under house arrest. Khan was released in 2009, but his movements in and out of the country were still severely curtailed by the country's security agencies. The US State Department said that year that Khan had run an "extensive international network for the proliferation of nuclear equipment and know-how that provided 'one stop shopping' for countries seeking to develop nuclear weapons." According to the State Department, this network's actions had "irrevocably changed the proliferation landscape and have had lasting implications for international security." By Sunday afternoon, tributes had started pouring in for Khan. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted he was "deeply saddened by the passing of Dr A Q Khan." "He was loved by our nation (because) of his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state. This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbor. For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon," Khan said. Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Choudhry said in a statement that Khan's "services for the nation and his contributions for strengthening Pakistan's defense will always be remembered." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Father of Pakistan's nuclear program Abdul Qadeer Khan dies at 85" (CNN) A Black paraplegic man from Ohio has filed a complaint with the NAACP after video showed police officers pulling him out of his car by his hair and arms after he refused officers' orders during a traffic stop late last month. "They dragged me to their vehicle like a dog, like trash," Clifford Owensby, 39, said at a news conference Sunday. Owensby accused the Dayton Police Department (DPD) of profiling, unlawful arrest, illegal search and seizure, and failure to read him his rights before being taken to jail, Dayton Unit NAACP President Derrick Foward said at the news conference. Owensby's attorney James Willis said he plans to file a civil lawsuit. "It'll take a little time to do some investigating, but we'll probably get something filed in the next month," Willis said Monday. He said Owensby's son was in the car at the time of the arrest. Willis said he believes the actions of the police were illegal. "I think it was illegal and was unnecessarily brutal, given the fact they were aware fully that he can't get out of the car on his own," the attorney said. On Friday, DPD released a nearly 12-minute video of the body camera footage taken from the September 30 incident. "The video of this police interaction is very concerning," Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley told CNN on Sunday. "That is why, immediately following this incident, the city released the body camera footage. Everyone involved is owed a thorough investigation, and one is already underway," she said. "This incident shows why our community-led police reform process, which includes providing transparency, is more important than ever. The goal is always to ensure our police force has the resources to do its job, while treating all of our citizens with dignity and respect." Officers called for a Narcotics Detection K-9 unit because they observed Owensby leave a suspected drug house in the area they had been monitoring, Dayton Police Major Brian Johns said in a recorded statement. Johns said based on his past felony drug and weapons history coupled with their observation he had left the residence in question, the officers requested a narcotics Detection K-9 to conduct a free-air sniff on the vehicle. "Dayton Police Department policy requires the occupants of the vehicle to exit for their own safety and safety of the K-9 officer to perform this free-air sniff," Johns said. According to the video, shortly after the radio call, one of the officers returns to Owensby, who is in the driver's seat, and asks him to step out. Owensby refuses, then tells the officer he can't because he is paralyzed. "I'm a paraplegic," Owensby says. "I got help getting in." The officer tells Owensby he will assist him in getting out of the vehicle, but Owensby tells the officer not to touch him and requests the officer call a superior. The officer responds by saying he will call his superior, but Owensby must get out of the car first. "So you can cooperate and get out of the car, or I will drag you out of the car. You see your two options here?" the officer yells at Owensby, who repeats his request for the officers to call a superior. Seconds later, two officers grab Owensby, and a struggle ensues. One of the officers grabs him by the arm and collar and then grabs his hair and drags him out of the vehicle. Owensby is seen in the video struggling on the pavement, yelling for help as the two officers proceed to subdue him. Johns said Owensby was taken to a local hospital, where he was examined for possible injuries and released. The police major also said officers retrieved a bag of cash from Owensby's vehicle containing $22,450. Owensby said Sunday the money was his savings and no weapons or drugs were found in the search. He was not charged with any drug-related offenses. A DPD police incident report shows Owensby was charged with obstructing official business and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. "I have nightmares," Owensby said about the arrest. "I should not have to leave out of my house every day wondering if this is going to happen to me again." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Bodycam video shows Dayton, Ohio, police officers dragging a Black paraplegic man out of his car during a traffic stop." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) Cebu Landmasters Inc. is optimistic to end the year on a positive note as reservation sales in the first nine months jumped by 13% to 11.8 billion, driven by the Visayas and Mindanao markets. Its Cebu market continued to lead the pack, accounting 38%. About 21% is from projects in Iloilo, while 17% is from projects in Cagayan de Oro. The remaining come from projects in Davao, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Ormoc, and Bohol. Jose Soberano III, chief executive officer of Cebu Landmasters, is optimistic about gaining more momentum in the last three months of 2021 as the real estate firm targets to launch more residential projects in the Visayas and Mindanao. "It is foreseen that the company will exceed its sales target for the year," he was quoted as saying in a disclosure on Monday. "Demand for mid and economic homes in VisMin continues to be strong despite the extended economic effects of the pandemic and we are optimistic take-up will further improve as recovery takes place," he added. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Cebu Landmasters to tap digital ways to connect to potential buyers, which Soberano says has been successful as the company "has maintained its close connections with its clients though effective digital channels that offered virtual tours and user-friendly and convenient online sales platforms." The company said it will also pursue the 100-hectare Minglanilla project in Cebu, its biggest development yet that will require an investment of 20 billion. The plan has secured a notice to proceed from the Philippine Reclamation Authority. Also in the pipeline is a 14.4-hectare university township Manresa Town in Cagayan de Oro and the adjoining Xavier University Masterson Campus. "We continue to pursue projects in anticipation of VisMins strong recovery and opportunities to move this region forward," Soberano said. (CNN) For billions of people around the world, Facebook can be a source for cute baby pictures, vaccine misinformation and everything in between and all of it surfaces in our feeds with the help of algorithms. Now, hours of testimony and thousands of pages of documents from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen have renewed scrutiny of the impact Facebook and its algorithms have on teens, democracy and society at large. The fallout has raised the question of just how much Facebook, and perhaps platforms like it, can or should rethink using a bevy of algorithms to determine which pictures, videos and news users see. Haugen, a former Facebook product manager with a background in "algorithmic product management," has in her critiques mainly focused on the company's algorithm designed to show users content they're most likely to engage with. She has said this is responsible for many of Facebook's problems, including fueling polarization, misinformation and other toxic content. Facebook, she said on a "60 Minutes" appearance, understands that if it makes the algorithm safer, "people will spend less time on the site, they'll click on less ads, they'll make less money." (Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pushed back at the idea that the company prioritizes profit over users' safety and well being.) Facebook's head of global policy management, Monika Bickert, said in an interview with CNN after Haugen's Senate hearing on Tuesday, that it's "not true" that the company's algorithms are designed to promote inflammatory content, and that Facebook actually does "the opposite" by demoting so-called click-bait. At times in her testimony, Haugen appeared to suggest a radical rethinking of how the news feed should operate to address the issues she presented via extensive documentation from within the company. "I'm a strong proponent of chronological ranking, ordering by time," she said in her testimony before a Senate subcommittee last week. "Because I think we don't want computers deciding what we focus on." But algorithms that pick and choose what we see are central not just to Facebook but to numerous social media platforms that followed in Facebook's footsteps. TikTok, for example, would be unrecognizable without content-recommendation algorithms running the show. And the bigger the platform, the bigger the need for algorithms to sift and sort content. Algorithms are not going away. But there are ways for Facebook to improve them, experts in algorithms and artificial intelligence told CNN Business. It will, however, require something Facebook has so far appeared reluctant to offer (despite executive talking points): more transparency and control for users. What's in an algorithm? The Facebook you experience today, with a constant flow of algorithmically-picked information and ads, is a vastly different social network from what it was in its early days. In 2004, when Facebook first launched as a site for college students, it was both simpler and more tedious to navigate: If you wanted to see what friends were posting, you had to go visit their profiles one at a time. This began to shift in a major way in 2006, when Facebook introduced the News Feed, giving users a fire hose of updates from family, friends, and that guy they went on a couple bad dates with. From the start, Facebook reportedly used algorithms to filter content users saw in the News Feed. In a 2015 Time Magazine story, the company's chief product officer, Chris Cox, said curation was necessary even then because there was too much information to show it all to every user. Over time, Facebook's algorithms evolved, and users became accustomed to algorithms determining how Facebook content would be presented. An algorithm is a set of mathematical steps or instructions, particularly for a computer, telling it what to do with certain inputs to produce certain outputs. You can think of it as roughly akin to a recipe, where the ingredients are inputs and the final dish is the output. On Facebook and other social media sites, however, you and your actions what you write or images you post are the input. What the social network shows you whether it's a post from your best friend or an ad for camping gear is the output. At their best, these algorithms can help personalize feeds so users discover new people and content that matches their interests based on prior activity. At its worst, as Haugen and others have pointed out, they run the risk of directing people down troubling rabbit holes that can expose them to toxic content and misinformation. In either case, they keep people scrolling longer, potentially helping Facebook make more money by showing users more ads. Many algorithms work in concert to create the experience you see on Facebook, Instagram, and elsewhere online. This can make it even more complicated to tease out what's going on inside such systems, particularly in a large company like Facebook where multiple teams build various algorithms. "If some higher power were to go to Facebook and say, 'Fix the algorithm in XY,' that's really hard because they've become really complex systems with many many inputs, many weights, and they're like multiple systems working together," said Hilary Ross, a senior program manager at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and manager of its Institute for Rebooting Social Media. More transparency There are ways to make these processes clearer and give users more say in how they work, though. Margaret Mitchell, who leads artificial intelligence ethics for AI model builder Hugging Face and formerly co-led Google's ethical AI team, thinks this could be done by allowing you to view details about why you're seeing what you're seeing on a social network, such as in response to the posts, ads, and other things you look at and interact with. "You can even imagine having some say in it. You might be able to select preferences for the kinds of things you want to be optimized for you," she said, such as how often you want to see content from your immediate family, high school friends, or baby pictures. All of those things may change over time. Why not let users control them? Transparency is key, she said, because it incentivizes good behavior from the social networks. Another way social networks could be pushed in the direction of increased transparency is by increasing independent auditing of their algorithmic practices, according to Sasha Costanza-Chock, director of research and design at the Algorithmic Justice League. They envision this as including fully independent researchers, investigative journalists, or people inside regulatory bodies not social media companies themselves, or companies they hire who have the knowledge, skills, and legal authority to demand access to algorithmic systems in order to ensure laws aren't violated and best practices are followed. James Mickens, a computer science professor at Harvard and co-director of the Berkman Klein Center's Institute for Rebooting Social Media, suggests looking to the ways elections can be audited without revealing private information about voters (such as who each person voted for) for insights about how algorithms may be audited and reformed. He thinks that could give some insights for building an audit system that would allow people outside of Facebook to provide oversight while protecting sensitive data. Other metrics for success A big hurdle, experts say, to making meaningful improvements is social networks' current focus on the importance of engagement, or the amount of time users spend scrolling, clicking, and otherwise interacting with social media posts and ads. Haugen revealed internal documents from Facebook that show the social network is aware that its "core product mechanics, such as virality, recommendations and optimizing for engagement, are a significant part" of why hate speech and misinformation "flourish" on its platform. Changing this is tricky, experts said, though several agreed that it may involve considering the feelings users have when using social media and not just the amount of time they spend using it. "Engagement is not a synonym for good mental health," said Mickens. Can algorithms truly help fix Facebook's problems, though? Mickens, at least, is hopeful the answer is yes. He does think they can be optimized more toward the public interest. "The question is: What will convince these companies to start thinking this way?" he said. In the past, some might have said it would require pressure from advertisers whose dollars support these platforms. But in her testimony, Haugen seemed to bet on a different answer: pressure from Congress. This story was first published on CNN.com 'Facebook's success was built on algorithms. Can they also fix it?' (CNN) -- National fast food chain Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers has a new solution to the restaurant industry's labor shortage it's asking corporate employees to work as fry cooks and cashiers. The privately-held Baton Rouge, La.-based company has a total of 750 corporate employees, 500 in its Dallas office. Of those, 250 will be going in the field as front-line employees. Another 250 who work as marketers and trainers will shift to restaurant and recruiting jobs. The employees will be housed in hotels for one to two weeks at company expense. Other corporate employees will be working to recruit more workers or will work in one of the company's more than 500 drive-throughs. "It's all hands on deck," co-CEO and COO AJ Kumaran said. Most of the corporate workers will have already gone through training as a fry cook or cashier, the company said. Kumaran said he saw the effects of the labor shortage in mid-September, when job applications suddenly decreased online. "Pretty soon we had to start dropping hours of operations, we had to cut down some of our channels, like mobile ordering and dining rooms," Kumaran said. Cane's is looking to hire 10,000 more people in 50 days. Kumaran also said Cane's will invest $70 million into workers' wages, with hourly workers receiving 15-22% wage increases over the next few weeks. "It's obviously unprecedented times, there's no playbook on how to get through it," Kumaran said. September marked the second straight month in which the US economy added far fewer jobs than expected, after employment growth slowed down dramatically in August. Hiring in restaurants and bars fell as consumers avoided going out due to the Delta variant. A September survey by the National Restaurant Association found 78% of restaurant operators said they have experienced a decline in customer demand in recent weeks because of Delta variant concerns. Meanwhile, 71% of restaurants are understaffed while struggling with supply shortages, with nearly every restaurant surveyed 95% saying they had experienced supply delays or shortages of key food or beverage items in the past three months. Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs for the National Restaurant Association, said, "our nation's restaurant recovery is officially moving in reverse." CNN's Anneken Tappe and Vanessa Yurkevich contributed to this report. This story was first published on CNN.com "A fast food chain is bringing corporate employees to work in its restaurants". (CNN) Amazon is shifting its approach to remote work again, giving its workers more control over how much time they spend in the office and opening the door for more corporate workers to continue working from home. The company will now allow individual teams to decide which policy works for them, ranging from a full-time return to office life to remaining mostly remote, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in a note to employees on Monday. "At a company of our size, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for how every team works best," Jassy said. "For our corporate roles, instead of specifying that people work a baseline of three days a week in the office, we're going to leave this decision up to individual teams," he added, referring to Amazon's earlier policy of how often it would require employees to be present in person. Company directors will decide what frequency of in-person work suits their teams, Jassy said. "We expect that there will be teams that continue working mostly remotely, others that will work some combination of remotely and in the office, and still others that will decide customers are best served having the team work mostly in the office," Jassy said. Amazon, like several other tech companies, has changed policies and return dates multiple times during the coronavirus pandemic. The company earlier pushed its office reopening date from September 2021 to January 2022 because of the Delta variant. The company will still have certain requirements for how close employees need to be to the office, even if they are primarily remote. "At this stage, we want most of our people close enough to their core team that they can easily travel to the office for a meeting within a day's notice," Jassy said. As with previous policies, the changes will apply only to Amazon's corporate workforce and not to its hundreds of thousands of warehouse workers and delivery drivers, most of whom have been working in person throughout the pandemic. Jassy also noted there are workers in Amazon's data centers and some physical stores who cannot work remotely. In his note, he praised these teams and said their work is "highly appreciated." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Amazon will let individual teams decide how much time they spend in the office." (CNN) Olivier Rousteing, the creative director of French luxury fashion house Balmain, has revealed he sustained serious injuries after a fireplace exploded at his home in Paris last year. Writing on Instagram Saturday, the 36-year-old said he had been "hiding this for too long" but was "finally ready to share" his experience, adding the incident took place a year earlier on October 9, 2020. "I did everything to hide this story from as many people as possible and trying to keep the secret with my teams and friends for too long," Rousteing wrote. "To be honest I am not really sure why I was so ashamed, maybe this obsession with perfection that fashion is known for and my own insecurities..." he added. Praising the staff at the Hopital Saint Louis in Paris where he was treated, he said he had hidden his injuries with clothes and accessories during interviews and photoshoots. He said the experience made him realize that the power of social media enabled users to "create our own special narrative that avoids what we do not wish to see or show." "Today, I feel so free, so good and so lucky. I'm beginning a new chapter with a smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude," Rousteing wrote, reminding followers that "there is always the sun after the storm." Many of Rousteing's celebrity friends posted supportive comments, including musicians Cardi B and Maluma, reality star Kim Kardashian West and designer Donatella Versace. Rousteing said he was now "healed, happy and healthy" and said his last show, which took place on September 28-29, was "about the celebration of healing over pain" and commemorated his "rebirth" as well as 10 years as Balmain's director. The show, billed the "Balmain Music Festival V02," featured food, music and fashion. Supermodel Naomi Campbell took part in the runway show and Doja Cat performed. Rousteing took over as creative director of Balmain in 2011 and has since worked with legions of models and musicians including Gigi Hadid, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Iman and Cara Delevingne. (CNN) Singapore and Malaysia have each revealed plans to start reopening their borders as the Southeast Asian neighbors move away from their zero-COVID strategies toward living with the virus. Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Sunday the country would end its domestic and international travel restrictions for fully vaccinated residents from Monday, after reaching its target of full inoculation for 90% of the adult population. It comes one day after Singapore added eight new countries to its vaccinated and quarantine-free travel lanes the most significant easing of travel restrictions since borders shut last March. Singapore and Malaysia both battled disastrous surges in COVID-19 cases earlier this year, fueled by the highly infectious Delta variant. Both nations pursued aggressive zero-COVID policies by imposing strict lockdowns and closing borders. The moves come as governments across the region including Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam look to revive their economies via tourism and by reopening local businesses. Singapore and Malaysia are transitioning toward treating the virus as endemic by attempting to control outbreaks with vaccines, rather than restricting citizens' lives despite continuing to see active community cases and deaths. The plans also mirror the "living with COVID" approach seen in many Western countries, including the United Kingdom and parts of the United States, where daily life has largely returned to normal. Malaysia Cases in Malaysia began to surge at the start of 2021, prompting the government to reimpose lockdown restrictions that had been lifted last December. Then in June, it felt the sharp edge of the deadly Delta variant. Despite a national lockdown, at the peak of the surge in August the country was reporting hundreds of thousands of cases per day. Frustrations mounted among citizens who were forced to endure yet more curbs on their freedom, and protests against the government's handling of the virus broke out in July. Under the lockdown restrictions, millions of people were told to stay at home whenever possible and prohibited from domestic travel. Schools were closed and gatherings banned. The following month, Malaysia's then-Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin resigned, fueled in part by the public's seething anger. Prime Minister Yaakob's announcement Sunday marks a significant shift from Malaysia's previous strategies predominantly because of a highly effective vaccination drive. About eight months after its mass rollout, more than 66% of the country's 32 million people have been fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. "We have to train ourselves to live with COVID, because COVID may not be eliminated fully," Yaakob told a news conference Sunday, adding Malaysia will not impose wide lockdowns again if cases rise. The easing of restrictions means fully vaccinated Malaysians can travel overseas without applying for permission from immigration authorities. Previously, travel was largely restricted for business, official or emergency reasons. Domestic journeys will also be allowed, ending the ban on travel across Malaysia's 13 states. On September 16, Malaysia reopened Langkawi a cluster of 99 islands and a prime holiday destination to domestic tourists, with strict protocols in place. The country is currently still shut to international travelers, with a fuller reopening under consideration. The easing of measures comes as the daily caseload continues to drop after rising steeply from June to August. Singapore Singapore is continuing to uphold its strategy of living with the virus, despite recently reporting record daily COVID-19 cases and a spike in deaths fueled by a Delta variant outbreak. On Saturday, the island city-state of 5.45 million people reported a daily record 3,703 cases and 11 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins. The same day, Singapore decided to press on with its quarantine-free vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme, set to begin October 19, by announcing the addition of eight Western nations, including the US and the UK. Under the new rules, travelers from a total of 11 countries can enter Singapore without having to quarantine all part of its "reclaim and rebuild" campaign, according to Transport Minister S. Iswaran. Singapore is home to the Asian headquarters of many multinational companies, whose executives rely on ease of travel to and from the country one of the world's biggest travel and finance hubs. In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore could not "stay locked down and closed off indefinitely," adding that job losses, separation of families and business closures had caused "psychological and emotional strain and mental fatigue." But while Singapore said that it wanted to transition to an endemic COVID model in May, the recent Delta variant surge has put those plans at risk. On October 1, Singapore reimposed some local restrictions to thwart the spread. The tighter measures included limiting social gatherings to two people and suspending or moving classes online for students age 12 and under a move met with some frustration by Singaporeans, Reuters reported. During his address Saturday, Lee said it would take "at least three months, and perhaps as long as six months" to become restriction-free, and hinted at the possibility of future lockdowns if cases begin to rise unlike Malaysia. "After this surge stabilizes, we may still see future surges, especially if new variants emerge," Lee said. "We may have to tap on the brakes again if cases again grow too fast, to protect our healthcare system and healthcare workers." Singapore has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with more than 80% of its population fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins. Asia-Pacific reopening Singapore's decision to go ahead with the VTL comes as other countries in the Asia-Pacific region also move toward living with COVID. Thailand plans to reopen its capital, Bangkok, and other major destinations to foreign tourists by November in order to revive its flailing tourism industry, which accounted for more than 11% of the country's GDP in 2019, according to Reuters. Vietnam's government said Wednesday it plans to reopen key tourist destinations to vaccinated visitors from countries deemed a low COVID-19 risk from December, ahead of a full resumption targeted for June next year, Reuters reported. Indonesia meanwhile, has allowed public spaces to reopen and permitted factories to return to full capacity. Tourists from countries including China, New Zealand and Japan will be allowed to enter the resort island of Bali by October 14, Reuters reported, citing government officials. But travelers will have to quarantine for eight days at their own expense. On Monday, Sydney emerged from a strict lockdown that was imposed in June to contain a Delta outbreak. Now, fully vaccinated Sydneysiders about 70% of the city's adults can return to restaurants, bars and gyms, while many family members can reunite with one another after months apart. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Malaysia and Singapore ease international travel restrictions in pivot to living with Covid." (CNN) Iraqi forces captured Sami Jasim, the deputy of former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Iraq's Prime Minister said in a statement on Monday. Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi did not disclose details of the operation, however in a statement posted to Twitter, he said that Jasim was detained outside of Iraq. He did not disclose the location or date of Jasim's arrest. "While our [Iraqi Security Forces] heroes focused on securing the elections, their [Iraqi National Intelligence Service] colleagues were conducting a complex external operation to capture Sami Jasim, who was in charge of Daesh finance, and a deputy of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi," Al-Kadhimi said. Jasim, also known as "Abu Asya," served as the financial supervisor of the terrorist group under Al-Baghdadi since 2015, according to Iraqi security expert Fadel Abu Regheef. He lived in Mosul in 2012, until he met Baghdadi the same year, Abu Regheef told CNN. In 2015, the US Treasury Department labeled Jasim as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, a designation that places financial sanctions on terrorists and those who provide support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. In 2016, the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) reported that Jasim and an aide had been killed in a joint operation with US special forces. However, in 2019, the US State Department's "Rewards for Justice" program placed a $5 million bounty on Jasim (also known as Sami Jasim Muhammad al-Jabur) and two other senior ISIS leaders, demonstrating that American authorities believed was still alive. "Muhammad al-Jaburi has been instrumental in managing finances for ISIS's terrorist operations," the State Department said. Baghdadi became the leader of Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) in 2010. In 2013, ISI declared its absorption of an al Qaeda-backed militant group in Syria and Baghdadi said that his group will now be known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS). Later that year Baghdadi's followers first swept into Raqqa. That began their ambitions in Syria, and led in June 2014 to the establishing of what they called an Islamic "caliphate." They had rules, an army, and briefly a currency, yet just over three years later were reduced to fighting for scraps of Mosul in Iraq and the object of a large offensive against their de facto capital in Raqqa. ISIS' control of Mosul officially crumbled in July 2017, when then-Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared that troops had recaptured the metropolis. Baghdadi was killed by US forces during a raid in Syria in 2019. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces had provided "early intelligence" that "was very helpful," US Central Command Gen. Frank McKenzie said after the operation. This story was first published on CNN.com, "ISIS finance chief captured by Iraqi forces, Iraq PM says." " " The incognito icon means you're browsing privately. But it doesn't mean you're completely hidden from web trackers. Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Seems like your web browser knows more about you than your friends. It feels weird that you can be searching for trips to Paris and then ads for vacation packages to France start popping up on random web pages or in your Facebook feed. Is it time to use the incognito or private feature on your browser? Maybe, maybe not. Privacy modes have limitations you should understand. "Ever since private browsing was first created, users have been confused about the difference between protecting their online activity from other users of a shared device, from websites and ad networks, or from their internet service providers," emails Seth Schoen, a senior staff technologist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "Private browsing mode does well with the first of these, sometimes partly addresses the second, and has absolutely no effect on the third. The browser developers have tried to make this clear." Advertisement How to Go Incognito Let's say you want to use the incognito feature in the Chrome browser or Chrome app (The name of this feature varies depending whether you're using Chrome, Firefox, Safari or something else.) Here's what to do: To the right of the Chrome address bar, tap the three buttons in a vertical row (which brings up more features). Look for the New Incognito tab. Tap on that and a new window opens up. Alternately, pressing Control+Shift+N will send you to Incognito mode in just one step. You can tell you're in Incognito mode by the Incognito icon in the middle of the screen and at the top right. " " An example of the Chrome incognito page. HowStuffWorks In addition to the Incognito icon, you'll also see these warnings regarding private browsing on the home screen: "You've gone incognito. Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won't see your activity. However, downloads and bookmarks will be saved. Chrome won't save the following: Your browsing history Cookies and site data Information entered in forms Your activity might still be visible to: Websites you visit Your employer or school Your internet service provider" Here's what this means: Browsers typically store the web addresses (called URLs) of the sites you visit. That makes it easier for you to find them again later. In private (incognito) mode, your browser works a bit differently. Your search history won't be stored locally. This is great for concealing your browsing history from anyone else who's using the same device, such as when you're shopping for a surprise gift or if you're on adult-oriented websites. But that doesn't mean your activities are entirely private. Your browser also stores cookies, which are little data files that have a plethora of uses. Cookies can automatically enter passwords, for instance, so you don't have to type them each time you visit a site. Or, they can provide tracking information for advertising companies that really want to understand how you browse from site to site, all the better to help someone, somewhere sell products to you. "The original design of web tracking features like cookies was based around the expectation that tracking would be within individual sites only, and would not connect separate browsing sessions unless the user wanted it to," says Schoen. "Both of these norms have been violated massively by the internet advertising industry, which often creates detailed, comprehensive profiles of what people do online over time." Schoen adds that in some cases, private browsing mode can temporarily disconnect someone's browsing from the technical means used to maintain most of those profiles. In other words, in private mode cookies won't provide advertisers with the detailed information they'd otherwise mine from your activities. Advertisement Private Mode is Not Anonymous Mode But it's critical to understand that using incognito mode doesn't make you anonymous. It's not a sort of superpower of online invisibility. It won't stop your internet service provider (ISP) or employer from tracking your web activities. It's not going to conceal your location from the sites you frequent. If you're logged in to your Google account, Google's still tracking your search patterns, even if you choose incognito mode. If you're surprised by this, you're not alone one 2018 study showed that misconceptions about private browsing run rampant (Fifty-six percent of respondents thought search queries would not be saved in private mode, even though they were also logged in to their Google accounts and 40 percent thought their geolocations would be hidden. A further 27 percent thought the private mode offered protection against malware and viruses. None of these are true.) Even though you're far from anonymous, private browsing still has a number of good uses. In addition to preventing other local users from seeing your search history, sometimes it's good for dodging paywalls that block you from reading content on subscriber-only news sites. And private browsing may reduce the odds that your web searches will be skewed by the algorithms that track your usage in an effort to anticipate the information you're looking for. It will also stop that annoying tracking by websites and ad networks, as in the Paris example we gave at the beginning. And let's say a friend wants to borrow your computer to quickly check his Facebook page; he could do that in incognito mode and log in to his own Facebook account without first having to log out of yours. Advertisement A Better Form of Online Anonymity If you really need online anonymity, you'll have to do more than use private mode. "The most accessible options are virtual private networks (VPNs) and Tor, which route your communications through intermediaries in ways that decrease what your ISP knows about what you're doing online, and also decrease what websites you visit know about where you're connecting from," Schoen says. But he's quick to point out that these are not magic remedies that make you totally anonymous. "Both of these solutions also suffer from many myths and misconceptions. Although the technical details of who can see what are different from the private browsing mode situation, those details still exist and users should become familiar with them before relying on these privacy technologies for anonymity." With a bit of research, though, you can begin the journey to better online privacy. In doing so, you can better guard your personal and professional life and have more peace of mind on a network that's full of potential pitfalls. NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Are you a covert spy looking to send data to a foreign embassy ... or just an average Joe wanting to be more diligent about your online privacy? EFF has created guides to help teach people about online privacy, which includes information about using VPNs and Tor. " " The Device Manager lists all your computer's components, allowing you to enable or disable them one at a time. Manuel Breva Colmeiro/Getty Images Your computer is a collection of individual components, from motherboard to mouse, keyboard to speakers, and much more. On PCs running the Microsoft Windows operating system, you can monitor all those devices and their properties using a tool called Device Manager. First unveiled in Windows 95, Device Manager is part of the famous Windows Control Panel. Once launched, Device Manager lists all your computer's components. You can enable or disable them one at a time, modify or install device drivers, and even direct Windows to disregard devices that aren't working properly. It is, in short, a central hub that lets you configure every component. Advertisement To launch the Device Manager, you can press the Windows + R keys to open a Run dialog box. Then type "devmgmt.msc" (without the quotation marks) and press Enter. Alternately, you can simply right-click the Windows start button on the taskbar and then click Device Manager. You'll see a list of the hardware that's installed. Conveniently, the components are sorted by category, such as Disk Drives, Imaging Devices, Batteries, and other self-explanatory titles. Sharp-eyed readers will notice that some device drivers aren't listed; that's because they're hidden by default. To show them, from the View menu, click Show Hidden Devices, and you'll see more drivers, like low-level system drivers or third-party drivers, appear in Device Manager. Now you know how to view Device Manager. What are you supposed to do with this information? You can start by simply clicking through the various devices. If you see any unusual icons, these are clues to any number of problematic issues you might encounter. If you see a gray arrow pointing down icon, it means a device has been disabled, probably by the user. It might also mean that the device is physically installed but doesn't have a working driver. You might see a yellow triangle with an exclamation point this means that the device isn't working properly. If you see a question mark symbol, it means that the device doesn't have the exact (or most recent) driver. Instead, it's installed using a compatible driver. In some situations, you may find that certain computer components are malfunctioning. Device Manager might be able to help. " " A screenshot of the Device Manager shows some of the options available under Bluetooth. HowStuffWorks Let's say your DVD drive isn't working. In Device Manager, you'd scan the list until you find DVD/CD-ROM Drives. You click to expand the list and see that your DVD drive has a gray down arrow icon. You know the physical drive is installed correctly, so you check the driver. Right-click the DVD drive, click Properties, and then click the Driver tab. Here, you can click Update Driver, and then Windows will offer you two options: you can choose to let Windows find the driver automatically, or you manually point Windows to the folder where you downloaded the correct driver. Device Manager isn't a flashy feature. It's a powerful tool for controlling your computer's hardware and tinkering with it may help you learn how to deal with problematic components in the future. NOW THAT'S INTERESTING You can also use Device Manager to see the entire driver history of a specific component. Right-click a device, click Properties, and then click the Events tab. You'll see a history of the various drivers associated with that device, as well as the exact time those drivers were changed. The state Department of Health reported 71 cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths for Cumberland County Monday. That's the lowest count of new cases in a single day since Sept. 20 (59). The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 stayed at 102 in Monday's report, the same as Sunday. There are 20 adults in intensive care (the same as Sunday) and 16 on ventilators (one more than Sunday). Ten adult ICU beds remain open of the 111 currently staffed across the county, and 35 of 95 ventilators in the county are in use. Monday's report included 167 test results, with 16 probable cases. Comparing just the number of negative tests (96) and confirmed positive tests (55), the county saw 36.4% of its tests come back positive. The countys seven-day average of cases now sits at 111.43. Its 14-day per capita rate sits at 640.96. The southcentral region reported 586 cases and no new deaths Monday, with 236 cases in York County, 66 cases in Dauphin County and 44 cases in Blair County. Franklin County reports 83 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Monday (the same as Sunday), with one of 30 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 22 of 34 available ventilators in use. There are 12 adults in intensive care and nine on ventilators. Dauphin County reports 121 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Monday (up five from Sunday), with 28 of 198 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 75 of 177 available ventilators in use. There are 29 adults in intensive care and 23 on ventilators. School-age children In its weekly update for the sixth week of the school year, the department reported another 176 cases among children aged 5-18 in Cumberland County during the week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, a decrease of 14 from the previous week. That brings the total number of cases in Cumberland County for this school year to 949. Statewide, the number of cases among 5- to 18-year-olds decreased for the second week in a row with 7,046 cases reported. The state said the total number of cases in that age group for the school year thus far is 42,182. Early Warning Dashboard Cumberland County saw an increase in its in percent positivity and its incidence rate per 100,000 people in the Health Department's weekly update to its Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard Friday. Cumberland County saw its percent positivity rise to 13.1% for the week of Oct. 1-7, up from 11.5% the previous week. The incidence rate per 100,000 people increased to 259.3, up from 241.1 the previous week. Philadelphia County, which includes the city of Philadelphia, holds the second lowest percent positivity in the state for the week of Oct. 1-7 at 4.5% and the lowest incidence rate per 100,000 people at 91.4. Penn State Health update (Oct. 11) Penn State Health lists a COVID-19 dashboard on its website tracking cases at each of its acute care hospitals Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, Hampden Medical Center and Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. The dashboard will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday's update shows 118 total cases (110 adults, 8 pediatrics) in the health system's four hospitals 25 are fully vaccinated (21.2%) with three in an ICU and one on a ventilator, 69 are nonvaccinated (58.5%) with 25 in an ICU and 13 on a ventilator, and 24 are unknown status patients. Five of the eight children hospitalized are unvaccinated (with three at unknown status), with one in an ICU and one on a ventilator. Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill has 25 COVID patients. Ten are fully vaccinated adults (no one in ICU and no one on a ventilator) and 15 unvaccinated (two in an ICU and two on a ventilator). Hampden Medical Center has 10 COVID patients. Eight are not fully vaccinated (three in an ICU) and two are fully vaccinated. Vaccinations The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels Cumberland County as having "high" transmission of the virus the highest level, which is the transmission level for every county in the state. Community transmission is determined by the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days and the positivity rate over the last seven days, so the classification could vary from day to day based on those numbers. In data updated Saturday evening, the CDC says Cumberland County has seen 61% of its total population of 253,370 become fully vaccinated. For the county's vaccine eligible population of people ages 12 and older, 70.4% have been fully vaccinated. County numbers in the southcentral region (for Oct. 11): Adams County (pop. 103,009): 36 new cases; 12,505 total cases (10,282 confirmed, 2,223 probable); 43,415 negatives; 206 deaths; 48.6% of county population vaccinated 36 new cases; 12,505 total cases (10,282 confirmed, 2,223 probable); 43,415 negatives; 206 deaths; 48.6% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 8 new cases; 6,342 total cases (4,337 confirmed, 2,005 probable); 12,155 negatives; 155 deaths; 33.8% of county population vaccinated 8 new cases; 6,342 total cases (4,337 confirmed, 2,005 probable); 12,155 negatives; 155 deaths; 33.8% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 44 new cases; 16,193 total cases (12,770 confirmed, 3,423 probable); 46,241 negatives; 360 deaths; 45.2% of county population vaccinated 44 new cases; 16,193 total cases (12,770 confirmed, 3,423 probable); 46,241 negatives; 360 deaths; 45.2% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 71 new cases; 26,585 total cases (21,004 confirmed, 5,581 probable); 98,869 negatives; 582 deaths; 61% of county population vaccinated 71 new cases; 26,585 total cases (21,004 confirmed, 5,581 probable); 98,869 negatives; 582 deaths; 61% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 66 new cases; 33,091 total cases (28,452 confirmed, 4,639 probable); 125,065 negatives; 604 deaths; 57% of county population vaccinated 66 new cases; 33,091 total cases (28,452 confirmed, 4,639 probable); 125,065 negatives; 604 deaths; 57% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 30 new cases; 20,690 total cases (17,132 confirmed, 3,558 probable); 63,415 negatives; 426 deaths; 44% of county population vaccinated 30 new cases; 20,690 total cases (17,132 confirmed, 3,558 probable); 63,415 negatives; 426 deaths; 44% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 4 new cases; 2,052 total cases (1,046 confirmed, 1,006 probable); 4,902 negatives; 26 deaths; 29.7% of county population vaccinated 4 new cases; 2,052 total cases (1,046 confirmed, 1,006 probable); 4,902 negatives; 26 deaths; 29.7% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 18 new cases; 6,473 total cases (5,354 confirmed, 1,119 probable); 19,677 negatives; 150 deaths; 45.4% of county population vaccinated 18 new cases; 6,473 total cases (5,354 confirmed, 1,119 probable); 19,677 negatives; 150 deaths; 45.4% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 2 new cases; 2,726 total cases (2,479 confirmed, 247 probable); 6,445 negatives; 111 deaths; 38.9% of county population vaccinated 2 new cases; 2,726 total cases (2,479 confirmed, 247 probable); 6,445 negatives; 111 deaths; 38.9% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 40 new cases; 19,737 total cases (16,917 confirmed, 2,820 probable); 61,697 negatives; 317 deaths; 49.4% of county population vaccinated 40 new cases; 19,737 total cases (16,917 confirmed, 2,820 probable); 61,697 negatives; 317 deaths; 49.4% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 21 new cases; 6,727 total cases (6,354 confirmed, 373 probable); 17,217 negatives; 186 deaths; 47.3% of county population vaccinated 21 new cases; 6,727 total cases (6,354 confirmed, 373 probable); 17,217 negatives; 186 deaths; 47.3% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 10 new cases; 4,996 total cases (3,864 confirmed, 1,132 probable); 12,895 negatives; 111 deaths; 45.6% of county population vaccinated 10 new cases; 4,996 total cases (3,864 confirmed, 1,132 probable); 12,895 negatives; 111 deaths; 45.6% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 236 new cases; 58,715 total cases (47,895 confirmed; 10,820 probable); 190,163 negatives; 921 deaths; 53.7% of county population vaccinated ZIP code-level counts (updated Oct. 11): 17013: 3,239 positives, 15,198 negatives - +42 since Oct. 8 17015: 1,927 positives, 7,487 negatives - +19 since Oct. 8 17050: 3,056 positives, 15,570 negatives - +24 since Oct. 8 17055: 3,418 positives, 17,846 negatives - +36 since Oct. 8 17011: 3,189 positives, 14,867 negatives - +31 since Oct. 8 17007: 465 positives, 1,896 negatives - +3 since Oct. 8 17065: 336 positives, 1,321 negatives - +3 since Oct. 8 17324: 358 positives, 1,392 negatives - +4 since Oct. 8 17241: 872 positives, 3,361 negatives - +17 since Oct. 8 17257: 2,240 positives, 7,627 negatives - +19 since Oct. 8 17240: 208 positives, 679 negatives - +2 since Oct. 8 17025: 1,453 positives, 6,025 negatives - +15 since Oct. 8 17070: 1,353 positives, 5,774 negatives - +10 since Oct. 8 17043: 464 positives, 2,183 negatives - +4 since Oct. 8 17019: 1,583 positives, 5,909 negatives - +13 since Oct. 8 17266: 25 positives, 133 negatives - +1 since Oct. 8 School district and college case counts (updated Oct. 7) The Sentinel's case counts for Cumberland County school districts and colleges or universities are updated Monday and Thursdays. The policy for each school districts reporting is noted in the list below. Big Spring School District (reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 30 student cases and 3 staff cases as of Oct. 8. (reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 30 student cases and 3 staff cases as of Oct. 8. Carlisle Area School District (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): no new cases since Oct. 7; 130 cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): no new cases since Oct. 7; 130 cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Camp Hill School District (posts chart that includes total case count): 8 student cases and 1 staff case since Oct. 7; 37 student cases and 6 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) (posts chart that includes total case count): 8 student cases and 1 staff case since Oct. 7; 37 student cases and 6 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Cumberland Valley School District (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 4 cases since Oct. 7; 145 cases this school year (started Aug. 31.) (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 4 cases since Oct. 7; 145 cases this school year (started Aug. 31.) Mechanicsburg Area School District (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 10 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Oct. 8. (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 10 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Oct. 8. Shippensburg Area School District (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure on Mondays): 15 new cases since Sept. 28; 120 cases this school year (started Aug. 19.) (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure on Mondays): 15 new cases since Sept. 28; 120 cases this school year (started Aug. 19.) South Middleton School District (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Tuesdays): 17 new cases since Sept. 28; 57 cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Tuesdays): 17 new cases since Sept. 28; 57 cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) West Shore School District (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 63 student cases and 9 staff cases as of Oct. 7. (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 63 student cases and 9 staff cases as of Oct. 7. Dickinson College : 5 student cases and 5 employee cases since Oct. 4; 8 student cases and 3 employee cases since Oct. 7; 22 student cases and 20 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) : 5 student cases and 5 employee cases since Oct. 4; 8 student cases and 3 employee cases since Oct. 7; 22 student cases and 20 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) Messiah University : no new student cases and 1 new employee case since Oct. 4; 42 student cases and 15 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) : no new student cases and 1 new employee case since Oct. 4; 42 student cases and 15 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) Shippensburg University: 2 new student cases and one new staff case since Oct. 7; 127 student cases and 11 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 1.) (Counties with a percent positivity above 5% in a week go on the Department of Health's watch list) Pennsylvania: Percent Positivity - 9.6% last 7 days (9.0% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 215.5 (205.6 previous 7 days) Adams County: Percent Positivity - 15.6% last 7 days (15.9% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 259.2 (283.5 previous 7 days) Cumberland County: Percent Positivity - 13.1% last 7 days (11.3% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 259.3 (241.1 previous 7 days) Dauphin County: Percent Positivity - 13.6% last 7 days (13.3% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 299.7 (285.7 previous 7 days) Franklin County: Percent Positivity - 18.3% last 7 days (19.1% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 270.3 (339.3 previous 7 days) Lebanon County: Percent Positivity - 14.9% last 7 days (14.0% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 271.5 (226.4 previous 7 days) Perry County: Percent Positivity - 19.9% last 7 days (16.6% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 272.3 (263.7 previous 7 days) York County: Percent Positivity - 15.6% last 7 days (14.1% previous 7 days) last 7 days (14.1% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 287 (276.4 previous 7 days) Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For Kevin Wagner, studying history isnt supposed to bring comfort. It shouldnt be easy. It should be uncomfortable, he said. From those who are 6 years of age to 60 years of age, you learn more from discomfort than comfort. The learning process is so much richer. Whether its 1607 or 1997, there are going to be some ugly spots, and we cant just sweep those under the rug, he said. Teachers, likewise, often cant ignore whats in the news and what students want to talk about in the classroom. Teachers are tasked with talking about diversity without division and in the context of events when they happened, said Wagner, who has been the history teacher at Carlisle High School for 25 years. We try to teach without labels or shaming people based on what group theyve been born into, because they cant help that. Understanding other people is critical to being understood yourself. The way teachers aim to help students understand that is at the heart of a larger national debate regarding diversity and inclusion in public schools. Critical race theory Critical race theory is a term that local teachers say has been largely misconstrued in the current arguments regarding race in the classroom. Wagner, who belongs to the Pennsylvania Teachers Advisory Committee, said he looked into CRT as the issue gained more attention locally and nationally. The term is strictly a theory and form of critical analysis of law and graduate studies introduced more than 40 years ago, he said. Its a concept, not something you teach to students, he said. It was meant for graduate level work. Even on that graduate level, before this year, CRT had not been on the radar of Matthew Pinsker, Dickinson College professor of history and director of the House Divided Project, which provides learning material to K-12 students. Its just a political debate that has nothing to do with public education, he said. Its barely had any impact on college classes. Its not a threat in middle school or high school classes. Theyre struggling to teach the facts, they dont have time to push an agenda, he said. If they tried to indoctrinate kids with this, the kidsll laugh at them or ignore them. For some, CRT mostly seems like an umbrella term that covers a much wider scope of issues. The term has been co-opted in a politically motivated effort to push an issue thats created a lot of confusion as to what critical race theory is and what anti-racism is. The terms are conflated with each other, said Chris Lilienthal, assistant director of communications for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. No teachers at the elementary, middle school or high school level are teaching critical race theory, but they are teaching students a diverse and inclusive curriculum. Lilienthal said their teachers believe its important to address topics that may not be easy to hear. Thats what education is all about: facing difficult questions and grappling with that, he said. Students will be better critical thinkers if we give them the opportunity to grapple with difficult questions. Though local school board discussions on CRT have been rare or brief due to more recent masking issues taking the forefront, residents have been far more vocal in South Middleton School District regarding what they felt were diversity and inclusivity initiatives that were not approved by parents. In those board meetings over this past summer, parents brought forth concerns regarding a new form of indoctrinated segregation where white students are meant to feel ashamed for moments of history, and that efforts with inclusivity skewed in one direction, failing to provide information on some perspectives, such as anti-abortion. Like the larger, national discussion, South Middleton Superintendent Jim Estep said the concerns stemmed initially from a misunderstanding before branching out. Estep, who was only recently hired to the superintendent position, said the diversity initiative (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) was meant for internal use with staff and not meant for any curriculum changes. A teachers own changes to a list of required reading was then lumped in the discussion, though it hadnt been part of the JEDI initiative. South Middleton School District has been aligning with and teaching toward the Pennsylvania academic standards as (directed) in the Pennsylvania state code, Estep said. That aligning is ongoing as part of the curriculum development cycle. Regardless of how the concerns came about, South Middleton is moving ahead with a steering committee to better address diversity and inclusivity efforts with the school community. For myself, well continue to be as transparent as we can, Estep said, adding that curriculum meetings are open to the public. Will topics cover racism and identity? Im sure that we will have those discussions with parents, and it will be an open discussion, and while Im here, it will be an adult discussion. Legislation Transparency is the key term used for one of two House bills that address concerns brought up in inclusivity discussions. House Bill 1332, sponsored by Rep. Andrew Lewis, R-Dauphin, is steadily making it through the Pennsylvania Legislature. The bill would amend the Public School Code to require schools to post all offered curriculum on a publicly accessible website with information updated each time the school introduces new or revised curriculum. Lewis said his legislation, which he introduced in May, was prompted by reports from parents who did not know what their child was learning until after they reviewed the homework. Lewis is the prime sponsor of the bill, but there are a number of local co-sponsors, including Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin; Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Hampden; Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-Dillsburg; and Rep. Torren Ecker, R-South Middleton. Not all school district websites offer such information online, though new courses and new curriculum are voted on during public school board meetings. The bill was approved along party lines by the Education Committee last week, and on Wednesday, the House voted 110-89 to pass the bill, with three Republicans and all present Democrats voting against it. A more direct piece of legislation from CRT discussions is House Bill 1532, which proposes the Teaching Racial and Universal Equality Act. The prime sponsor is Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon, but Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Carlisle, joined him in sending out a memorandum to all House members regarding the legislation back in late May. Gleim declined to comment for this story. Rothman, Keefer, Kauffman and Rep. Perry Stambaugh, R-Perry County, each co-sponsored the bill. In the memorandum for the legislation, which was sent to the education committee in June and has yet to come up for a vote, Diamond and Gleim say the bill is aimed at curtailing the divisive nature of concepts more commonly known as critical race theory under the idea that white students are being maligned in school classrooms during discussions of race. Our legislation makes it clear that no Pennsylvania school district, public postsecondary institution, or state or local government entity shall teach that any race or sex is superior to another, that any individual based on their race or sex is inherently racist or sexist, or that any individual should receive favorable treatment or be discriminated against based on their race or sex, Gleim said in the memorandum. The legislation would penalize any local or state government or public school entity including secondary education institutions that receive state money that teaches racist or sexist concepts. The bill proposes that the state attorney general would investigate such accusations and make their findings public, but a resident of the state can also file a civil complaint against these institutions if they believe they have violated a provision of the legislation. The court would rule on whether a violation has taken place. With Democratic opposition to both bills, its unlikely that Gov. Tom Wolf will sign either piece of legislation if it makes it to his desk, but Lilienthal said these bills already pose issues. What concerns us about that legislation is that it really undermines what school districts can do to meet state education standards, he said. These standards are rigorously reviewed by the state legislature. It completely undermines that process. Lilienthal said the association has tracked at least 25 bills across the country that aim to restrict what teachers can say about race and racism in the classroom. A lot of this is initiated by politicians and talking heads with political motives. This isnt about politics. Its about teaching students the whole history of the country, he said. We worry about this being a slippery slope. How far does that go or what will politicians censor next? Lesson in history While English literature courses have come under scrutiny for what books are required reading and in some cases what books are banned its history that has been the subject of some discontent for those opposing a change in curriculum. Arguments have mostly circled around teachers changing history by focusing on diversity and inclusion. Its a concept historians are eager to correct. Wagner said there has been a shift over the past several years to teach history as critical analysis rather than memorizing dates. That change in teaching style has largely been due to how often new historical documents are discovered that change how a historical event or person is perceived. Were continuously looking to bring unheard voices to the table over the years, Wagner said. Were always finding new things. For example, Wagner cited the Bacons Rebellion in which Nathaniel Bacon just a few decades ago was considered a traitor for having started a rebellion nearly 100 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Letters later unearthed from a freed Black man, an indentured servant and others, however, painted him in a very different light, going from villain to merely a rebel of colonial rule. [The letters] didnt exist, he said. We didnt have those then. Thats not what we were taught 20 years ago. History is always going to be fluid. Its not erasing the past; its building the past, Pinsker said. Pinsker is largely of the same mind as Wagner, though he does take heed of some peoples worries over how the past is judged. Some people can legitimately worry about taking present day values to judge the past judge people who lived in different ages, he said, adding that tearing down or renaming monuments and buildings should not be a knee-jerk reaction. I think its important to be deliberate and not to rush. Its not just tearing statues down and vandalizing monuments. You have to take time and build a case, persuade the community and change minds. You still need to hold people accountable and recognize evil, he said. But its also important to lift up the stories of people who contributed but got left behind when they wrote the textbooks or made the markers. Thats what Pinsker aims to do with his work at Dickinson College, which included the new Dickinson & Slavery Walking Tour, featuring outdoor markers that better addressed the history of the colleges founders and the slaves they owned and later freed. The college will also have an official renaming ceremony for one of its buildings on Nov. 20, a move sparked by Pinskers work, that he hopes will feature descendants of the slaves and former slaves they hope to honor. According to Wagner, these efforts and in-classroom discussions are simply meant to better educate students on perspectives of those who didnt get to write the history books. They may not agree with it, but they can appreciate that point of view, he said. Kids still walk out believing what they believe, but at least they hear other points of view in the conversation. Its not just one man singing solo. Email Naomi Creason at ncreason@cumberlink.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Army Capt. Kim Pierre-Zamora remembers the protective vest she was issued when she went to basic training a number of years ago. It was a size medium that hung down too far and made it difficult for her to even bend over to pick up something. Whenever I tried to move or tried to shoulder my weapon or shoot on a pop-up range really quickly, I would have to physically pick up the vest and move it in order to shoulder my weapon, Pierre-Zamora said. Its a common complaint from female soldiers and small-stature men who have struggled with the bulky armor theyve worn over two decades of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. But in recent weeks, the Army for the first time has begun handing out armor in three additional sizes: extra small short, small short and small long. The armor can be adjusted in multiple ways to fit better and allow soldiers to move faster and more freely. The modular scalable vest was distributed to more than 4,500 soldiers so far in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the past few weeks. Female soldiers also will be able to get new versions of the combat shirt more tailored for a womans shape. Those shirts are given out only when soldiers deploy. Army researchers have been working on the changes for years, trying to come up with combat gear that is lighter and fits better. Initially, the effort to add more sizes was in response to complaints from female soldiers, who are increasingly moving into combat jobs previously open only to men. As more women deployed to a war zone, they often found that they were shorter and smaller than many of the men and needed armor that allows for narrower shoulders, a bust and hips. Early on, however, the Army made the decision to make the vests unisex, The decision, said Lt. Col. Stephen Miller, was based on the belief that smaller male soldiers who might need a short or small sized vest would refuse to take anything that was stamped female. Hes product manager for soldier protective equipment at PEO Soldier, an Army organization that coordinates the fielding of armor, weapons and other equipment. That move has proved to be a success. Nearly 25 percent or 1,200, of the 82nd Airborne soldiers so far have gotten armor in the three new sizes, said Pierre-Zamora, who works as an assistant product manager at PEO Soldier. Of those 1,200, about 100 have been women. There are five other regular sizes that have been available previously extra small, small, medium, large and extra large. Pierre-Zamora said the new short and long versions fit many soldiers better. As an example, she said that she and another female soldier appear to be about the same size. But, she said she wears an extra small, while the other soldier wears an extra small short. Outwardly we both look like were about the same size, but her torso is a little bit shorter than mine, she said. The vest, she said, also allows soldiers to move the ballistic armor plates that can be inserted for additional protection. The soft pockets that hold the plates can be shifted up, so they dont rest on female soldiers hip bones, impeding quick and agile movement. The shoulder straps are also adjustable. The small long version of the vest better fits some thinner men. There are a lot of small men who were probably wearing a vest that was too big for them, Miller said. Miller said he was one of them. Ive always been given a large or a medium in the past, he said. But he was given a size small in the new version because someone who knew what they were doing fitted me for it, and said, No, the way the MSV (modular scalable vest) fits, this is where it goes. Another soldier he knows, he said, is more than 6 feet tall, but is also very thin. Hes usually gotten a medium or large based on his height and the length needed, but he now is using the small long one of the new sizes just made available. The new combat shirt, however, has a new version specifically for female soldiers, because the problem was the shape, not the sizes. Miller said it has shorter sleeves, a flare at the bottom, and added protection along the sides of the bust. The new one, he said, eliminated the problem that female soldiers had with the shirt riding up on their hips. But women who have more of a straight build can still get the unisex version. Acknowledging that complaints about the Armys body armor have been circulating for years, Miller said it took time to find vendors who could change the size and shape of the ballistic plates, while also making them lighter and effective in protecting soldiers from blasts. Stopping bullets is a complex problem, Miller said. Its really taken a lot of deliberate effort to adapt the system to something that weighs less, gets after a better form factor, as well as to get after the soldiers who werent specifically accounted for in the previous systems. The major difficulty, he said, was cutting the weight of the plates. The new ones weigh about a pound less. So far, he said, just two vendors met the lesser weight goal without sacrificing protection. Eventually, more than 6,000 soldiers in the 82nd Airborne Divisions three brigades are expected to get the new armor. Miller said each soldier is individually fitted by trained personnel. Soldiers go through a 30-minute class to learn how the armor can be adjusted. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Raising three daughters has come with many delights, challenges, prayers and moments standing in that certain aisle at Target trying to figure out the differences between ultra, Infinity FlexFoam, overnight, sport, wings, Radiant, and Just ask your wife, you goober. One ordeal that all parents are destined to endure at some point is the dreaded school project specifically designed by educators to exact revenge upon parents who actually believe that their child is a joy to teach. When our daughters first started school, I made an arrangement with my wife that I would assist with all of the projects if she would handle anything related to the evils of mathematics. After helping with enough school projects to qualify for a concealed glue gun license, Ive found that what should be an opportunity for some father-daughter bonding usually ends up with someone getting their feelings hurt and crying and its not always me. Another challenge I face is trying to determine how much help to offer on a school project versus how much to risk having one of my daughters injure herself or, more importantly, the sheetrock. One of the first school projects I remember our girls being assigned was the infamous leaf collection, which often involved committing third-degree trespassing and assault upon innocent foliage. Inevitably, the final specimen that we needed to complete the project required that I jump around in the dark like a drunk baboon trying to reach the perfect bundle of loblolly pine needles because my eldest and most expensive daughter insisted that the ones all over the ground werent pretty anymore. Another foray into school projects involved creating a shoebox diorama of a scene from E.B. Whites traumatic childrens novel Charlottes Web. This project required that we artistically design Wilburs barnyard from a shoebox once containing a pair of Gianni Bini pumps that never quite fit me right. As my daughters and I worked, we powered through tears brought on by molten strands of hot glue and that chapter where the beloved Charlotte dies after becoming the only arachnid in history we didnt want to squash with a flip-flop. I also remember helping my eldest and middle daughters bake and decorate cakes meant to represent cross sections of human skin for science class. Yes, thats right, skin cakes fully furnished with a pale-pink epidermis frosting, melted Tootsie Roll hair shafts, Sour Punch Straw sweat glands, and subcutaneous tissue made from Hickory Farms Mini Meltaway Mints. I dont know about you, but I have a hard time getting excited about sweat glands for dessert, which is probably why I only had four servings. Most recently, my youngest daughter was tasked with assembling a three-dimensional model of a phosphorus atom. Prior to helping with this project, I didnt know much about phosphorus other than Ive eaten lots of it, according to the Honey Nut Cheerios box. Apparently, though, making a model of phosphorus requires at least $50, about five trips to Michaels and one full weekend down the tubes. The trick was finding a way to assemble three outer rings that would hold the electron thingies without teaching my daughter any new curse words. The teachers instructions recommended using household objects, but my daughter just rolled her eyes when I suggested an old toilet seat. We eventually figured it out, and the model was so phosphorusy that the teacher asked to keep it as an example. (I wonder if she has received my bill yet.) Despite all of the hot glue injuries, spray paint fumes, and general arts and crafts trauma, I still think I got the better end of the deal I made with my wife all those years ago. And Ill bet if you ask any of our girls, theyll tell you that through it all, Ive been a joy to teach. Jase Graves is an award-winning humor columnist from East Texas. Contact Graves at susanjase@sbcglobal.net. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) responded to multiple accidents in the area over the weekend, including a fatal accident Saturday in Jefferson County that involved a Bonne Terre woman. The patrol reported that at 11:44 a.m. on Saturday, Mary J. Weinkein, 66, was driving north on U.S. 67 when the 2003 Chevrolet Tracker she was driving south of Mt. Olive Road blew a rear tire. Weinkein overcorrected to the left, traveled off the left side of the road and overturned. Weinkein, who was listed in the report as not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle during the accident and pronounced dead at the scene. She was transported to the St. Louis County morgue by Superior Mortuary Transport. A juvenile passenger, 15, of Bonne Terre suffered minor injuries and was transported to Mercy Jefferson Hospital by Joachim Plattin Ambulance. At 2:40 p.m. Saturday in St. Francois County, Alissa M. Kaligian, 18, of Ferguson, was reportedly traveling north on Hillsboro Road south of Conway Drive when the 2001 Honda Civic she was driving travelled off the right edge of the roadway. After overcorrecting, Kaligian then traveled off the left side of the roadway, became airborne and struck a tree. MSHP reports that Kaligian suffered moderate injuries and was transported by St. Francois County Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South for treatment. At 5 p.m. Friday in St. Francois County, the patrol reports, Justin W. Cook, 29, of Park Hills, attempted to make a U-turn on Hwy. 8 west of Harmon Road in a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado when he failed to yield to a 2014 Harley Davidson XL883 operated by Jeremiah A. Fague, 41, of Mineral Point. Fague attempted to avoid Cook by laying down the motorcycle. Fague and a passenger, Jonathan H. Jacobs, 39, of Mineral Point were reportedly ejected from the vehicle and it struck the rear of the Silverado. Fague and Jacobs both sustained moderate injuries and were transported to Mercy Hospital South by St. Francois County Ambulance, according to the MSHP report. At 12:25 p.m. Friday in St. Francois County, Mark T. Parker, 71, of Ironton, was traveling west on Hwy. 221 west of Henson Road when the 2006 Ford F-150 he was driving traveled off the right edge of the road and struck several chevron signs and a mailbox. The report says Parker crossed the center of the road, ran off the left side of the road, overcorrected and again traveled off the right side of the road and struck a tree. Parker suffered moderate injuries and was transported by St. Francois County Ambulance to Parkland Health Center Farmington for treatment, according to MSHP. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 3 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As Missouri was preparing last Tuesday to execute Ernest Johnson, whose legal push for clemency had garnered national headlines, a pair of St. Louis lawmakers arrived at the prison focused on the deaths of prisoners whose names had not made the news. State Reps. Kimberly-Ann Collins and Marlon Anderson, both Democrats, had grown concerned about a spate of recent prison deaths that sources had told them were likely overdoses. They sought entry under a state law, virtually unchanged since it was included in the 1832 statute creating a state penitentiary, granting lawmakers and other listed officials access at any time to state prisons. For Collins, it was the latest of numerous visits to prisons as a freshman state lawmaker. Anderson was making his first visit as an elected official. But the legislators were barred from entering the Eastern Reception and Diagnostic Center in Bonne Terre. We were not trying to gain access to see the execution, interfere with the execution or promote the execution, Anderson told The Independent. We believe in transparency. I just wanted to see the facilities and visit substantially among the inmates, see the conditions and what is going on. Department spokeswoman Karen Pojmann, in an email to The Independent, wrote that they were not admitted because the prison was in pre-execution lockdown prior to Ernest Lee Johnsons death by lethal injection. The department restricts access to the Bonne Terre prison starting at noon on the day of an execution, Pojmann wrote. The lockdown continues until 8 a.m. the following day. Johnson was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. last Tuesday. That, Collins said, means the department did not follow the law. It does not say a state representative or official cannot enter during a lockdown, Collins said. Once the lockdown was over, once the execution was over, we stayed for entrance and we were still denied access. Collins and Anderson said the person who denied them access did so on the direct orders of department Director Anne Precythe. Pojmann wrote that the last-minute visit would have disrupted the protocols and compromised the safety, security and privacy of ERDCC residents, staff, medical personnel and visitors including witnesses for and family members of Ernest Johnson and his three victims, Mary Bratcher, Fred Jones and Mable Scruggs. 'It was not possible to simultaneously safely carry out the protocol and accommodate a spontaneous visit from anyone who did not already have an assigned role that day. Collins and Anderson were told they could return at 8 a.m. Wednesday, she wrote. As of 2 p.m., they had not returned, she wrote in the email. But the denial of access is ending Collins and Andersons concerns about several recent deaths Anderson said the number he heard was four that happened in a short period of time. There were seven inmate deaths in prisons from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, according to records provided to The Independent by Lori Curry, director of Missouri Prison Reform. I have been requesting death logs every week for more than a year now, Curry said. That is the most deaths in the shortest period of time. One of the deaths was attributed to natural causes, which the department defines as due to disease or age. Six have a determination of cause pending and five have had autopsies ordered. They are: Travis Propst, 47, died Saturday at the Northeast Correctional Center in Bowling Green. According to information on Casenet, he was in prison for a 2012 rape, serving a 15-year sentence out of St. Francois County. In an email, Pojmann at this point said his death was presumed to be from natural causes. John Ferguson also died Saturday at Northeast Correctional Center. No other information was available Wednesday on Ferguson or whether he would be autopsied, Pojmann wrote. Michael Berry, 67, died Friday at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. He had been in prison since 1992 and was serving a life sentence for three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree pharmacy robbery and two counts of armed criminal action, a department release said. Jay McClure, 50, died Friday at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. He had been in prison since 2017 and was serving a four-year sentence for second-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident-property damage exceeding $1,000 and a seven-year sentence for second-degree assault from Pulaski County, a department release stated. Joshua Miller, 42, died Thursday at the Bonne Terre prison. He had been in prison since 2017 and was serving a 30-year sentence for two counts of financial exploitation of the elderly from Pulaski County, according to a department news release. Joseph Miller, 57, died Wednesday at Farmington Correctional Center. He had been in prison since 2016 and was serving a 10-year sentence for four counts of first-degree statutory sodomy from St. Louis County, a department release said. Curry, of Joplin, began monitoring Missouri prisons after developing a relationship with an inmate through correspondence. Her advocacy grew from tweeting about conditions to establishing a not-for-profit that has sources among inmates and staff. Prisons are short-staffed and drugs are too available, she said. My concern is that they are not keeping incarcerated people and staff as safe as they should be, Curry said. There is a very high rate of overdoses right now in our Department of Corrections facilities and there are suicides on the rise. Collins said she started visiting prisons because the first letter she received as a lawmaker was from an inmate who alerted her to her legislative right of access. She said she has visited the Chillicothe Correctional Center, the Bonne Terre prison three times previously, the Jefferson City Correctional center twice and the prisons in Pacific, Potosi and Moberly once each. She is holding a town hall meeting on prison reform later this month in partnership with Curry. In its response to the criticisms raised by Collins and Anderson, Pojmann wrote that they had an opportunity to return and chose not to do so. Collins met with department Budget Director Trevor Foley, Director of Adult Institutions Jeff Norman and department lobbyist Adam Albach the day before the execution, Pojmann wrote. During that meeting, Collins did not at any point mention drugs or drug overdoses. She also did not mention any plan to visit Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center. Her visits are intended to be surprises and wouldnt worry prison officials if all was well behind the walls, Collins said. I dont want you to know when I am coming, Collins said. They dont need to know when I am coming. This story has been updated from its original version in The Missouri Independent. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 4 YAVNE, Israel (AP) Israeli archaeologists on Monday said they have unearthed a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years. The complex, discovered in the central town of Yavne, includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars, they said. Israel's Antiquities Authority said the discovery shows that Yavne was a wine-making powerhouse during the Byzantine period. Researchers estimate the facility could produce some 2 million liters (over 520,000 gallons) of wine a year. Jon Seligman, one of the directors of the excavation, said the wine made in the area was known as "Gaza" wine and exported across the region. The researchers believe the Yavne location was the main production facility for the label. "This was a prestige wine, a light white wine, and it was taken to many, many countries around the Mediterranean," he said, including Egypt, Turkey, Greece and possibly southern Italy. Seligman said wine was not just an important export and source of enjoyment in ancient times. "Beyond that, this was a major source of nutrition and this was a safe drink because the water was often contaminated, so they could drink wine safely," he said. The antiquities authority said the complex was uncovered over the past two years during excavations being conducted as part of the development of Yavne, a town located south of Tel Aviv. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Library of Virginia, in cooperation with the Greene County Record and the Greene County Historical Society, is making progress in converting microfilm records of past editions into a searchable online database. To date, no such digital collection exists for the paper that has served the Greene County community for more than 110 years. Many decades of archived papers exist only in the Record office, and some years exist solely on microfilm in the local office or at the Library of Virginia. If anything were to happen to these crumbling books and pages, county history would be irreparably lostbut this effort hopes to change that. Microfilm records of the earlier editions date from 1903 to the current time. The first batch of records to be processed will be from the earliest available to 1964. Though work will begin next week, it is unlikely that the process on this first batch will be completed prior to January 2022. When the editions become available, they will be posted on the web site of The Virginia Chronicle (https://virginiachronicle.com). It is a historical archive of Virginia newspapers, providing free access to full-text searching and digitized images of more than a million newspaper pages. The ability to do full-text searching of past issues will greatly aid the Historical Society and the public in their efforts to document the history of our county. Atthowe said the school system is employing several of the same techniques that VIA has seen success with breaking the mask-wearing skill into small steps, gradually building on each as a student tolerates it. Were really looking at how to help students feel more relaxed while theyre wearing a mask and make it be as positive of an experience as possible, as opposed to something thats really stressful or unpleasant, she said. Every child is different. So we would want to make sure that were partnering with the family and seeing what the needs are there and then really getting to know the specific needs of each child in their classroom and their setting. Kids like him adapt Billy Gorman started working on mask-wearing with his son, Desi, in the early days of the pandemic. Desi, who is on the autism spectrum, is a sixth-grader at Henley Middle School this year. To help him learn to wear a mask, Gorman said he would wear a mask himself when out in public places, such as the grocery store, and correct Desi if the covering slipped below his nose. They also experimented with different types of masks to find one that was comfortable. We got some relief for part of the community, but this problem that has been frankly all over the Commonwealth, but particularly centered in Charlottesville, is something I think Im going to have to revisit, he said on another call Thursday call with media. Both the former carrier who did not want to be identified and Anker said that when Warner came to visit the post office in August, management hid undelivered mail and packages. The former carrier said they saw hampers full of packages behind the post office when they came back from delivering on their route. They took all of the hampers of packages that hadnt been delivered and at this point, this is probably like 50 to 60 hampers or more they pushed them all outside into the parking lot into the walkways outside so he wouldnt see them, the former carrier said. They got all the mail that was piled up at the cases, stacked up trays and tubs of mail, and put it in the back of a trailer at the loading dock so he wouldnt see it when he went through there. Across the country, post offices in Jackson, Wyoming, Kennebunkport, Maine, the Baltimore area and Provincetown, Massachusetts, have reported staffing issues this year, according to local news outlets. Yet it is hard to know if their problems rival those in Charlottesville. This economic development deal was aided by $8.5 million in infrastructure upgrades by the state to Progress Park. These investments include a $3 million expansion of the Fort Chiswell Wastewater Plant, a $1.5 million extension of public sewer infrastructure and a new $4 million water tank, all of which should boost future potential to land more manufacturing jobs, the release added. In the Richmond region, similar pandemic-driven lessons are being applied in the pharmaceutical space. Leaders gathered in late September at Virginia Commonwealth Universitys College of Engineering to discuss new legislation that would institute a national strategic stockpile of key ingredients for generic medicines. The bill also would prioritize U.S. manufacturing of such reserves. Per a VCU news release, generic drugs constitute nearly 90% of all prescriptions filled in the U.S., but roughly 87% of active pharmaceutical ingredient facilities for such treatments are housed in other countries. Clearly, we really need to reassess our production here at home, said U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, a co-sponsor of the bill. As we all know far too well, the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated the vulnerabilities of our supply chain. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The name of the UK company investing in troubled Gambian operator Comium and, importantly, promising to rid it of its outstanding debts has been revealed. It is Monty Mobile. Founded in 1998, Monty Mobile positions itself as a leading VAS and telecom solutions provider and an international SMS wholesale intermediary hub, working closely with worldwide mobile operators, aggregators and enterprises to facilitate the international flow of voice and SMS across global markets. Monty Mobile has over time extended its portfolio to include a wide range of fintech, data monetization, IoT and mobile advertising solutions. The UK-headquartered company has now invested in Comium, according to local press reports. As readers will know, Comium, accused by Gambian regulator PURA of owing it over $1.3 million in non-payment of dues, came close to losing its license altogether earlier this month. Its services were suspended for a month on 5 October, but it somehow turned things round at the last moment when it declared at a press conference that a UK investor now revealed to be Monty Mobile was willing to clear all of its debts to allow the suspension to be lifted and to assist the operator in developing its services going forward. It also pledged to make a payment of 14 million Gambian dalasi (about $271,660). Monty Mobile has worked with a number African operators in the past. In recent years it has announced a collaboration with Somtel of Somaliland for the implementation of two value-added services: My RBT (ring back tone) and missed call alerts. It has also reported partnerships with 9mobile of Nigeria and Glo Ghana, both of which chose Monty Mobile as their preferred international A2P SMS hub. India government telecom Secretary K Rajaraman has asked state-owned telecom research and development organisation Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) to start working on 6G and other futuristic technologies in order to catch up with the global market in time. A Press Information Bureau statement from the govt of India revealed that the telecom secretary has stressed upon C-DoT to keep track of emerging technologies, aligned with the technology life cycle. He has asked C-DOT to start working on 6G and other futuristic technologies in order to catch up with the market in time. Rajaraman asked C-DOT engineers to work with full dedication towards realizing the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the field of telecom. He also appreciated the contribution of C-DOT in achieving self-reliance in the field of telecom and assured full support of DoT in all endeavors of C-DOT. He complimented C-DOT for its critical role in developing indigenous 4G technology and ongoing 5G development project. (4G technology from CDOT is already under Proof of Concept (POC) Trial in BSNL network at Chandigarh and Ambala). Rajaraman also inaugurated the Quantum Communication Lab at C-DOT, Delhi, and unveiled the indigenously developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution by C-DOT which can support a distance of more than 100 kilometers on standard optical fiber. The development of indigenous QKD solutions is essential to address the threat that rapid advancement in Quantum Computing poses to the security of the data being transported by various critical sectors through the current communication networks. With the development of QKD solution and the existing suite of a wide range of products in Optical Access, Core, Switching & Routing, Wireless, Post Quantum Cryptography Encryptors (PQCE), etc, C-DOT has become the first organization in India to offer a complete portfolio of indigenous Quantum Secure telecom products & solutions to comprehensively address the requirements of Telecom Service Providers as well as Strategic and Defense sector in India. Meanwhile, Rajkumar Upadhyay, Executive Director, C-DoT gave Rajaraman a detailed presentation about these activities. The Secretary visited various C-DoT labs including labs of 4G/5G, GPON, Encryptors, Routers, WiFi, and Cyber Security. Angolas newest operator Africell will use wholesale IP transit and connectivity solutions from Angola Cables. The partnership will give Africell customers high speed data, low latency and nationwide internet access through the advanced Angola Cables infrastructure. This robust network currently connects to Angolas primary IXP, Angonix, and provides backhaul support and connectivity to all the major telecom operators in Angola and internationally. Angelo Gama, CEO of Angola Cables said: The flexible yet secure nature of the Angola Cables network and our established Points of Presence (PoPs) and peering agreements offer efficient broadband access to Africell, enabling its rapid expansion of mobile services across Angola. Christopher Lundh, CEO of Africell Angola, added that the partnership with Angola Cables is an important step in providing secure data and internet access and ensuring uninterrupted local connectivity: Fast and reliable connectivity will be essential as we build our Angolan customer base and bring much needed innovation to the Angolan telecoms sector. Route Mobiles UK subsidiary is acquiring Masivian (Masiv), which provides cloud communication platform services to enterprises in Latin America. The acquisition is aligned with Route Mobiles growth strategy to become a global CPaaS player and solidify its presence in Latin America. Masiv operates in the LatAm market, offering multichannel notification services through SMS, OTT business messaging and email as well as voice, serving clients across Colombia and Peru. Rajdipkumar Gupta, Managing Director and Group CEO of Route Mobile, said: Masiv is an established cloud communication platform service provider across LatAm and this acquisition is strategic in many ways for us to compete in new markets. As founders of one of the leading CPaaS players globally, a key target for us was to onboard a global partner to gain a bigger foothold in the Latin American region, and address the international traffic that were yet to tap. Rainer Viertel, CEO of Masiv, said: With Route Mobiles deep domain expertise in CPaaS enabled products, coupled with its global scalability, we will be able to offer unique communication experiences that are easy to deploy, convenient to manage, and quick to monetise. Subject to the fulfilment of customary terms and conditions of the definitive agreements, the acquisition is expected to be completed within the next 60 days. Lessons from a leadership expert: To learn to be more proactive, start by viewing yourself as someone who cares about the environment and the future. Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB) was named among the best companies to work for in Asia by HR Asia, Asia's leading HR magazine, for the first time. This year, approximately 30,000 employees from 581 countries in Vietnam responded to the Total Engagement Assessment Model (TEAM) survey, HR Asias proprietary employee engagement survey. MB is among the few banks to be given this award. The result shows that the average score of MB is significantly higher than the average of the market, based on three criteria, Collective Organization for Real Engagement (Core), Heart, Mind, and Soul (Self), and Think, Feel, and Do (Group). In addition, MB is highly appreciated for its resilience and efforts in prioritizing employee experience despite navigating uncertainty amid the pandemic. Dang Minh Huyen, MBs director of Human Resources, said: "HR digital transformation for the future lies at the heart of MBs journey to become a leading digital bank in the region. Our digital-driven environment stimulates the new way of thinking, the new way of working, and the new way of leading, giving MBers opportunities to break the limits and achieve breakthroughs together." MB named among the best companies to work for in Asia. Photo by MB Since 2020, MB is among the first banks in Vietnam to put a paperless office system into operation. Most documents are submitted, processed, and approved via an electronic office system. The bank has established the Learning and Creativity Center in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to creating an edge for MB to improve management skills and business activities. MB is also well-honored in building a modern, friendly working environment that stimulates self-learning, creating an agile and dynamic workforce. The bank has set new standards for an ideal workplace, where all employees gain from the commitment of comprehensive care and opportunities to unlock their potential through diverse experiences and challenges. Over the last three years, the number of MB employees has remained unchanged, while labor productivity has increased by about 25 percent per year. The bank builds a modern, friendly working environment. Photo by MB MB Ageas Life Insurance Company Limited (MB Ageas Life), one of six subsidiaries of MB Group, is also named among the best companies to work for in Asia 2021. MB Ageas Life is highly appreciated for its young and dynamic working environment and culture, which attracts a great deal of good personnel in the insurance industry. "MB and MB Ageas Life both being honored as Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2021 is a testament to MB Group's efforts in creating a friendly and cohesive working environment, in which employees are together creating a diverse and convenient digital ecosystem for customers," a bank spokesperson added. "Best companies to work for in Asia" is a prestigious international award held annually by HR Asia to honor businesses with outstanding human resource policies, an ideal environment and regular internal activities to build employee engagement. The awards cover 13 markets in 2021, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Vietnam. Safe from Covid but still no jobs: Migrant workers' dilemma at home Migrant workers are relieved to be home amid the Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturn, but a big question now is, 'what to do for a living?' At a quarantine facility in the northern Phu Tho Provinces Tam Nong District, where he has been since last week, Trong Trinh, 32, feels relieved he is finally home after traveling 1,700 kilometers on his motorbike from HCMC. Looking at the images of seas of migrants from Ho Chi Minh City and its neighboring provinces sleeping on the streets and risking everything to travel home amid the pandemic, he cannot believe he was one of them. "Im lucky to arrive home safe, and cannot wait to see my parents this week, since I havent seen them for three years." He used to work in a shoe production company in HCMCs Binh Tan District, but has no idea now what he will do for a living at home, where his parents are farmers and his wife works at a fish processing company. Since HCMC lifted its long lockdown and resumed socio-economic activities on Oct. 1, tens of thousands of migrant workers have left, facing an uncertain future with limited employment opportunities. A family of migrant workers returns home with their child, Oct. 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh Many returnees cannot hide a sigh of relief when reuniting with families and leaving their pandemic struggles behind. "The most challenging time is over now, from keeping ourselves safe in the pandemic to traveling home. I will take a rest for a while before seeing what I can do for a living," Nguyen Thi Tu of southern Tien Giang Province said. Images showing their plight, sleeping on sidewalks, driving or walking under the scorching sun or heavy rain for days, have gone viral in recent days. "I was yearning to see my family and having home-cooked meals with them during the lockdown in Saigon, now things have become real," Tu said. Exhausted by the prolonged lockdown, many people know their hometowns, where their families subsist on agriculture, could provide a safety net amid the pandemic. Expressing similar happiness at being home, Nguyen Tan Tao and his wife, who are in a quarantine facility in northern Lao Cai Province, said: "There might be nothing to do in Lao Cai, but at least we will not be hungry here." Tao might find a job as a mechanic. His wife, who used to work as a seamstress in Binh Duong Province, said she would support her family by growing winter vegetables. Many people who virtually risked their lives to return face stigma in their communities, cannot find a job at home, while struggling to adapt to the rapid changes of recent times. "Job losses in urban areas could drive families back to rural areas that provide limited employment opportunities as well as access to basic social services," the United Nation said in a report last year about the social impacts of Covid-19 on Vietnam. The International Labor Organization warned migrant workers would face rising unemployment when they return home, and their families would suffer from the loss of their monthly remittance. The pandemic has had a huge negative effect on jobs across the country. In the first nine months of 2021 the unemployment rate was 2.67 percent, 2.15 percent in rural areas and 3.58 percent in urban areas. In Gia Lai Province in the Central Highlands, where around 17,000 workers have returned in the last few months, many returnees are struggling to find a new job, according to the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs. Le Thi Na, who returned from Binh Duong in August, says: "After months of unemployment, I now have almost nothing left. I have applied at local factories, but they all told me to wait until the pandemic is under control". Echoing her opinion, Nguyen Thi Diu, who returned to Kim Bang District in the northern Ha Nam Province from Binh Duong, says she will look for a new job right after finishing quarantine. "I left my hometown because agricultural work in Ha Nam could not provide enough money to support my family, but now I have come back to the starting point". The UN warns that if migrant families cannot earn adequately in rural areas, caring for children, older people and those with disabilities will become increasingly difficult for them. Many also face stigma, being branded as virus carriers. Diu says her mother had warned her that their neighbors would not be welcoming. A man naps by the road in the northern province of Phu Tho while on a 1,700 kilometer journey back home from the southern Binh Duong. Photo by VnExpress Changes of life also have made many people struggle in their hometowns. Diu and her three-member family will temporarily stay in her brothers house, where her parents are also living. "I dont know where to live now, it is inconvenient to suddenly live in another house. But we will settle down and find a place to rent soon," she said, adding her seven-year-old son will also need to change school. "But I have not thought about that - too many things to worry about now. Others have tried to return to cities following the lifting of lockdowns to find a job, but are stranded by procedures and lack of transportation. Trinh, a former worker in HCMC, said: "I am finding a temporary job in Tam Nong to settle down. I will return to Saigon when things have returned to normal - there are a myriad of job opportunities there." The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has suggested removing the centralized quarantine requirement for air passengers currently applied in several localities. The CAAV made the proposal to the Ministry of Transport as Hanoi, northern port city Hai Phong, central Thua Thien Hue and Lam Dong provinces are requesting people arriving by air to be quarantined in either centralized facilities or hotels chosen by local authorities for seven days, during which they must be tested. Arrivals are required to pay all related fees. Passengers are also required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before or recovered from Covid-19 within six months. The CAAV added the conditions for flying should be adjusted because for now, aside from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the vaccine coverage rates of other provinces are low, which means a lot of people will not be eligible to fly. The authority suggested that, it should be regulated that as long as passengers come from a "green zone," which means an area where no Covid-19 community cases have been detected in 14 consecutive days, will be allowed to fly, under one condition that they must test negative 72 hours prior to departure. The rule of keeping a distance among passengers on the plane should also be removed as it would contribute to raising air fares, said the CAAV. On the first day of resuming domestic flights in Vietnam Sunday, airlines had been able to operate only 11 in 38 flights that had been scheduled, with the number of passengers remaining modest. A flight from HCMC to Da Nang only had 75 passengers while in the opposite direction, there were only 14 passengers on board. Another flight from HCMC to Phu Quoc Island off the southern coast only had 30 passengers, and 37 on its return journey from the island. Of the 27 flights that were canceled Sunday, some had the bad weather to blame while others had been called off due to quarantine rules among localities. In specific, two flights from HCMC and Da Nang to Hanoi had been dropped as passengers could not fulfill the requirement on quarantine. At the request of Hanoi, passengers taking commercial flights to the capital now have to acquire confirmation of the place they would choose for quarantine before departure. To fly to Hanoi, people arriving in the capital from HCMC, the country's Covid-19 epicenter, need to stay at centralized quarantine facilities or at one of 20 designated hotels for seven days and be tested, all at their own cost. People arriving from Da Nang need to be isolated at their residence for seven days, during which they will be tested twice. Both groups need to continue to monitor their health at home for another week after that. Meanwhile, a flight from HCMC to Hue was canceled because Thue Thien-Hue Province required passengers to make registrations on quarantine and wait for the provinces approval before flying. A medic holds a vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in HCMC, June 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The Parliament of Latvia has made plans to transfer 200,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Vietnam. In a letter sent to the Latvian parliament last week, Vietnams National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue thanked counterpart Inara Murniece for the vaccine support, calling it a "noble gesture." Hue said Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be assigned to complete necessary procedures to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Last month, the NA chairman had written to leaders of parliaments of countries attending the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Austria, asking them to support and share vaccines with Vietnam. Vietnam is expected to receive 54 million more Covid-19 vaccine doses of different types and from different sources within October to raise its total to 110 million, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has so far vaccinated around 48 million people with at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose. Around 11.6 million have been fully vaccinated. The next Lunar New Year holiday will be a nine-day break with five weekdays and four weekend days, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. The ministry has proposed that the holiday to mark the Year of the Tiger runs from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6, 2022. If approved, civil servants and public employees will have a nine-day Tet holiday. Meanwhile, the ministry has proposed two options for the next National Day (Sept. 2) celebrations. Starting this year, the National Day holiday has been expanded to two days, the choice of the additional day being on either side of Sept. 2, depending on the calendar. If the extra day off is Sept. 1 next year, civil servants and public employees would be entitled to four days off, Thursday to Sunday. This would allow employees to enjoy a long holiday weekend and not extend it to a normal working day, the ministry has noted. In the second option, if the employer chooses to give the additional day off on Sept. 3, the holiday would run from Friday to Monday. Agencies and units that do not have a fixed break for the two days can arrange another suitable holiday schedule for their employees. The holiday proposals will be reviewed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and submitted to the government for its final decision. Tran Ba Vu Linh checks in at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport to fly to HCMC, October 10, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy Dozens of flights were canceled on the first day of resuming domestic air routes due to bad weather and strict quarantine regulations. Though the Ministry of Transport allowed airlines to operate 38 daily flights on 19 routes from Sunday, only 11 took off on the first resumption day while 27 others were canceled. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Hai Phong had been canceled due to bad weather conditions triggered by the impacts of Storm Lionrock, which weakened into a tropical depression Sunday and caused heavy rains across northern and north central regions. The HCMC-Hanoi commercial flight could not take off Sunday as Hanoian authorities failed to issue a specific centralized quarantine guideline for arrivals from HCMC. Hanoi earlier imposed a seven-day quarantine for arrivals from HCMC, with passengers having to pay their own quarantine and isolation expenses. In addition, strict quarantine regulations imposed by localities caused some routes from HCMC to Hue and Quang Binh to be canceled. Hue and Quang Binh required passengers to undergo seven-day centralized quarantine upon arrival. Some other routes like HCMC-Phu Yen, HCMC-Gia Lai, Da Nang-Can Tho and Da Nang-Dak Lak were canceled due to a lack of passengers. Luckily, some other routes returned to normal Sunday, which helped passengers return home for family reunions after several months of separation due to travel restrictions. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Tran Ba Vu Linh, 37, arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi for his Hanoi-HCMC flight with nearly 170 passengers on board. In August, Linh returned to Hanoi on a flight from Singapore but could not fly home in HCMC as the government suspended domestic flights amid the worsening situation of the pandemic. "Ive been waiting over two months for this moment," he said. Boarding the same flight with Linh, Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, 42, who lives in Hanois Hai Ba Trung District, said she had immediately booked a ticket to HCMC to meet her husband, who had been stuck in the Covid epicenter for months as aviation authorities announced the flight resumption. Hanh said her company is based in HCMC and the resumption of the Hanoi-HCMC route helps facilitate her travel for business. Aviation authorities started resuming flights from Sunday after the government approved a 11-day pilot resumption plan. At Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC, Tran Quang Huy, 28, who flew home to the central province of Binh Dinh, said he has a small child so he did not dare travel home by road. "The air ticket price was about twice as high as usual but I still accepted it to ensure safety for my family," he added. Vietnam has not resumed interprovincial bus or train services, and thus people opt to travel by road have to ride their own motorbikes. On October 12th, 1492, three Spanish ships, under the leadership of Christopher Columbus, landed on an island in what is today the Bahamas. The anniversary of that event, observed annually in the United States as Columbus Day, initiated a vast, global exchange of foods, animals, plants, peoples and diseases that transformed the world, known today as the Columbian Exchange. For that reason, 1492 is considered by many historians to be the most significant year in modern world history. World population has increased more than four times since 1492, doubling between 1650 and 1850. Although a number of contributing factors are responsible for such an enormous growth, clearly the most significant is an increased and improved food supply. The addition to the food supply of native American food plants such as maize, potato, tomato, peanuts, manioc, pineapple, peppers and cocoa beans was the most significant factor. The potato became the most important food source for the poor in central and northern Europe. Maize and manioc, were introduced to Africa in the sixteenth century, and replaced traditional African crops as the continents most important staple food crops. The introduction to China of New World food crops, in particular potatoes, corn and peanuts, resulted in a population boom between 1500 and 1650. By the eighteenth century, over one third of the world's population lived in China. The Columbian Exchange was global, introducing new foods to every corner of the world. Before 1492, there were no oranges in Florida, no bananas in Ecuador, no paprika in Hungary. The exchange brought tomatoes to Italy, coffee to Colombia and Indonesia, pineapples to Hawaii, rubber trees to Africa, chili peppers to Thailand, China and India, and chocolate to Switzerland. The landfall of three small ships on an island in the Bahamas brought about unprecedented change in the course of history. It shaped the future of human kind for centuries to come, not just because of the discovery of a new continent, but because it brought about regular contact between the earth's hemispheres, engendering trade, allowing for an exchange of ideas, and creating connections and encounters between cultures. In 1492, the peoples of the world began to come together as a global society, and that is good for all peoples. ELKO Back-to-school supplies were a bit different this year for 10-year-old Tosawi. Along with folders and an array of crayons, she also added face masks and disinfectant wipes. You never know what will happen, said Tosawi about starting fifth grade in Elko. I worry about the new variant of COVID and if my school and class will be affected. Tosawi, like many across the country, spent the last school year in a virtual classroom interacting with other students and teachers only via a computer screen. Going back to in-person learning with potential restrictions only added to her anxiety. As students prepare to return, they will be facing a host of intensified challenges, said Anthious Boone, an elementary school principal in Pennsylvania. He cited mask-wearing and learning how to socialize again with peers as some of these challenges. But parents can help their children with what may be a tough transition. As parents endeavor to help their children cope with potential back-to-school anxiety, Boone said, it is absolutely imperative that they stay well connected with both the school and their children. Tosawis parents, Alex and Micqaela, toured the school with their daughter before the new year and reached out to her teachers with questions. They also regularly communicate with Tosawi about potential issues both in and outside the classroom. As Jehovahs Witnesses, they look for practical Bible-based advice to help with any concerns that may arise. We have tried to help Tosawi focus on the positive aspects of school and just take each day as it comes, explained Alex. Having an open discussion about school and the pandemic has helped all of us be less anxious. While coronavirus variants have stoked pandemic anxieties, this family has endeavored not to overlook other challenges their daughter may face. One of their favorite resources is jw.org, the official website of Jehovahs Witnesses, which is free to all. Topics like Whats a Real Friend? and Beat a Bully Without Using Your Fists are addressed there in a video series for young people. [The articles and videos] gave us really simple and balanced information to help us make more informed decisions, said Alex. The videos reached Tosawis heart in ways that just sitting down and talking may not achieve. Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ELKO The Elko Convention and Visitors Authority was recently awarded $27,000 in matching grants from Travel Nevada. We are continuing three of the campaigns started with grants we got through Covid funding which we started last year, said Elko Convention Center Executive Director Katie Neddenriep. Those include a digital display ad campaign, the State of Nevada Expedia Group Co-op, and a television streaming and marketing campaign. An additional campaign for new marketing brochures can now go forward with the grant money. The grant cycle was open to tourism destination marketing organizations throughout the state of Nevada, so it was a pretty competitive process, Neddenriep said. Tom Lester, tourism and convention manager, put in for four different grants and we got 100 percent funding. One was to continue our digital media accounts with Madden Media, said Lester. I wrote one (grant) for Certified Folder so we can create a new rack card to put along I-80 and the Idaho market. This includes funding to update our brochures, Neddenriep said. Its been several years since we did a brochure. We want to give it a facelift and get some of the murals and those bright, vibrant colors incorporated into the material so it will really pop and stand out among all the other rack cards. I wrote one for Expedia, Lester said. Our spring campaign did quite well. We generated 2,100 room nights with a gross of almost $250,000 off of lodging. Were continuing that now. Funding for television marketing will target northern California, Reno and Salt Lake City, according to Neddenriep. She said the ECVA is doing very well with booking conventions and other meetings. We follow the mandates in place at the time of when an event will be taking place. We ask clients who use our facilities to follow the mandates as well, but we dont police it. We provide people four walls and a roof and do our best to provide support for a great event. The Festival of Trees is one of the next big public events that will be held at ECVA in the Conference Center. We had a great event last year, Neddenriep said. We are going to use the same online platform to do the auction registration and bidding. The great thing about it is you can come once, view the trees and items, and decide what items you want to bid on. You dont have to worry about being there the last five minutes of bidding. Its all on your phone. If you get outbid you get a text message, you can click on it and, boom, you can raise your bid. Neddenriep said the platform lets them upload pictures and donors can write in the description of what it is and whats included. The event takes place Dec. 1 to 4. It will overlap on the Saturday with the Christmas Bazaar that The Terraces does in the Convention Center, Neddenriep said. 2017 Elko Mine Safety Olympiad: Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ELKO A Wells-area parent announced he would take his unmasked children to school Tuesday in protest of Gov. Steve Sisolaks mask mandate, then postponed his plan after one of the concerned parties involved came down with COVID-19. Ruby Valley rancher Brian Gale is once again protesting the constitutionality of the mandate in Nevada, and stated over the weekend that he planned to hold a gathering Tuesday before taking his children to school unmasked. Last month, Gale wrote an open letter to Sheriff Aitor Narvaiza after he said his children were turned away from Wells Combined School. Narvaiza responded that his office does not enforce mask mandates such as the one imposed by the governor on schools that reach a threshold number of COVID-19 cases. Gale claims that the mandate deprives his children of a free public education in violation of the 14th Amendment. If the Wells school administration does not re-enroll them, he challenged Narvaiza to arrest the principal for violating the Constitution. Together we can show his Highness the Governor that there are proud Nevadans unwilling to accept his unilateral infringement of our God-given rights, Gale wrote. If you are unwilling to stand now, will your grandchildren be able to stand later? In June, Elko County Commissioners voted unanimously to join the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a group that believes federal and state government authorities are subordinate to local government authority. Commissioner Rex Steninger responded Monday to Gales letter, asking him to be patient and to reconsider his plans. He said Narvaiza is responsible for protecting our rights by enforcing the laws and I am confident he always will. I am also confident that he will refuse to enforce unjust laws. But it is not his responsibility to determine the constitutionality of the mask mandate for students. Determining the constitutionality of law is the job of our judicial system. Narvaiza wrote last month that Fighting amongst ourselves in this County will not solve anything. I will continue to work with County Commissioners and our legal team to fight against unlawful mandates and to find solutions that work for us as a community, together as one. Nearly all of the schools in the Elko County School District have been under a student mask mandate for weeks. According to Nevadas COVID website, there have been 524 student cases and 66 staff cases since the school year began. These numbers include 22 student and six staff cases at Wells Combined School. Elko County currently has the highest per-capita rate of COVID-19 in Nevada. Love 1 Funny 30 Wow 5 Sad 1 Angry 16 PITTSBURGH In December 1833, a young man from Chester, N.H., moved to Washington to take up a position as a clerk in the House of Representatives, spending his first day touring the city with Rep. Franklin Pierce, who later would become president and a profoundly divisive figure in the country. Benjamin Brown French saw many of Washingtons sights that day, but it was the Capitol that attracted his attention and spurred his awe. Will it always be the capitol [cq] of my happy country? he wrote in his diary, which in time would become one of the most insightful resources for students of 19th-century America. I fear the seeds are already sown whose fruit will be disunion, but God forbid it! Mr. French, who later would oversee the funeral of Abraham Lincoln, was reacting to one of the harbingers of disunion, the tensions of the Nullification Crisis, when South Carolina threatened the survival of the Union by declaring that the tariffs passed by the Congress were void within the state. Now, some 188 years later, another political crisis is being played out in the venue where Mr. French would hear the great men of the land debate. This time the debaters include Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, two lawmakers who, along with President Joe Biden, are involved in one of the great political tests of the age. This time the Union is not in jeopardy, though national unity surely is. Some commentators believe the domestic tensions of our time played out most recently in the stalemate over the debt limit and the wrangle over the size of both the infrastructure bill and the Biden spending program that leans heavily toward the priorities of the Democrats progressive wing, all coming in the wake of the disruptive Trump presidency are matched only by those that grew out of the debates on states rights and slavery. Some use the locution civil war no capitals, though contention throughout the capital and Capitol to describe the warring factions in Washington and in the country beyond and the alienation that led to the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. For days turning into weeks, the task of raising the debt ceiling has been the talk of Washington, though in truth there has not been much talk between the Republicans who refused to join the Democrats in an otherwise prosaic and routine legislative procedure required to keep the government operating. Both sides have contributed to the debt. Both sides saw the imbroglio as a way to score points against the other. Even Mr. McConnells gesture to permit the Democrats to boost the debt limit temporarily was shrouded in an attempt to throw his rivals off kilter. The lawmakers still must sort out the competing political forces that are at play and move toward resolving two parallel struggles. One of those struggles is the usual fight between Republicans (who extended the debt ceiling when a Republican, Donald Trump, was in the White House) and Democrats (who were in the embarrassing position of being unable to do so when they control both the executive and legislative branches of government). The other is the struggle between two very different visions of being a modern Democrat. In the Nullification Crisis, as in the Civil War that followed, the Union occupied the moral high ground, though eventually the slavery issue tarnished the reputation of the Norths greatest advocate for Union, Daniel Webster, whose support of a fugitive slave law as part of the Compromise of 1850 put him on the wrong side of history. In todays struggle, hardly anyone holds the high ground, though it is possible that supporters of aggressive action to battle climate change may acquire it when this period is examined by historians in future decades. The latest Quinnipiac Poll, released Tuesday, only muddies things. The survey showed the congressional Republicans (28% approval ratings) and the congressional Democrats (30%) with basically the same low ratings from the public. But the movement is away from the congressional Democrats, themselves split between their two warring wings. Their ratings dropped 7 percentage points in the last month, when the divisions between the two groups widened and their bitterness deepened. This occurred as the Republicans ratings grew by 5 percentage points. None of the four party leaders in the two chambers of Congress recorded an approval rating above 33% and the ratings for Mr. Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California plummeted. Meanwhile, Mr. Bidens approval ratings put him below 50% at a time when poll results show general public approval for both the infrastructure bill and the broader social spending measure. What could all this mean? It suggests that, while the public doesnt think much of its leaders, it generally supports the Biden spending priorities not the verdict that the Republicans expected, and one that suggests the GOP strategy of obstruction may not reap public rewards. That dichotomy is the reverse of the situation that prevailed when Mr. French went to Washington. There were, of course, no polls in the first third of the 19th century, but it is clear that Mr. Webster of Massachusetts had robust support in the North at the time (though he would lose 17 years later) while John C. Calhoun, the South Carolina nullification theorist, had strong support in his state and in other pockets in the South. Neither side in the contemporary struggle gained public respect by fighting over the debt limit when everyone outside their isolated circles knew that eventually Congress would have to extend it. Mr. Biden called the Republicans reckless. Mr. McConnell indicated that since the Democrats want to govern without Republican input, they could have raised the debt limit without Republican support, though under current rules, and with the current party breakdown in the Senate, he knew that was difficult. His semi-capitulation merely kicked the issue down the road to December, when the struggle will begin anew, and against the hard deadline of the holiday recess. The veteran Kentucky lawmaker is a wise old owl. The whole spectacle is doing no one much good, and it prompted a country of 330 million needlessly to share the peril Benjamin Brown French felt when the countrys population was under 13 million, and when he wrote of his fears that the seeds of contention had been sown. They are germinating once again. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LAS VEGAS The Nevada State Democratic Party released the following statement in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day: The Nevada Native American Caucus is happy to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with our fellow Democrats! On this day, we take a moment to feel our collective joy in ourselves, our relatives, and the land. We also take this day to acknowledge the need for our government to move beyond proclamations and toward true justice for our people, said Mercedes Krause, Chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party Native American Caucus. We ask our leaders to make Indigenous Peoples Day a formal holiday, just as we recently saw with Juneteenth. Even more importantly, we hope that our leaders commit to honoring our treaties and to strengthening Tribal sovereignty. This begins first at Peehee muhuh. Our leaders must halt the project at Thacker Pass, as free, prior, and informed consent remains unattained. The Administration must heed Tribal calls to cancel the Dakota Access Pipeline, as well. Finally, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 must be protected at all costs. We hope that our leaders commit to these goals and remember them, and the needs of Indian Country, on this Indigenous Peoples Day. Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Judith Whitmer added, Today, we are honoring and observing Indigenous Peoples Day on what we recognize as the indigenous land of the Shoshone, Paiute, and Washoe people. It is important that we recognize that these people are still our neighbors here in Nevada, living both on and off reservations, and remain targets of discrimination to this day. This discrimination includes physical violence, as we have seen with the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. It also includes cultural, environmental, and systemic violence, as we have seen with everything from the ongoing desecration of Thacker Pass and other sacred sites, ballot box access discrimination against rural tribes, and a lack of opportunities for native youth, both on and off the reservations. It is our solemn commitment to continue working with policymakers at all levels of state and federal government to ensure that indigenous voices are elevated, that the fight to preserve sacred lands is not fought alone, and that indigenous children have every opportunity to thrive and succeed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Indigenous Peoples' Day was started as an alternative to Columbus Day, to bring recognition to native peoples histories and stories. The holiday began nearly three decades ago on the 500th anniversary of the arrival in the Americas of Christopher Columbus and a flotilla of Spanish explorers. President Joe Biden on 8 October unexpectedly made the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples' Day giving the holiday celebrated in cities and states across the US an increased national spotlight. However, the proclamation doesnt make it a federal holiday, that would require Congress to pass legislation cementing the day in the US calendar of federally recognized holidays. A brief history of Indigenous Peoples' Day The idea of replacing Columbus Day with a holiday for first inhabitants of the Americas was first presented in 1977 by participants at the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the of Wounded Knee Massacre, where US soldiers killed around 300 Lakota people, the governor of South Dakota responded to calls from Tim Giago, a Native American publisher, and asked the state's legislature to proclaim 1990 as the "Year of Reconciliation" between Native Americans and whites. Lawmakers voted unanimously for the proposal and South Dakota became the first state to do away with Columbus Day and replace it with Native American Day. As celebrations were being organized in the San Francisco Bay Area for the "Quincentennial Jubilee" of the landing of Christopher Columbus in what is now the Bahamas, a group called Resistance 500 made plans for a counter-celebration. The group convinced the Berkeley City Council to replace the 12 October Columbus Day with the Day of Solidarity with Indigenous People in 1992. The unanimous vote made Berkeley the first city to do away with celebrating the troubled history of the explorer/colonizer and instead celebrate Native Americans and is generally credited with starting Indigenous Peoples' Day. Celebration of Indigenous Peoples spreads Although Columbus Day celebrates Italian heritage as well as the Genovese-born explorers discovery of the Americas on 12 October 1492, the history of harm and suffering that befell the inhabitants of the lands colonized created ever louder calls to change the focus of the holiday. Over the years this movement has gained momentum to where now well over a hundred cities recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day to focus on the contributions and history of Native peoples. More states have followed South Dakota over the years with nearly a score celebrating only Indigenous Peoples' Day or in conjunction with Columbus Day. They include the District of Columbia along with the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. Some states are continuing with payments for those in and out of work this year. There has already been three proper stimulus checks sent out in the 18 months, and only really California can afford to keep up a similar plan. These are not all stimulus checks in the way the previous three were, but represent payments sent by state governments to its citizens. Many of them are related to the resumption of in-school teaching, or they are extra support for people rejoining the workforce. Stimulus in terms of stimulating the return to the workplace after the confinements and tribulations of the pandemic. Arizona The state does not have a true stimulus, but a Back to Work Program was giving $2,000 for those who find full-time work. This is due to the thousands of vacant jobs in the state, part of the record more than 10 million available in the US right now. This scheme ended on September 6, but if you joined the workforce between May 13, 2021, and September 6, 2021, then use the portal here to access the funds if you are eligible. California California is one of the few states that have started their own true stimulus checks. Now on their second edition, Golden State Stimulus II, residents can receive a $600 payment if they are making less than $75,000 a year. In February, the governor signed a law that allowed for the sending of $600 checks to low-income individuals and non-citizens who were unable to receive federal stimulus checks. Colorado Colorado's residents who received at least one unemployment benefits payment between March 15, 2020, and October 24, 2020, will receive $375. I direct the Unemployment Insurance Division within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to make one-time direct stimulus payments of $375 to all qualifying individuals experiencing economic hardships caused by covid-19 in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis said in his executive order. Connecticut Announced on May 17, 2021, governor Ned Lamont attempted to incentivize the long-term unemployed with a tempting $1,000 bonus for joining the workforce. There are currently no new applicants being accepted, so if you are yet to apply then you are out of luck. Florida A bill passed by the Florida legislature earlier this year will allocate more than $400 million to send thank-you bonuses to teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other first responders. Most recipients are expected to receive a $1,000 check. This was at the expense of a permanent pay rise. For teachers specifically, the checks are being sent to 3,600 public school principals and nearly 180,000 full-time classroom teachers. The law passed, but it leaves out critical school personal such as counselors and other support staff. Georgia Teachers will be eligible to receive $1,000 but those that work part-time will only be able to receive half of this. Michigan Earlier this year, Michigan distributed a $500 hazard pay bonus to teachers in the state. The MI Classroom Heroes Grants also sent $250 to school staff and, in total, cost the state around $73 million. New Jersey New Jersey residents with children are eligible for up to $500 in new tax rebates. However, if you only pay $100 in tax that is the maximum you can receive. Around 764,000 people are eligible for an estimated average of $425. New Mexico In August, New Mexicos state government announced that low-income residents, who were unable to receive federal stimulus checks, would be eligible for a $750 direct payment. When making the announcement, the Human Services Department said that the payments would go out to 4,000 residents and cost around $5 million. New York New York, meanwhile, has a $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund to be claimed by those who werent eligible for unemployment benefits, including undocumented workers. To be eligible for the payment, New York residents must have a 2020 income under $26,208. In addition, local artists in New York City will also receive help in the form of a $5,000 check in October. Oklahoma Up to 1,300 college students in the state working as teachers will be paid for the first time during the pandemic. Usually the job is unpaid, but there is a lack of teachers in the state and numbers are needed to get the state moving again in 2022. The money is worth a $3,250 stipend. Tennessee Named bill SB1358, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, the law provides all school-based employees of an LEA during the 2020-2021 school year with a one-time hazard pay bonus of $1,000 for full-time employees and $500 for part-time employees. Texas In Texas, the Denton Irving district approved a measure that will send a $500 retention bonus, while in Irving, a $2,000 payment will be distributed to staff returning to the classroom this year. There are no current plans for more payments in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Photo for illustration (Source: congdoan.vn) The Vietnam News Agency qouted the sayings of Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan on October 9. Thuan unveiled the plan when replying to voters' opinions on the issue at an online voter meeting held by the delegation of National Assembly deputies from Ho Chi Minh City. A large amount of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will come to Vietnam in the near future, the health official said, adding that following a request made by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his recent visit to Cuba, Vietnam is now waiting for Cuba's sending of a dossier on child vaccines for consideration. Thuan said there will be no shortage of vaccine resources between now and the end of the year, with a minimum of 120 million doses expected to arrive. It is estimated that in 2021, Vietnam will see over 70 percent of its over-18-year-old population injected with one vaccine dose. The nation has so far distributed 56 million doses of vaccines. As of October 8, some 51.4 doses had been administered, with the number of people aged 18 and older getting one shot reaching 52.3 percent. Vietnam is sixth largest provider of processed fruits, vegetables for Russia Vietnam is the sixth largest provider of processed fruits and vegetables for Russia, the Vietnam News Agency qouted the information of the Federal Customs Service of Russia. However, the Southeast Asian nations shipments accounted for only 5 percent of Russias total imports, it said. Photo for illustration (Source: vietnambiz.vn) In the first 7 months of this year, Vietnam's processed vegetables and fruits imported to Russia reached 30,000 tonnes, valued more than 30 million USD, up 13.8 percent in volume and 51.2 percent in value. The value of processed vegetables and fruits imported from Vietnam to Russia rose sharply and had a much higher increase pace than the growth in volume thanks to a surge in import prices. In the 7-month period, the average import price of processed fruits and vegetables from Vietnam to Russia was 1,011.2 USD per tonne, up 32.8 percent over the same period in 2020. According to the Department of Imports and Exports under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam is the first partner to sign the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Under this agreement, nearly 90 percent of tariff lines are cut or reduced, of which 59,3 percent are removed. This is a good opportunity for Vietnamese exports, including processed fruits and vegetables, which are Vietnam's strong products shipped to Russia. 14 domestic flight routes resumed from October 10 National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will resume two-way flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang; between Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Dong Hoi, Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa and Phu Quoc; and between Thanh Hoa and Da Lat, starting from October 10. Photo for illustration (Source: VNA) Accordingly, there will be one flight per day from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city and vice versa, using wide-body Boeing 787 or Airbus A350. On other routes, five daily flights will be run from October 10-20. A total of 152 flights will take off during the period. Tickets will be sold after authorities allow. Further information could be found on the website www.vietnamairlines.com, Vietnam Airlines app, www.facebook.com/VietnamAirlines, or Vietnam Airlines ticket agents nationwide or the customer care hotline 1900 1100./. Alice and Luce play the violin to raise funds (Photo: VNA) As of October 9, Vietnamese children in Sydney, aged 7-11, have raised 7,532 AUD (5,505 USD) through online concerts after nearly two week of donations. According to Ms. Khoi Anh, the mother of two children who perform at the concerts, her family has kept a close watch on COVID-19 developments in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, and wish to do something to ease difficulties facing pandemic-hit people, especially children. Through the concerts, she hopes to nurture her childrens sense of sympathy with other peoples difficulties and willingness to support the needy, while becoming more closely connected to the homeland. In June, the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia and the Vietnamese General Consulates in Sydney and Perth called for support from the Vietnamese community in the country in COVID-19 prevention and control at home. In response to the call, many Vietnamese associations, businesses, entrepreneurs, students and Vietnamese people in Australia have donated cash to the activities, while engaging in many activities to support pandemic fight in Vietnam and call for Australias assistance in COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam./. From December 1, 2021, the minimum pension in Ukraine will increase due to an increase in the minimum wage, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Sunday. "The minimum pension in Ukraine will increase from December 1 due to the increase in the minimum wage. To ensure a timely increase in pensions, the government this week has increased the budget of the Pension Fund by UAH 18.5 billion," Shmyhal wrote on his Facebook page. He also noted that the changes approved by the Cabinet of Ministers this week in the income and expenditure side of the Pension Fund will allow without delay to pay the supplements introduced from July 1 to the pensions of military personnel, increased pensions to combatants, persons with disabilities and victims of the Chornobyl disaster. "The government will continue to consistently improve social standards for Ukrainians," the prime minister stressed. As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine increased the Pension Fund budget by UAH 18.5 billion. This decision will allow for a planned increase in pensions due to the increase in the minimum wage to UAH 6,500. The first official batch of Apple products - more than 8,000 iPhone 13 smartphones - arrived at the Boryspil airport on October 9, the State Customs Service of Ukraine said on its Facebook page. "In total, more than 8,000 smartphones of the iPhone 13 line with a declared value of more than $7.5 million arrived in Ukraine. The State Customs Service of Ukraine has begun customs clearance of goods," the post says. Earlier it was reported that on June 30, Apple opened an official office in Ukraine. Also, Apple will deliver the entire line of its products and open a service point for servicing its products. An arrest warrant with an alternative to post a bail of UAH 1 billion has been handed over to Viktor Medvedchuk, MP of the Opposition Platform - For Life faction, who is under house arrest, his colleague in the faction Renat Kuzmin has said. "Medvedchuk has just been handed an arrest warrant or an alternative to post a bail of UAH 1 billion. This is despite the fact that Medvedchuk is already under house arrest, he does not violate it, and according to the law, the court simply cannot change his measure of restraint to a more severe one," Kuzmin wrote on his Telegram channel on Monday. Ukrainian exporters in 2021 for the first time sent one sea container with frozen raspberries to the United States and Canada. This event is important for domestic producers, since this berry is traditionally more expensive in the markets of these countries than in other regions of the world. As reported on the website of the Ukrainian Horticultural Association (UHA) on Monday, the importance of this event for the development of production and freezing of berries in Ukraine is explained by the high level of requirements for product quality and logistics, which were successfully overcome by Ukrainian suppliers this year. "One shipment of raspberries was sent to Canada and the United States in the amount of one sea container. The logistics took about one and a half months, and the buyer was satisfied with the quality of the supplied products and is considering the possibility of continuing cooperation with Ukrainian suppliers on an ongoing basis," the association said. The association said that the higher import price for berries in the United States and Canada is due to high requirements for the quality of products, for the confirmation of which Ukrainian exporters have been certified by the FDA (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration). "The United States and Canada account for about 80% of all global imports of frozen raspberries in value terms and about 65% in physical terms. However, Ukraine has traditionally exported frozen raspberries mainly to Poland, which makes good money on the re-export of Ukrainian raspberries to other countries of the world," the organization said, citing Economist of the Investment Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Andriy Yarmak. According to the UHA, the United States imports frozen raspberries from Chile, Mexico and Serbia, and Canada from Chile, Serbia, the United States and Mexico. The approximate carrying capacity of a standard 40-foot sea container is 27 tonnes. U.S. Department of State Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain noted the importance of the memorial at Babyn Yar to perpetuate what happened on this site and tell the story of the tragedy truthfully. "I think as long as the memorial accurately commemorates what happened at Babyn Yar and tells the story truthfully and accurately that really is the most important thing. It needs to commemorate the victims and be respectful of the tragedy of Babyn Yar and accurately and truthfully explain the fact of what happened during the massacre at Babyn Yar," Germain told Interfax-Ukraine. She answered a question of what threats the sponsorship of Russian businessmen can pose in the project to create the Holocaust Memorial Center Babyn Yar, saying the most important thing for the United States is the complete and accurate perpetuation of the events of Babyn Yar. "There are many different options for doing that but the overriding goal, the key is a full and accurate memorialization of the tragedy and commemoration of the victims. How that is done is a question as it is a question at all Holocaust sites and all sites of such tragedies. That is a question for discussion and debate but the outcome should be a serious and respectful commemoration that respects the facts and accurately portrays the truth on the facts of what happened and conveys the history of the tragedy," Germain said. She said that overall, her trip to Ukraine demonstrates the United States' commitment to protecting religious freedoms, including countering Holocaust denial, countering the distortion of Holocaust facts, combating anti-Semitism, helping partner countries such as Ukraine protect Jewish heritage, focusing on victims and what can be done to help perpetuate their stories. The U.S. Department of State special envoy for Holocaust issues drew attention to the need to preserve the Jewish heritage in Ukraine. "We with my colleague Paul Packer [Chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad] were talking about possible ways of cooperating. One of the things we discussed in Uman and in Lviv as well as with Ukrainian government officials is ways of marking or memorializing Jewish heritage sites. For example I was told that there are some 800 synagogues sites that are known around Ukraine. Of course, not all of them still exist. Many of them are being used for other things. But what about of possibility of marking those in some ways, putting historical plaque?" she said. According to her, this is a way to remind the local population of their rich Ukrainian history. "It is also a way of creating a kind of tourist trail when tourists come to Ukraine. There are so many Americans with Ukrainian heritage who come back to Ukraine to see their ancestrial towns and cities. It would be wonderful to be able to mark some of these areas of Jewish heritage: cemeteries, synagogues, Jewish schools," Germain said. The Council of the European Union made a decision on Monday to impose sanctions on eight more Russians "for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine," the Official Journal of the European Union said. "The Council considers that eight individuals should be added to the list of persons, entities, and bodies subject to restrictive measures [...] for their role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine," the journal said. An interview with the United States Department of State Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain for the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency Text: Nataliia Pushkaruk - Ms. Germain, can you please tell us more about your visit to Ukraine. What is the purpose of the visit and what are your impressions? What are your impression of the visit to Lviv and Uman? - I am very happy to be here in Ukraine. This is actually my first trip as US Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. My responsibility is to help the United States and other countries appropriately and accurately commemorate the Holocaust. We are upon the Holocaust education, supporting museums, archives and of course supporting victims, survivors of the Holocaust to commemorate the tragedy and to help memorialize their stories and their narratives. Here is Ukraine I have been travelling around the country for the last five or six days starting off in Lviv which of course has rich Jewish history and was delighted to be able to meet there with the mayor, the deputy mayor, members of the Jewish community to talk about how best to preserve and protect the very varied and rich Jewish heritage in Lviv. There is an old Jewish cemetery. We had excellent discussions about how best to preserve the integrity of those areas and how to commemorate for Ukrainians and visitors the rich Jewish history of Ukraine which of course is part of Ukrainian general history. I then came back to Kyiv and went to Uman where again we met with the mayor and Jewish community activists to talk generally about the issues of protecting religious freedom in all these places, combating anti-Semitism all of which is part of commemorating the story of the Holocaust and preserving Ukraine's rich Jewish heritage. I think overall for me this trip is about showing the United States commitment to protecting religious freedoms and that includes countering Holocaust denial, countering Holocaust distortion, fighting anti-Semitism, helping partner countries like Ukraine protect Jewish heritage, focus on the victims and what can be done to help memorialize their stories. I came here with Paul Packer, who is the Chairman of the US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. I think the fact that the United States has an agency that is devoted to protecting the United States heritage abroad (that is heritage that Americans are connected with in countries like Ukraine, neighboring countries throughout Europe) shows that this is an area of great concern to us. We have not only that agency, we have the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues which is myself and we also have special envoy for countering anti-Semitism in State Department. All of that shows the United States' huge commitment to focusing on these issues and to countering anti-Semitism in all of its forms. I was here for the commemoration of the Babyn Yar massacre and I attended that very moving commemoration on Wednesday. I think for me one of the most moving parts of that was simply standing at the ravine where the massacre took place, looking down there and thinking of the victims and the tragedy that took place. It was a very emotional and very moving moment. The commemoration was solemn and indicative of how seriously Ukraine takes the issue of appropriately memorializing the tragedy at Babyn Yar. I was proud to represent the United States at that event and I was also very proud that we were able to have Secretary of State Blinken deliver remarks by video. In his powerful remarks he talked about personal connection to Babyn Yar and I think that really spoke to people. - What are your impressions of the first part of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center, which is going to be built in the coming years? - The United States position is that Babyn Yar deserves a full and accurate memorialization of the tragedy. The most important aspect of any memorial, of any commemoration is that it fully and accurately memorialize the tragedy that took place there. Anything that contributes to that is a positive step. - As you know, this project is private and among its sponsors are Russian businessmen. Shouldn't the Ukrainian state stand behind the perpetuation of such a memory? - I think for us the main issue is a full and accurate memorialization, commemoration of events of Babyn Yar. There are many different options for doing that but the overriding goal, the key is a full and accurate memorialization of the tragedy and commemoration of the victims. How that is done is a question as it is a question at all Holocaust sites and all sites of such tragedies. That is a question for discussion and debate but the outcome should be a serious and respectful commemoration that respects the facts and accurately portrays the truth on the facts of what happened and conveys the history of the tragedy. - Still what threats can pose the participation of Russian money in this project? - I think as long as the memorial accurately commemorates what happened at Babyn Yar and tells the story truthfully and accurately that really is the most important thing. It needs to commemorate the victims and be respectful of the tragedy of Babyn Yar and accurately and truthfully explain the fact of what happened during the massacre at Babyn Yar. - Recently the President of Ukraine signed a law on prevention and counteraction to anti-Semitism in Ukraine. What do you think about this document? - I am very happy to see that Ukraine has passed the law on anti-Semitism. It really shows that Ukraine and its leadership is taking the issue seriously and has now enshrined a law against anti-Semitism into legislation. So that is a good and serious step. In my conversations around the country over the last few days I've talked to Jewish community members, various government officials and I have asked about the problem of anti-Semitism in Ukraine. What I have heard is that it is not a huge problem in Ukraine which is a good thing to hear. It is a problem as it is a problem throughout the world and again Ukrainian law on anti-Semitism is a good step and it really shows that Ukraine and its leadership, its parliament are taking the issue seriously. - What problems related to anti-Semitism have you noticed in Ukraine? - I have to say that in my visit I have encountered none. I was warmly welcomed everywhere I went not only by obviously the Jewish communities and rabbis that we met with, by the local officials, mayors, some of local population who we spoke to in Lviv, Uman. Everywhere I went it was wonderful, warm welcome. People were friendly and eager to know what we were doing there, why we were visiting. I got a number of thumbs up for the United States. That was lovely to see as well. - Did you discuss any projects on saving the Jewish heritage in Ukraine that are possible to fulfill in cooperation with the USA? - We with my colleague Paul Packer were talking about possible ways of cooperating. One of the things we discussed in Uman and in Lviv as well as with Ukrainian government officials is ways of marking or memorializing Jewish heritage sites. For example I was told that there are some 800 synagogues sites that are known around Ukraine. Of course, not all of them still exist. Many of them are being used for other things. But what about of possibility of marking those in some ways, putting historical plaque? We discussed that because that's the way of reminding local population of their reach Ukrainian history. It is also a way of creating a kind of tourist trail when tourists come to Ukraine. There are so many Americans with Ukrainian heritage who come back to Ukraine to see their ancestrial towns and cities. It would be wonderful to be able to mark some of these areas of Jewish heritage: cemeteries, synagogues, Jewish schools. We also talked about how to protect the area of sites of Jewish cemeteries. There is debate over some of the sites where construction is going on. - How is going on the fight against anti-Semitism in the United States and what piece of advice could you give to the leadership of our state? - Anti-Semitism unfortunately is still a problem throughout the world. As I said the United States has a special envoy for anti-Semitism, which shoes how seriously we take that issue. Every year we also do a report on international religious freedom that reports among other things anti-Semitism in every country around the world. So in the United States we have educational programs to try to educate both our own population, our embassies around the world to counter anti-Semitism. We have exchange programs where we bring foreign officials, academics, specialists over to the United States to try to exchange best practices with them about what we are working on to fight anti-Semitism. But it is an ongoing issue, something that all of us must constantly struggle against. And civil society plays a big role in it as does the media, as do journalists, because one of the big issue we all are dealing now is disinformation and the question of social media and how social media can amplify ugly things like anti-Semitism and finding strategies and ways to partner together to fight that is hugely important. After my time here in Ukraine I am actually going on to a large conference in Sweden on countering anti-Semitism and commemorating the Holocaust. And there will be discussions of exactly these issues on that conference as well. - Crimea and the territories in eastern Ukraine are currently occupied by Russia. How do you think this affects the problem of anti-Semitism, preserving the memory of the Holocaust there? - I have visited only few parts of Ukraine in my time here. I think generally for Ukraine as a whole the question of Holocaust memorialization and commemoration is a national issue and one that needs to be dealt with comprehensively on a national level. For example the anti-Semitism law that was just passed is one way of enshrining for all the principles of what Ukraine believes in terms of countering anti-Semitism. That is a very positive way of showing that Ukraine's leadership takes this seriously throughout all of Ukraine. The press conference with the participation of candidate for the post of Kharkiv mayor Denys Yaroslavsky entitled "Raising utility rates: how to break vicious circle of current government's deception," previously scheduled for 14.00 on Monday, October 11, at Interfax-Ukraine has been postponed to 15.00, Tuesday, October 12. The problem of modern water supply and heating systems will be arisen, as well as options and ways to resolve them will be provided (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of seats in the press center is limited. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. VR Global Partners Files Cassation Appeal against Court of Appeal Decision on Invalidity of the Right of Claim against Ukrzaliznytsya NEW YORK, October 11, 2021: On October 7, 2021, VR Global Partners, L.P. ("VRGP"), filed a cassation appeal against the recent ruling of the Northern Commercial Court of Appeal by which the court of appeal overturned a prior verdict of the Kyiv Commercial Court upholding the validity of a 2019 contract of assignment under which VRGP acquired certain NPL claims against Ukrzaliznytsia from PSC Prominvestbank. In its cassation appeal, VRGP defends its right to acquire distressed commercial loans under clear provisions of the Ukrainian Civil Code as well as prevailing precedent of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court. VRGP refutes the artificial constructs used in the court of appeal ruling, including an illogical and unfounded opinion that loan sales can be carried out by insolvent banks, but not by functioning banks. VRGP also addresses the public policy issues that would be impacted by allowing the unfounded ruling of the appellate court to stand. Such a ruling would strip solvent banks of critical means to manage their credit risks, leading to reduced recovery rates for Ukrainian banks on NPLs, greater systemic stress and a generalized undermining of the capital strength and resilience of the banking system. The appellate court interpretation would also put Ukraine at odds with norms of banking systems throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas as well as policy prescriptions of such institutions as the ECB, the IMF and the Bank for International Settlements who have all supported a robust secondary market in NPLs, including the active participation of investment funds, as a crucial element in the toolkit for managing problem assets in banking systems. In light of the exceptional importance of these cases, VRGP has requested that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court. VR Global Partners, L.P. ("VRGP"), is an investment fund with approximately $5 billion of net investor assets. VRGP is one of Ukraines leading western investors, with a track record of investment in the country dating back to 1999. VRGP is managed by VR Advisory Services Ltd ("VRASL"). VRASL is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and VR Advisory Services (UK) LLP, a sub-investment adviser for VRGP and certain other funds, is authorized by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The firm operates via its principal offices in New York and London and serves a client base of leading western institutional investors. Lebanese singer Majida El-Roumi performed Monday at the Cairo Opera Houses Fountain Theater on the last night of the 30th Arab Music Festival and Conference. Cairo agrees with the countries of the Visegrad group on the importance of combating terrorism and addressing the refugee crisis, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a speech at the European Visegrad summit in Hungarys Budapest. The Visegrad Group which constitutes Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic was formed in 1991 with the aim of having member countries work together in a number of fields of common interest within the all-European integration, according to the groups website. El-Sisi said in his speech that a meeting held with the leaders of the Visegrad groups four countries witnessed discussions on working to combat extremism and stop countries and individuals that support terrorist groups. The president said that the leaders also talked about bolstering cooperation to put an end to the humanitarian tragedy that is the refugee crisis, stressing the importance of putting an end to the conflicts that create this crisis through political solutions. Egypt is currently home to some five million refugees, including 500,000 Syrians who have fled the countrys civil conflict. The Egyptian president has repeatedly raised the issue of irregular migration during his international visits. Egypt recently introduced a law that raises penalties against human trafficking amid a spike in the number of migrants leaving Egypt for Europe. The meeting between El-Sisi and the European leaders also saw an exchange of viewpoints on the latest developments in the Middle East, especially the conflicts in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iraq and the ongoing efforts for peaceful settlements. We agreed that the international community needs to exert more effort to end such conflicts, and discussed pushing forward the [Israeli-Palestinian] peace process for a permanent and fair resolution based on international accords that would help accomplish a two state solution, El-Sisi said. El-Sisi hailed the member-countries of the Visegrad group, saying that Egypt has historical friendships [with the four countries] that should lead to close cooperation in a large number of fields. The president said that the group plays an important role in the EU, stressing the value of the partnership between Egypt and the Visegrad countries in strengthening stability and security in the southern Mediterranean. The leaders of the Visegard countries expressed in a statement their appreciation for the cooperation between their countries and Egypt, whether politically, culturally or socially. The Visegard leaders also praised the progress Egypt has achieved politically in recent years, expressing their willingness to offer their expertise in political and social transition and establishing a democratic system. The leaders also praised Egypts economic reform programme, describing it as the "complete economic development that would best guarantee the stability of the society." The Visegard countries also expressed their support of the Egyptian government in its war against terrorism. This is the second visit by the Egyptian president to Hungary since 2015. Egypt aims to benefit from the large industrial base of the four Visegrad Group countries, as well as attract new investments and tourists from Central Europe. Search Keywords: Short link: The shrine is the smallest of King Tutankhamun's belongings but is also one of the biggest artefacts to be transported to the GEM from Tuts collection The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) received the fourth gilded shrine of the 'Boy Pharaoh', King Tutankhamun from the Tahrir Museum. The shrine, said Supervisor General of the GEM project Major General Atef Moftah, and its surroundings will be reassembled and restored at the GEM to be put on display among the kings treasured collection. The shrine is the smallest of King Tutankhamun's belongings but is also one of the biggest artefacts to be transported to the GEM from Tuts collection. Altayeb Abbas, the MInisters Assistant for Archaeological Affairs at the GEM, explains that the shrine is made of gilded wood and was found in parts inside the tomb upon its discovery in 1922. It was then transported to the Tahrir Museum, where it was exhibited until its transportation to the GEM for its permanent display. All security and safeguarding techniques were utilised in packing and transporting the shrine to guarantee its safe arrival. Before its transportation, Executive Director of Restoration Affairs and Transportation of Artefacts Eissa Zidan said, that the shrine was scientifically and archaeologically examined and a detailed report on its conservation condition was prepared. Its weak areas were consolidated and then the shrine was dismantled into five pieces - just how it was found inside the tomb - it was then wrapped with special papers and foams before its installation inside the box. The shrine will then be reassembled and restored at the GEM. Search Keywords: Short link: A month after receiving the fourth shrine of the ancient Egyptian golden boy-king Tutankhamun in its special display in the Tutankhamun galleries at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on the Giza Plateau, the museum has now also received the kings third shrine from the Egyptian Museum in Cairos Tahrir Square, reports Nevine El-Aref. The shrine is carved in gilded wood and was discovered in November 1922 among the treasured collection of Tutankhamun inside his tomb in the Valley of the Kings on Luxors west bank. The transfer was carried out amid security measures by the Tourism and Antiquities Police under the supervision of restorers and museum curators. Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for archaeological affairs Al-Tayeb Abbas said the shrine would undergo restoration inside the museum, adding that the rest of the kings shrines would be transferred to be displayed according to the exhibition scenario in the 7,200 square-metre galleries dedicated to the kings treasures. These are equipped with state-of-the-art display technology with the environmental control of temperature, humidity, and lighting, in addition to labels with graphics and explanatory cards for each piece. Director of the restoration and transfer of antiquities at the GEM Eissa Zidan said that prior to the transfer the shrine had been carefully examined and a detailed report made to document its condition. The transfer was carried out according to the highest scientific standards, he said, with the shrine being dismantled into ten parts using the same techniques that the ancient Egyptians had used. Each part was individually wrapped inside an inner box and another external box using acid-free materials. The shrine will now be reassembled to be put on display. Sabah Abdel-Razek, director of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, explained that the length of the third shrine is 3.4 metres, the width is 1.92 metres, and the height is 2.15 metres. It weighs about 1,142 kilogrammes. The walls end at the top with a frieze, and it has a double door closed with a royal seal. The shrines ceiling is decorated with a winged sun disk and eight birds with the titles of the king placed under it. On the inside there are inscriptions and texts from the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. *A version of this article appears in print in the 22 April, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: UN IOM Chief De Boeck said that 'measures and initiatives taken by the Egyptian government have helped a lot of migrants who live in Egypt to have access to services that put them on equal footing with local citizens' Tarek Radwan, the chair of the Egyptian parliaments Human Rights Committee, and Laurent M.J. De Boeck, chief of the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (UN IOM), met on Monday to discuss the measures required to fight the phenomenon of illegal migration. Radwan said that Egypt is doing its best to combat illegal migration. We do this in two ways, first by passing laws that toughen penalties on illegal migration practices and offenders, and second by implementing mega-development projects that can create jobs for young people and generate good income for them, Radwan explained, referring in particular to the Presidential Decent Life Initiative, which aims to improve living conditions in the Egyptian countryside. Egypt is currently building 16 new communities to offer housing to people living in slum areas and to create jobs for young citizens, he added. Radwan also said he thinks that the number of illegal migrants stands at 6.3 million or a little bit more. However, I dont think that their number exceeds 20 million as some claim on social media, said Radwan. On his part, Chief of the UN IOM De Boeck said he is keen on holding discussions with Egyptian officials and parliamentarians on a regular basis to discuss the measures necessary to eliminate the phenomenon of illegal migration. Egypt has started fighting illegal migration since 2017, and it has [been successful] in this respect, said De Boeck, adding that legislation passed by the Egyptian parliament to fight illegal migration and human trafficking were [crucial to] this area. He added that measures and initiatives taken by the Egyptian government also helped a lot of migrants who live in Egypt to have access to services that put them on equal footing with local citizens. De Boeck, however, indicated that greater efforts are needed to stop the flow of illegal migrants who come from Africa to cross the Mediterranean through countries like Egypt and Libya to go to Europe. Some 11 Egyptian young people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean at the end of August while on board an illegal vessel travelling from Libya to Italy. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has described recent comments made by Addis Ababa regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations as prevaricating and lacks credibility. "The Ethiopian fallacies persist," Shoukry told Sada El-Balad TV channel on Sunday. Shoukry was responding to remarks by a member of the Ethiopian GERD negotiating team, who said that his country would not sign an agreement on the dam which has been a source of tension between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia unless its national interest and future development with regards to utilising its water resources are guaranteed. In an interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Ethiopian negotiator Ibrahim Idris said on Friday that his country "will not sign any agreement which potentially affects its future development." In response, Shoukry said that the negotiations have so far only covered the filling and operation of the dam, and reaching an agreement on this matter would in no way impede Ethiopias future development. "This rhetoric is prevaricating and lacks credibility," the FM said. Egypt and Sudan have said that they do not oppose Ethiopias development goals, but want a legally binding agreement that regulates the rules for filling and operating the dam, as Egypt fears that its water supply will be diminished and Sudan is concerned about regulating flows to its own dams. Ethiopia has repeatedly refused to sign such a deal, seeking mere guidelines that can be modified at any time at its discretion. During the most recent rounds of talks, Addis Ababa has been attempting to impose agreements on the Nile waters into the agenda of the GERD negotiations, a matter both Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly and categorically rejected. Egypt's share of the Nile stands at 55.5 billion cubic metres, while Sudan's share stands at 18.5 billion cubic metres, according to these agreements. The tripartite negotiations, which collapsed in April, are likely to resume soon following a push by the United Nations Security Council. Shoukry has stressed that Ethiopian's rhetoric indicates that Addis Ababa "has no political will to reach an agreement." Egypt and Sudan have blamed the failure of previous rounds of GERD talks on Ethiopias intransigence. Earlier in September, the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement encouraging Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia "to resume negotiations" to swiftly reach a "mutually acceptable and binding agreement on the filling and operation" of Ethiopias mega-dam. Both Arab countries resorted to the security council after Ethiopia unilaterally completed the first and second filling of its controversial dam despite the absence of an agreement. In a recorded speech delivered to the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi slammed Ethiopia's "intransigence" in the previous rounds of talks. Search Keywords: Short link: Ahram Online looks back at the important milestones of the decade-long talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia that reached a deadlock six months ago and are soon-to-be resumed under the sponsorship of the African Union at an undisclosed date. Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expected on Friday 1 October 2021 the GERD talks to recommence soon between the three parties after they reached a deadlock in the latest round of the AU-mediated sessions in April and later elevated the issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in July. Shoukry, however, criticized in a media statement the recent Ethiopian official statements, describing them as prevaricating and lacking in credibility. Sudan, from its side, made it clear in late September to US Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman that it would not participate in any future talks on the GERD if they do not include the filing and operation policies of the dam. Khartoum also refused to resume the talks with the same methodology used in previous talks, which has proven to be ineffective. Both Cairo and Khartoum are on the same page, however, demanding Ethiopia to sign a legally binding agreement on the filing and operation of the dam, which Addis Ababa has been building on the Blue Nile since 2011. The statements came as the UNSC issued a presidential statement in September calling for the resumption of talks between the three countries under the umbrella of the African Union within a timeframe to reach a legally binding agreement. On the other hand, Addis Abbas, which already has its own share of domestic woes from a civil war in the Tigray region to the recently-imposed international sanctions, has made it clear that it wont sign any agreement which potentially affects its future development. Below is a timeline in ascending order on the important milestones of the decade-long dispute from 2010 when the GERD was known as the Grand Millennium Dam, and until now. 2010: The Millennium Dams construction plan, Entebbe agreement May 2010: Ethiopia announces it will construct a multi-billion-dollar dam, the Grand Millennium Dam on the Blue Nile River. Nile Basin states sign the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement, AKA the Entebbe Agreement, except for Egypt and Sudan, which claim that the agreement does not protect their historic share of the Niles water. The Entebbe Agreement was meant to replace the 1929 and 1959 Nile Water agreements that allocated 55.5 billion cubic metres of water to Egypt and 18.5 billion to Sudan and gave them the right to veto any projects upstream. Egypt signs an agreement with Sudan to preserve their historical rights in the Nile water. June 2010: Egypt raises the issue to the United Nations and the African Union. November 2010: Ethiopia announces the dams designs are finished. 2011: A revolution in Egypt, dam construction begins February 2011: Hosni Mubarak steps down in February in the face of a mass uprising. March 2011: A day after the Millennium Dam project plan is made public, a $4.8 billion contract is awarded to the Italian company Salini Castratory. April 2011: The dams foundation stone is laid by Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi. In the same month, the Millennium Dam (originally Project X) becomes the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). May 2011: An Egyptian popular diplomacy delegation visits Ethiopia and the two countries agree to resolve their differences and widen cooperation. Ethiopia offers to share the dam plans with Egypt so that the latter could study how the dam would affect it. September 2011: Cairo and Addis Abba agree to form an international committee to study the impact of the dam on Egypt and Sudan. November 2011: The first meeting of the tripartite technical committee including the irrigation ministers of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia was held after a proposal from Ethiopias prime minister. An international panel of experts (IPoE) from the three countries, supplemented by four international experts, is established. The IPoE produces a report, based on agreed terms of reference, covering, among other things, the safety and stability of the dam, hydrological studies, and its environmental and social impacts. 2012: New Egyptian president, Cairo calls for cooperation July 2012: Egypts late Islamist President Mohamed Morsi visits Ethiopia to discuss African cooperation and the GERD. It was the first visit for an Egyptian president since 1995, as late President Mubarak never visited Ethiopia after the 1995 assassination attempt by Islamist extremists in Addis Ababa. According to analysts, the assassination attempt had already overshadowed Egyptian Ethiopian relations. August 2012: Ethiopias strongman PM Meles Zenawi, who ruled the country for two decades dies, and is succeed by foreign minister Hailemariam Desalegn a month later. 2013: Another revolution in Cairo, Addis Abba diverts the Nile March 2013: According to a statement by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir tells the Ethiopian ambassador to Sudan that his country supported the GERD project. April 2013: Al-Bashir and Morsi meet in Cairo to affirm Egypt and Sudans alliance in the face of challenges posed by the Entebbe Agreement. May 2013: The committee assigned by the tripartite committee to study the impact of the dam on the downstream countries issues a report calling for more studies as Ethiopia announces that it began to divert the flow of the Blue Nile to build the GERD. June 2013: The Ethiopian Parliament ratifies the 2010 Entebbe agreement. At the end of the month, Cairo witnesses mass protests on 30 June demanding the ouster of President Morsi. 2014: New President for Egypt, Malabo Declaration, and selecting the experts March 2014: Ethiopia declares that 32 percent of the GERDs construction has been completed. June 2014: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi sworn into office. The newly elected president meets with the Ethiopian prime minister and issues the Malabo Declaration in the form of a joint statement guaranteeing that Ethiopia can develop the dam while diminishing possible damages affecting Egypt. August 2014: Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia agree to implement the recommendations of the 2013 report and choose two consultancy firms to conduct the required studies. October 2014: The tripartite committee selects a French and Dutch consultancy firm to conduct the studies. 2015: The Declaration of Principles and Khartoum Document March 2015: The leaders of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia sign the Declaration of Principles on the Renaissance Dam, which included 10 basic principles. July 2015: In the seventh round of tripartite talks, held in Khartoum, the three countries agree on the principles governing the work of the consultancy firms. September 2015: The Dutch consultancy firm withdraws from the task, citing concern over the absence of guarantees the work will be impartial. December 2015: Foreign ministers from the three countries sign the Khartoum Agreement, restating their commitment to the Declaration of Principles. French Artelia Consultancy chosen in the meeting to replace Deltares to conduct the dams studies. 2016: Rejected dam holes suggestions, 60 percent of the dam completed January 2016: Ethiopia rejects the Egyptian proposal to increase water holes in the Renaissance Dam from two to four, saying that the dam doesnt need to be redesigned to increase the holes. May 2016: Ethiopia announces more than 60 percent of the dam is complete. September 2016: Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan sign the final contracts for the long-awaited technical studies on the impact on downstream countries of the giant dam that Addis Ababa is building. 2017: Failed negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia May 2017: French consultancy firms issue their preliminary reports after a delay due to disagreements over the baseline to be used to assess the GERDs impact. October 2017: Egypt accepts the preliminary reports but Sudan and Ethiopia express reservations. November 2017: The 17th tripartite technical committee meeting on the GERD at the ministerial level, held in Cairo, fails to reach an agreement on the adoption of an introductory report on technical studies of the GERD. Days later, El-Sisi publicly says that Egypt considers the Nile water a matter of life or death. 2018: Summit meetings as well as agreement and a regime change in Ethiopia January 2018: During a three-day summit visit to Cairo, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn rejects an Egyptian request to get the World Bank involved in the GERD talks as a technical party with an impartial view to decide on the differences in work of the Tripartite Committee. In the same month, President El-Sisi agrees with his Ethiopian and Sudanese counterparts on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Abba to resume tripartite negotiations. February 2018: Protests in Ethiopia lead to the sudden resignation of Desalegn, and the GERD talks are postponed. March 2018: Abiy Ahmed is appointed as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, replacing Desalegn. April 2018: The three countries hold the first nine-party meeting attended by the ministers of irrigation and foreign affairs and the intelligence chiefs of the three states. They discuss the impact of the dam on the water shares of Egypt and Sudan. The meeting concludes without an agreement. May 2018: A tripartite meeting takes place in Addis Ababa between the irrigation ministers of the three countries. During the meeting, the three countries submit their observations on the technical report issued by French consulting firms. Ethiopia is delegated to communicate feedback from the three countries on technical issues to the French consultancy BRL Group. The email is never sent. The three countries hold the second nine-party meeting in May in Addis Ababa. A document fixing the mechanism for organising future meetings is issued. The document establishes a National Independent Scientific Research Study Group (NISRSG) to discuss means of enhancing the levels of understanding and cooperation among the three countries through addressing equitable and reasonable utilisation of shared water resources while taking all appropriate measures to prevent the causation of significant harm. June 2018: Ethiopias PM Ahmed visits Egypt and reassures President El-Sisi that he wants only to aid development in Ethiopia without harming the Egyptian people. September 2018: The NISRSG holds a meeting in which Ethiopia proposes the timetable for filling the reservoir be determined by annual studies of the floods and rainfall in each year. After the meeting, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel-Ati says the three countries have reiterated their commitment to continuing talks to reach a satisfactory agreement on the timing and method of filling the reservoir as per the Declaration of Principles. 2019: GERD goes to the UNGA then to Washington April 2019: Sudanese strongman Omar Al-Bashir and his regime are ousted following protests across Sudan. September 2019: New round of negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia on the filling of the GERD reservoir and its rules of operation is launched in Cairo at the request of Egypt after months of suspension. The negotiations fail after Ethiopia rejects Egypts proposal over the filing of the dam, saying that it puts its sovereignty in question. At the UNGAs 74th session on 24 September, Egyptian President El-Sisi and his Ethiopian counterpart Sahle-Work Zewde address the GERD problem. El-Sisi calls for international intervention in the GERD negotiations and emphasises that the Niles water is a matter of life and an issue of existence for Egypt. Zewde assures her countrys commitment to reaching a deal over the GERD. October 2019: During the first round of talks in Addis Abba, Ethiopia refuses to discuss Egyptian proposals to resolve the problematic issues of filling and operating the dam. Egypt declares that tripartite talks with Sudan and Ethiopia have reached a deadlock and calls for international mediation to help reach a fair and balanced agreement. The White House issues a statement calling the three countries to reach a cooperative, sustainable, and mutually beneficial agreement The second round of talks is held in Khartoum between the ministers of irrigation of the three countries. It, according to the spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Recourses, reached a dead end due to the intransigency of the Ethiopian side. The Donald Trump administration sends an invitation to the foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to meet with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and president of the World Bank Group David Malpass to discuss the dam. The meeting is scheduled for 6 November. November 2019: The first Washington meeting issues a joint statement. The three foreign ministers set a timetable for meetings to resolve outstanding issues and stressed joint commitment to reach a mutually beneficial agreement on the filling and operation of the dam and to establish a clear process for fulfilling that commitment in accordance with the 2015 Declaration of Principles. They agree to hold four rounds of negotiations and set mid-January as the deadline for reaching an agreement. The first round of talks is held in Addis Abba. December 2019: The second and third rounds are held in Cairo and Khartoum. The three ministers head to Washington to attend the second Washington meeting and report to the US Treasury and World Bank on the progress thus far. 2020: A failed agreement in DC, first filling of dam, and Egypt seeks UNSC help January 2020: The fourth round takes place in Addis Ababa. All four rounds end without agreement. February 2020: Ethiopia pulls out of the final meeting, where a deal was to be signed calling for more time for internal consultations. After holding bilateral talks with Egypt and Sudan, the US releases a statement saying it believes an agreement has been reached. Sudan declines to formally consent to the text, leaving Egypt as the only country to sign the deal. March 2020: Sudan registers an official objection to a resolution proposed by Egypt to the Arab League supporting both Egypt and Sudan in the dispute on the grounds it was issued without consultation with Khartoum. The resolution passes without Sudans signature. April 2020: Ethiopian PM Ahmed announces that his country will start filling the GERDs reservoir during the coming rainy season in June-July or September. Ethiopian officials say the construction of the dam is 72.4 percent complete. Ethiopia offers a partial agreement to both Egypt and Sudan that only covers the first stage of the GERD filling, which both downstream countries reject. President El-Sisi and Sudanese PM Hamdok send letters to Ethiopias premier rejecting his proposal for a transitional agreement on the initial filling of the GERD in mid-July. May 2020: Egypt submits a 17-page letter to the UNSC protesting Ethiopias actions and demanding that it halt construction until an agreement is reached. Addis Ababa sends a letter to the UNSC saying Ethiopia has no legal obligation to seek Egypts approval to fill the GERD and blames Cairo for the deadlock in talks. June 2020: Ethiopia announces that it will commence the filling of the dam unilaterally in July with or without an agreement. Egypt seeks UNSC intervention, describing the situation as an imminent threat to international peace and security. Ethiopia responds in another letter to the UNSC, in which it avoids mentioning the earlier announcement of filling the dam without an agreement and criticizes Egypt for building the Aswan High Dam 50 years ago. After mediation from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, chair of the African Union (AU), the leaders of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan speak by phone and agree to resume talks. Sudan and Egypt say Ethiopia agreed to hold off on filling the reservoir as negotiations continue, while Ethiopia makes no mention of a delay. July: Trilateral talks resume via videoconference under the AUs auspices. Observers from the EU, US, AU commission, and legal and technical experts attend the talks, but no consensus is reached at the technical and legal levels. Egypt wants clear policies about the filing of the reservoir during periods of prolonged droughts, while Sudan wants any binding agreement to have a comprehensive mechanism for resolving future disputes. Again, the talks reach a deadlock. December 2020: Military clashes erupt between Sudanese and Ethiopian forces and Ethiopian-backed militias over the Al-Fashaga border region. Tensions between the two countries increase. 2021: New US administration, New AU Presidency, back to the UNSC March 2021: Egypt supports Sudans suggestion to have a quartet mediation committee composed of the United Nations, European Union, US, and AU to mediate between the three African countries over the filling and operating of the GERD. Ethiopia rejects the suggestion. No one can take a drop of water from Egypt, President El-Sisi says in remarks over the continued deadlock in the negotiations with Ethiopia over the disputed GERD. If it happens, there will be inconceivable instability in the region that no one could imagine, the Egyptian president says, stressing that his message is not a threat. Ethiopias PM Ahmed announces that his country will go on with the second filing of the GERD in July 2021, the start of the rainy reason, adding that Ethiopia may lose USD 1 billion if it does not go with the second filing. April 2021: A new round of talks is held in Kinshasa between the three countries under the auspices of the AU and ends in a deadlock after Ethiopia rejects the suggested timeframes. US President Joe Bidens administration appoints veteran diplomat Jeffery Feltman as the special envoy for the African Horn, with the GERD pinned at the top of his agenda. May 2021: Ethiopia starts the second filing of the dam without an agreement with Egypt and Sudan. July 2021: The UNSC holds a meeting in New York to discuss the latest developments on the GERD at the request of Egypt and Sudan. Tunisia, the only non-permanent Arab member in the UNSC, presents a draft resolution to the 15-member council, calling on the three countries to finalise the text of a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD within a period of six months. September 2021: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the chair of the AU in 2021, presents to Egypt a vision and a plan to resume the GERD talks. The UNSC issues a presidential statement based on the draft resolution presented by Tunisia in July calling the three countries to finalise s settlement that is a mutually acceptable and binding agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD within a reasonable time frame under the umbrella of the African Union. Egypt and Sudan welcome the UNSCs resolution while Ethiopia rejects it, claiming it is not binding. El-Sisi says that Egypt is still committed to working to reach in the nearest time possible a fair, balanced, and legally binding agreement on the GERD in his speech in front of the 76th United Nations General Assembly meeting UNGA. The GERD file is among the central points Shoukry speaks about in his meetings with his counterparts and officials from around the globe on the sidelines of the UNGA meetings. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirms the importance of resuming dialogue on the GERD with a spirit of reaching a compromise in his meeting with Ethiopian foreign minister. October 2021: El-Sisi affirms Egypts continuous support for the DRC and its efforts to fulfill its vital responsibilities in overseeing African issues. *Based on previous reports of Amira Howiedy, Doaa El-Bey, and Sama Osama from Ahram Online and Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt is set to commence with exporting gas to Lebanon soon as part of a previously agreed upon roadmap to ease Lebanon's power crisis, the two countries' energy ministers said on Tuesday after two-day talks in Cairo. "The procedures necessary to supply Egyptian natural gas to Lebanon are due to be completed within the coming few weeks," Egyptian Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said at a press conference. The two sides discussed re-activating the Arab Gas Pipeline to send Egyptian gas through Syria and Jordan, Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayad said. Tuesday's announcement comes nearly a month after the energy ministers of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan agreed during a meeting in Jordan on a roadmap to provide Egyptian natural gas to crisis-stricken Lebanon. The two-day consultations in Cairo aimed to draw up a plan for supplying Lebanon with Egyptian gas, including all technical, commercial, and contractual aspects, the Egyptian minister explained. "The likelihood of exporting additional amounts of [Egyptian] gas, whether in the long or short terms, was also discussed," said Minister Fayad, without explaining further. The Lebanese minister said that such cooperation will contribute to improving the power sector, restoring financial sustainability, and preserving the environment in Lebanon. Earlier today, Minister Fayad met with Egyptian Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker, where they discussed facilitating the involvement of Egyptian companies in electricity projects in Lebanon to help solve its energy shortage problems. Lebanons energy crisis significantly worsened when its two main power plants, which had been generating 40 percent of the countrys energy, were shut down in July due to fuel shortages. As per the agreement with Cairo, Egyptian gas will be transported via Jordan and Syria to northern Lebanon to activate gas-operated power plants that had been non-functional for 11 years. Egypt achieved self-sufficiency in natural gas by the end of September 2018, with the current natural-gas production having reached 7.2 billion cubic feet per day. The boom in the North African country's gas production has been supported by huge gas discoveries and production, the biggest of which is the giant Zohr field in the Mediterranean, which was discovered in 2015 and is believed to be the largest-ever gas discovery in Egypt and the Mediterranean. Egypt plans to use its location on Europes doorstep to become a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the continent, which is transitioning away from other fossil fuels. Egypt has the infrastructure for the transport and handling of natural gas, with the main network of 7,000km of pipelines, as well as a distribution network of 31,000km, and 29 gas-treatment plants in addition to two LNG facilities. Search Keywords: Short link: Lebanon's electricity grid was back online Sunday after the army supplied fuel to two key power stations that had run out, a minister said, ending almost a day of total blackout. The Deir Ammar and Zahrani plants ground to a halt Saturday, causing the state electricity network to collapse completely for the second time this month. The Mediterranean country is battling economic turmoil, and the cash-strapped state has in recent months struggled to import enough fuel oil for electricity production. Most Lebanese saw no major change to their daily lives on Saturday, as the state has been barely providing one to two hours of power a day for months. Energy Minister Walid Fayad said Sunday that the grid was back up and running. "The network is back to normal, as it was before the gasoil ran out at Deir Ammar and Zahrani," he said in a statement, implying production would revert to the previous few hours a day. He thanked the army for handing over 6,000 kilolitres of gasoil, half of which he said went to each power station. The state electricity company had said Saturday that a shipment of fuel oil was expected to arrive that evening, and be offloaded at the start of next week. Lebanon has witnessed rolling power cuts across the country since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war, but the economic crisis has made matters drastically worse. Lebanese who can afford it subscribe to private generators to keep appliances on, but even their owners have started to ration power supplies due to the scarcity of fuel. The international community has long demanded a complete overhaul of Lebanon's loss-making electricity sector, which has cost the government more than $40 billion since the early 1990s Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi flew to Budapest, Hungary, on Monday to take part in the Visegrad Group (V4) summit. The Visegrad Group comprised of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic was formed in 1991 with the aim of having member countries work together in a number of fields of common interest within the all-European integration, according to the groups website. This is Egypts second participation in the event. In 2017, Egypt was the first Middle Eastern and African country to take part in the summit. The participation reflects the two parties' interest to bolster joint ties and exchange views on various issues of mutual interest, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said. The summit is scheduled to tackle a series of subjects, including Egypt's role in the Middle East, cooperation to combat terrorism, illegal immigration, and energy security. The talks will also address means of promoting trade, investment, and tourism and enhancing Egypt-European Union cooperation, Rady noted. El-Sisi is scheduled to hold intensive bilateral talks with senior Hungarian officials, including Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Janos Ader, to discuss ways of bolstering political and economic ties as well as international and regional cooperation. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Speaker of the House Hanafy Gebaly and his South Korean counterpart Park Byeong-Seug met on Monday to discuss the establishment of a parliamentary friendship association between the two countries. A statement released by the Egyptian parliaments press office said that the current visit of the speaker of South Koreas National Assembly to Egypt reflects the growing bilateral relations between Cairo and Seoul. Gebaly said that Egypt and South Korea have friendly relations and that the leaders of the two countries are keen to push these relations forward at all levels. We are currently in the process of setting up an Egypt-South Korea Parliamentary Friendship Association to strengthen cooperation between the two countries at the political, economic, and parliamentary levels, said Gebaly. The Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly, Park Byeong-Seug, said that the relations between Egypt and South Korea are historical. My visit to Cairo comes to represent an extension of these historic relations and boost the comprehensive partnership between Egypt and South Korea in all areas, said Park. Park also met with the Speaker of Egypts Senate, Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razek. Search Keywords: Short link: Israeli lawmakers flanked by former president Donald Trump's daughter and son-in-law launched an initiative in Jerusalem on Monday to advance the Abraham Accords that saw Arab states normalise ties with Israel. Jared Kushner, a former White House adviser married to Ivanka Trump, was a major architect of the deals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. At the launch of the Abraham Accords Caucus in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, Kushner said the agreements created a "new paradigm" in the region, which could have "very different outcomes" depending on the actions of current leaders. Critics of the Trump approach accused him of advancing Arab reconciliation with Israel as a substitute for meaningful efforts to advance the rights of the Palestinians. The accords broke with decades of Arab consensus that there would be no relations with Israel while the Palestinian question remains unresolved. Trump considered the accords a major foreign policy legacy. They were signed by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was cheered at Monday's event, but the pacts have been fully supported by the coalition that ousted him in June. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Netanyahu's staunch political rival, said at the launch that he would work to "expand the circle of the Abraham Accords" during an upcoming visit to Washington. Israeli media have reported on some frustration among Israeli officials about a lack of momentum from President Joe Biden's administration to expand the accords engineered under Trump. Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised last month to encourage more Arab countries to recognise Israel to "keep normalisation marching forward." He is to meet in Washington next week with Lapid and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed to discuss "progress made" since the signing of the pacts. Several former top Trump administration officials were also in Jerusalem on Monday, coinciding with the launch. Trump's former ambassador to Israel David Friedman and ex-treasury secretary Stephen Mnuchin were due to open a museum exhibit. Search Keywords: Short link: A Taliban delegation will meet European Union representatives in Doha on Tuesday, acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said, following their first face-to-face talks with the United States. The Afghans have already met with German government officials and a British parliamentarian, Muttaqi said at an event organised by Qatar's Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies on Monday. "Tomorrow we are meeting the EU representatives. We are having positive meetings with representatives of other countries," he said in the Qatari capital. "We want positive relationships with the whole world. We believe in balanced international relations. We believe such a balanced relationship can save Afghanistan from instability," Muttaqi added. The hardline Islamists' diplomatic push follows their return to power in August as the US abruptly ended its 20-year occupation of Afghanistan. On Saturday and Sunday, they held their first in-person talks with US officials since returning to power. The American side stressed that the meetings did not amount to recognition of the Taliban government. Afghanistan's economy is teetering on the brink of collapse, with international aid cut off, food prices rising and unemployment spiking. The Taliban's efforts to consolidate their rule have also been undermined by a series of attacks by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), who claimed a bombing of a Shia mosque that left more than 60 people dead on Friday. Search Keywords: Short link: Madrid confirmed on Monday that it was expecting the arrival of Afghans who had worked for Spain, whose evacuation it had arranged via Pakistan. Ministers "will greet the first flight with Afghan refugees arriving from Islamabad on Monday at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) at the Torrejon de Ardoz airbase" near Madrid, the prime minister's office said. Related EU chiefs to visit Afghan evacuation centre in Spain Spanish media, including daily El Pais and National Radio, reported that Madrid would bring close to 250 Afghan citizens, who entered Pakistan in advance and would be flown out on military transport planes. It was not clear when the second flight is expected. Spain's evacuations have been weeks in the making, with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares visiting Pakistan and Qatar in early September to lay the groundwork. Madrid evacuated over 2,000 people, most of them Afghans who had worked for Spain and their families, during the western withdrawal as the Taliban seized power in Kabul in August. But the flights had to stop once the final American troops that had been protecting the Afghan capital's airport left. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in August that Spain would not "lose interest in the Afghans who had remained" in their country but wanted to leave. The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, on Friday urged the bloc's member states to host a "minimum" of between 10,000 and 20,000 more Afghan refugees. "To welcome them, we have to evacuate them, and we're getting down to it, but it's not easy," he said in Madrid. The EU has said a demand by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to take in 42,500 Afghan refugees over five years can be achieved -- although any decision lies with member states. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed Egyptian efforts to combat the phenomenon of irregular migration with the foreign ministers of Visegrad Group member states in Budapest on Monday ahead of the group's summit tomorrow. Shoukry said at a press conference following the meeting that Egypt works both to limit the impact of irregular migration on importing countries in Europe as well as to help migrants against the dangers of human trafficking gangs or perilous sea voyages. "Since 2016, Egypt has taken all the necessary measures to prevent the continuation of irregular migration," the Egyptian foreign minister said. Earlier on Monday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Shoukry arrived in Budapest to participate in the Visegrad Groups summit. The Visegrad Group comprised of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic was formed in 1991 with the aim of having member countries work together in a number of fields of common interest within the all-European integration, according to the groups website. This is Egypts second participation in the group's meeting since the country became in 2017 the first Middle Eastern and African country to take part in the summit. Shoukry said that Egypt currently hosts 5 to 6 million refugees and provides them with all the services received by Egyptian citizens, such as education and healthcare. "The 5 to 6 million refugees that Egypt hosts exceed the population of some European countries," he said, adding that the support Egypt receives from abroad to deal with refugees does not meet what the country needs to face this challenge. The Egyptian foreign minister also discussed a number of regional and international issues with his counterparts, including the situation in Afghanistan and the war on terrorism. Shoukry also discussed boosting cooperation between Egypt and Visegrad Group members. Earlier on Monday, Shoukry held a meeting with Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto, where they discussed a number of regional and international issues and agreed to continue coordination between Egypt and Hungary. Shoukry discussed with Szijjarto ways to boost bilateral relations, especially in the economic field and the energy sector. The two foreign ministers also signed a number of contractual frameworks of cooperation. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt welcomed on Monday the announcement of the formation of a new Tunisian cabinet that will be headed by the recently appointed Prime Minister Najla Bouden, praising the sincere efforts made by the Tunisian state to meet the aspirations of its people. Egypt also expressed on Monday its confidence in the ability of the new Tunisian government to confront all challenges within the framework of popular solidarity under the wise leadership of Tunisian President Kais Saied, according to a statement released by the foreign ministry. The ministry stressed that Egypt affirms that it will remain supportive of the efforts of the Tunisian leadership in its endeavours towards consolidating the pillars of stability in Tunisia and achieving progress and development in a manner that preserves the capabilities of its brotherly people and preserves the institutions of the national state. The statement added that Egypt was looking forward to working with the new government to improve the distinguished bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Iraq said on Monday it has detained a top leader of the Islamic State group and a longtime al-Qaida operative in a cross-border operation. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi tweeted the news, identifying the man as Sami Jasim, who oversees the Islamic State group's financial operations and served as the deputy leader of IS under the late Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Al-Kadhimi described it as ``one of the most difficult`` cross border intelligence operations ever conducted by Iraqi forces. Jasim has a $5 million bounty on his head from the U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice program, which describes him as having been ``instrumental in managing finances for IS terrorist operations.`` ``While serving as IS deputy in southern Mosul in 2014, Jasim reportedly served as the equivalent of IS's finance minister, supervising the group's revenue-generating operations from illicit sales of oil, gas, antiquities, and minerals,'' the website says. Iraqi intelligence officials told The Associated Press that Jasim was detained in an identified foreign country and transported to Iraq few days ago. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak of the operation on the record. Jassem worked with al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq in 2006. He assumed various security positions in Iraq, and moved to Syria in 2015, after the Islamic State group, an al-Qaida offshoot, declared its caliphate in 2014 and became the deputy of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the extremist group's leader. Al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S.-led raid in northwestern Syria in 2019, under former U.S. President Donald Trump. Search Keywords: Short link: Firefighters in Lebanon put out a huge blaze that raged at a key fuel storage depot Monday to the relief of many in the country gripped by desperate energy shortages. There was no immediate report of casualties from the fire that sent large plumes of dark smoke billow into the sky. The fire broke out around 8:00am (0500 GMT) in a large petrol tank belonging to the army at the Zahrani facilities some 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Beirut, the National News Agency and local media said. An AFP photographer said firefighters put out the flames at around noon (0900 GMT), and civil defence chief Raymond Khattar told the press the blaze was "under control". Ziyad al-Zein, head of facilities at Zahrani, said the fire broke out as the tank was being emptied. "We noticed an inclination in the reservoir's roof yesterday and took immediate measures... this morning to transfer its contents," he said, adding that "it would have been a disaster if the fire had spread to nearby tanks". Energy Minister Walid Fayad said the flames had consumed around 250,000 litres of gasoline and that an investigation had been launched into the cause of the fire. The army cordoned off the area, cutting off roads leading to the depot as well as the main highway linking Beirut to the country's south, the photographer said. 'Loud bang' The Zahrani site also houses a power plant of the same name, and provides 15 percent of the country's fuel oil. A worker in a plantation nearby told AFP he had heard a loud bang before the fire broke out. The small Mediterranean nation is battling one of the world's worst economic crises since the 1850s, and has in recent months struggled to import enough fuel oil for its power plants. In recent months, Lebanese have only received one or two hours of state electricity a day. The fire comes after the electricity grid went completely offline on Saturday. That outage came after two key power plants, including the one in Zahrani, ran out of fuel. By Sunday limited supply was back after the army provided gas oil. Most Lebanese saw no major change to their daily lives during the blackout, as those who can afford it have already subscribed to private generators to keep the lights on during the almost round-the-clock power cuts. Petrol has also been in short supply, forcing motorists to queue for hours outside gas stations to fill up their tanks. Search Keywords: Short link: Israeli forces detained on Monday 14 Palestinians during a wide incursion operation in the occupied West Bank. The forces detained six Palestinians from Nablus, six from Bethlehem and two from Hebron as Israeli crackdown on Palestinian activists continues. Search Keywords: Short link: The US Department of State and British Foreign Ministry warned their citizens based in Kabul of potential threats and attacks and have asked them to stay away from the Serena hotel in the Afghan capital, Khaama Press reported. The statement released by the department of state on Monday, October 11 reads that all US citizens should stay away from all the central hotels of Kabul city. The department of state and British Foreign ministry said that there are threats of attacks from Daesh-K. Serena hotel that is situated in downtown Kabul city is the biggest residence for foreign citizens that is well-known for its security and services. Search Keywords: Short link: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have agreed to deepen their cooperation on joint financing projects and platforms in countries outside the European Union (EU) where they both operate, the two banks announced. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and EIB President Werner Hoyer signed a Framework Project Cooperation Agreement in London on Monday with the goal of maximising their joint impact. The framework operates within the remit of each institutions mandate, policies and procedures and aims to cover all types of debt financing structures in the private or public sector. Joint projects and further areas of cooperation will be selected according to their complementarity and potential for joint impact. The agreement will enable better coordination throughout the project cycle to achieve efficiency and harmonise the approach to joint projects, with an aim to optimise resources through greater coordination throughout the joint project cycle, allocation of roles and division of tasks to avoid duplication of work and enhanced information sharing. The agreement further provides the flexibility to customise cooperation on selected joint projects to the needs and specificities of such projects. This is an important step towards intensifying the cooperation between the EBRD and the EIB, two institutions at the heart of the EUs financial architecture for development. Leveraging our complementary business models in financing sustainable development in our countries of operations, our agreement today marks a concrete step to enhance our impact and effectiveness, with many more to follow, said EBRD President Renaud-Basso. On the other hand, EIB President Hoyer said that the EIB is taking steps to tackle the urgent challenges that face all countries; including climate change, connectivity, jobs and prosperity, building resilience, and supporting a sustainable post pandemic recovery. Our shareholders, the EU member states, have asked us to develop a more effective partnership with the EBRD, and the agreement we have signed today will equip our institutions even better to work together in a complementary way, he added. The EBRD started operations in 1991 to support the transition of state-controlled economies to private sector-based market economies after the fall of communism in Europe. Today the EBRD operates in 38 economies in Europe, Asia and Africa and has 72 shareholders from all over the world. The Banks focus today is on supporting the green transition by crowding in the private sector. As a global institution with a European core the EBRD is actively supporting Team Europe with its investments and engagements. The EIB, which is owned by the EUs 27 member states, has financed investment benefiting both the public and private sector outside the European Union for more than 50 years. The EIB is active in 160 countries, including enlargement and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, Eastern and Mediterranean neighbours, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) and South Africa, as well as countries in Asia, Central Asia and Latin America. The EBRD has named Egypt as its largest investment and country of operation in 2020 and 2021 in the Mediterranean region. Egypt is also a founding member of the EBRD, which has invested 7.7 billion in the country through 132 projects since the onset of its operations in Egypt in 2012. For the EIB, the bank has had a longstanding partnership with Egypt for more than 40 years through financing and supporting the implementation of various projects aimed at boosting social and economic development and create job opportunities in the country with total funds amounting to 9.8 billion extended by the bank to Egypt over these years. Search Keywords: Short link: The 11th edition of the Hakawy International Arts Festival for Children will be returning to Cairo after a year-long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic on 2 November. Organised by the AFAC Arts Centre, the festival will take place across three Egyptian governorates: In Cairo between 2 and 6 November in Tahrir Cultural Centre, in Alexandria on 2 November at the French Institute, and in Minya on 8 and 9 November at the Jesuit Cultural Centre. Founded in 2011 by Mohamed El-Ghawy who also founded the AFCA Arts Centre each year, Hakawy brings international and local performances designed for children from around the world and presents them in a vibrant one-week-long festival with the aim of educating and entertaining Egyptian children and their families through arts and culture, reads the festivals press release. Among the upcoming editions highlights is an interactive performance for children titled Archipel by ACTA company from France that explores the musicality of early childhood. Aside from the festivals focus on early childhood, it will also present nine Egyptian performances in different art forms: Object theatre, physical theatre, interactive theatre, music and singing, science and magic, and storytelling. The plays include The Chamber of Secrets by Marina Girgis; Gimme, Please!, which is an Egyptian remount by AFCA in cooperation with Paperboats, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Alliance Theatre; Forgotten Tale.. Animals Lawsuit Against Humanity by ACT; and Sohbet Al-Semsemya. This will be topped with Stories on Four Wheels and the mobile library of Misr El Kheir. The festival will also feature a music day with the choir of the Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development and Al-Nour Wi Al-Amal Orchestra for blind female musicians. Additionally, the autism spectrum will be addressed with special theatre activities targeting young autistic children; the first of these kinds of creative interactive experience to be held in Egypt. Lastly, the AFCA Arts School out of Cairo will showcase their talents in a performance titled Stories from Al-Minya. The festivals organisers are yet to reveal the programmes details. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: The House's second-ranking Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise, repeatedly refused to say on Sunday that the 2020 election wasnt stolen, standing by Donald Trumps lie that Democrat Joe Biden won the White House because of mass voter fraud. More than 11 months after Americans picked their president and almost nine months since Biden was inaugurated, Scalise was unwilling during a national television interview to acknowledge the legitimacy of the vote, instead sticking to his belief that the election results should not have been certified by Congress. U.S. President Donald Trump and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., arrive in Lake Charles, La. In a television interview aired Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. [File photo: AP/Brett Duke] "Ive been very clear from the beginning," he said. If you look at a number of states, they didnt follow their state-passed laws that govern the election for president. That is what the United States Constitution says. They dont say the states determine what the rules are. They say the state legislatures determine the rules, the Louisiana congressman said on Fox News Sunday. Pressed by moderator Chris Wallace on whether the election went beyond a few irregularities to be considered stolen, Scalise responded: Its not just irregularities. Its states that did not follow the laws set which the Constitution says theyre supposed to follow. Trump left office in January a few weeks after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol in a violent riot in an attempt to prevent Congress from formally declaring Biden the winner. As Trump mulls a 2024 presidential bid, he has been intensifying efforts to shame and potentially remove members of his party who are seen as disloyal to his bogus claims that last years election was illegitimate. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California, who is vying to become speaker if the GOP takes control after the 2022 midterm election, continues to defend Trump and his false assertions. At a rally Saturday in Iowa, Trump spent almost 30 minutes arguing falsely that he had won Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds stood by and welcomed his return to their state. In fact, no election was stolen from Trump. His former attorney general, William Barr, found no evidence of widespread election corruption. Allegations of massive voting fraud also have been dismissed by a succession of judges and refuted by state election officials and an arm of the Homeland Security Department during the Trump administration. Scalise on Sunday appeared to be referring to the legal argument, made in several lawsuits backed by Trump before and after last November's election, that the Constitution gives the power of election administration exclusively to state lawmakers. The suits sought to invalidate a number of pandemic-era accommodations including expanded mail voting that were put in place by governors, state election officials and judges. The high court ultimately turned away the cases, declining to rule on the matter. Theres no indication in any of the suits that changing the COVID-19 accommodations would have altered a states election results. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who is serving on a House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, on Sunday slammed Scalise for spreading Trumps Big Lie. Millions of Americans have been sold a fraud that the election was stolen, Cheney tweeted. Republicans have a duty to tell the American people that this is not true. Perpetuating the Big Lie is an attack on the core of our constitutional republic. KYODO NEWS - Oct 11, 2021 - 11:42 | World, All North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized the need to improve people's living conditions, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Monday, as the nuclear-armed country has been facing the worst food crisis in over a decade. Kim made a speech, titled "Let us further improve party work in line with the demands of the period of fresh development of socialist construction," on Sunday's 76th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, according to the news agency. It is apparently the first time that Kim has delivered a speech on the party's founding anniversary since he became North Korea's supreme leader following the death of his father in 2011. North Korea said earlier this year in a report to the United Nations that it has suffered its worst food crisis in over 10 years, with fears mounting that the nation's citizens have encountered difficulties in obtaining daily essentials. The country also appears not to have imported food products recently from China, which is known as its closest and most influential ally in economic terms, as it has blocked the border with its neighbor amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pyongyang has cut off land traffic to and from China and Russia since early last year to prevent the intrusion of the virus, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. It claims the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease has not entered the nation. On the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling party last year, North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang to show off its intercontinental ballistic missile. Related coverage: North Korea says it test-fired anti-aircraft missile on Sept. 30 Kim Jong Un vows to restore inter-Korean communication lines from Oct. FOCUS:North Korea's missile launches aimed at prodding US to ease sanctions KYODO NEWS - Oct 11, 2021 - 13:11 | All, Japan An Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet lost its cockpit canopy weighing about 90 kilograms while flying over mountainous areas in southwestern Japan on Sunday, but there were no reports of any injuries or property damage from the incident, according to the Defense Ministry. The F-2 fighter jet's canopy fell off the aircraft during a scramble mission in response to a possible violation of Japan's airspace by a foreign plane, leaving the pilot exposed to the air in mid-flight, the ministry said. The Self-Defense Forces have been searching for the canopy, measuring about 150 centimeters in length, 90 cm in width and 80 cm in height, which was believed to have fallen in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture. The fighter made an emergency landing at Tsuiki Air Base in the prefecture, where it is stationed, after the incident took place at around 12:50 p.m. Sunday. Another plane was deployed to replace the F-2 fighter jet for the scramble mission, the ministry said. The fighter also lost a ladder weighing about 480 grams, with which the aircraft was equipped. The ASDF decided to conduct inspections of all aircraft and to see if any other parts have fallen from the F-2 fighter. "We are sorry for causing concern to local residents and the general public," the ministry said. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Monday the incident was serious as it could have posed great danger to local people. Yoshitomo Aoki, an aviation expert, said that such a loss of a canopy is rare but that loosening or defective parts could cause such an incident. But the loss of the canopy would not affect an aircraft's flight functions, he added. Related coverage: U.S. F-16 drops dummy bomb off firing range in northeastern Japan Japan ASDF concludes F-35A crash caused by human error Japan resumes F-35A flights 4 months after fatal crash KYODO NEWS - Oct 11, 2021 - 18:32 | All, Japan, World The Group of Seven industrialized nations will call for transparency and privacy protection as part of a common set of guiding principles created for central bank digital currencies, a draft document showed Monday. The 13-point rules are expected to be endorsed during a meeting of finance chiefs in Washington on Wednesday, at a time when China is taking the lead in the global race to launch a central bank digital currency, or CBDC, amid concerns the development could allow stronger surveillance of its economy and people. While noting the issuance of such currencies is a "sovereign matter," the document obtained by Kyodo News said that "by setting out a common set of principles, and underscoring the fundamental importance of shared values such as transparency, rule of law and sound economic governance, these principles can guide and inform exploration of retail CBDC in the G-7 and beyond." None of the G-7 members -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union -- have yet decided to implement a CBDC. Meanwhile, China is seen by far the closest of any major economy to launching a CBDC, with pilot programs to develop the digital yuan already under way. According to the draft document, the G-7 members will acknowledge the rapid rise in the use of digital payments is transforming the way people and businesses transact, and the trends have been "further accelerated" by the coronavirus pandemic, which has raised the need for contactless transaction functionality. Among issues considered "essential" for any CBDC, the document cited appropriate national regulatory and oversight frameworks for the new payment system as well as "rigorous" standards of privacy and accountability for the protection of users' data and transparency on how information will be secured and used. The paper also pointed to concerns over a significant use of any CBDC by residents of a foreign country, which could lead to currency substitution and loss of monetary sovereignty in both the issuing and foreign country. "Where overseas access to a jurisdiction's CBDC could leave other countries vulnerable to currency substitution or other spillovers, collaborative work to design and implement safeguards, particularly through relevant international organizations, can help mitigate negative effects," it said. In the case a CBDC is used for providing international development assistance, the motivation should be transparent, the draft also said. Other principles mentioned in the draft included a commitment to countering fraud and mitigating the risks of evading financial sanctions as well as the creation of a resilient system such as through crisis simulation and playbook development. The emphasis on transparency seems to reflect concerns from critics that the rollout of a CBDC would empower the Chinese government through the collection of big data on private financial transactions. The Center for a New American Security, a think tank in Washington, has said in a report on China's digital currency that a CBDC system "will likely enable the Chinese Communist Party to strengthen its digital authoritarianism domestically and export its influence and standard-setting abroad." China's project "represents a significant risk to the long-held standards of financial privacy upheld in free societies," the report, released in January, warned. According to the International Monetary Fund, 110 countries have reached "some stage" of looking into CBDCs. The Bahamas is the first country to have officially launched a CBDC. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said last month that the U.S. central bank is working to evaluate whether to issue a CBDC and that it intends to publish a "discussion paper soon" to seek feedback from lawmakers and the public. The Bank of Japan, meanwhile, started an experiment earlier this year to check the basic functions of a CBDC. KYODO NEWS - Oct 11, 2021 - 12:40 | All, Japan Six people were injured after falling about 2.4 meters from the third floor to the second floor as a part of a five-story building collapsed at an amusement park Sunday in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, according to police. The police launched an on-site probe Monday on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury after a 24-year-old man and 27-year-old women, both from Osaka Prefecture, suffered pelvic fractures in the accident at the wooden-structure maze attraction. Four others, including a 7-year-old girl, sustained minor injuries. The seriously injured man's 1-year-old daughter also fell but was not hurt, the police said. There were no people on the second floor at the time of the accident at around 2 p.m., they said. The Tojoko Omochaokoku park in Kato will be closed from Monday to Thursday. "We will do our utmost to provide necessary care for the victims, as well as find the cause of the accident and implement measures to prevent any recurrences," the park said. A part of the third floor of the attraction -- about 1 meter in width and 2.3 meters in length -- collapsed after the beam sustaining the wooden floor was displaced. The maze opened in April 2013 at the park, which was opened in July 2000, with a safety check of the attraction being conducted every day, according to the park. "I thought an accident like this could happen any day as many parts of the facilities looked to be aging, but I was surprised that it really happened," a female visitor in her 20s said, adding the maze was crowded with many children. On Sunday, about 2,000 people visited the park, which continued to operate after the maze attraction was closed. Related coverage: Roller coaster on test run kills worker at amusement park New Delhi: Days after the collapse of a foot overbridge near the CST Station in Mumbai that claimed the lives of six people, Neeraj Desai of D D Desai Associate Engineering Consultants who audited the bridge was arrested by the police on Monday. He has been booked for negligence. The company has also been issued a show cause notice. In 2016, Professor D D Desai's Associated Engineering Consultant & Analysis Pvt had audited the bridge, and found it in good condition. Recently, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) vigilance department has submitted its preliminary report in the collapse on March 14. The preliminary report has blamed the structural consultants of negligence and recommended police action against them, according to officials. The report said that the structural audit of the foot overbridge at CST was not carried out correctly. It suggested that major lapses occurred when the structural audit of the bridge was carried out on August 13, 2018. "There is a prima facie reason to believe that the structural audit has been conducted in an irresponsible and negligent manner. This tragedy could have been avoided if the structural audit had been done diligently," said the probe report. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Delhis Patiala House Court extended Robert Vadra's interim protection till March 25. Earlier on March 2, the court had extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Robert Vadra till March 19 in a money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). "Robert Vadra is beneficiary of several properties that have been acquired through proceeds of crime. Investigation in this regard is still ongoing and is at a crucial stage. It is important to unearth modus operandi adopted by all accused persons," the probe agency told the court. Vadra had on February 1 moved to Delhi court seeking anticipatory bail in the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Earlier last month, Delhi's Patiala House Court had extended his interim protection from arrest to March 2, which expired today. During the hearing, the counsel for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the court that Vadra was not cooperating in the case and opposed the extension. The ED case against Vadra relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property at 12, Bryanston Square worth GBP 1.9 million (British pounds), which is allegedly owned by him. According to the ED, Manoj Arora, an employee of Vadra's Skylight Hospitality LLP, is also an accused in the case. The ED had alleged that Arora was aware of the Vadra's overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds. Vadra had accused that ED officials 'relentless harassment'. In a Facebook post written last month, Vadra said, "I have had nothing to hide and I am surely not above the law. I have deposed for almost 6 days; ranging from 8 to 12 hours per day with a 40 minutelunch break, n have been escorted to the washroom. I have completely cooperated and adhered to the rules whenever I was called in any part of the country. Attachment of my work place- my office n areas that are subjudiced, shows a complete misuse of assertion of power, a complete vindictive & vicious witch hunt. When truth sustains n prevails, I suppose an apology is all that will suffice. Will stay determined for justice for me. (sic)" For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Former US president George W. Bush on Monday called immigration a "blessing and a strength," as lawmakers tussled with Donald Trump over border wall funding. Speaking at a naturalization ceremony for 51 new American citizens at the George W Bush Presidential Centre in Dallas, Texas, the nation's 43th president called for reform of "outdated and ineffective" immigration laws. "Borders are not arbitrary and they need to be respected." "Amid all the complications of policy, may we never forget that immigration is a blessing and a strength," Bush said in prepared remarks, he said. George W. Bush has largely stayed out of the spotlight after leaving office in 2009, did not explicitly criticize Trump or the border wall policy. "I hope those responsible in Washington can dial down the rhetoric, put politics aside and modernize our immigration laws soon." Bush's remarks came as Congress and the White House were gearing up for a court fight over Trump's declarations of an emergency to fund construction of a border wall at the US-Mexico border. Congress had refused to appropriate money for the project -- a central promise of the Republican's 2016 election campaign. In an embarrassing rebuke to Trump, some fellow Republicans joined Democrats in voting to terminate his declaration of an emergency. Trump vetoed the legislation Friday. Opponents, who accuse Trump of executive overreach and hyping the problem on the border, could now fight the emergency measure in court. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hyderabad: Ride-hailing platform Ola Monday said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana to support the latter's efforts in strengthening traffic infrastructure in the city. The partnership would see Ola share intelligent insights that enable the Government to implement smart solutions to enhance mobility experience in the city, an Ola release said. The first pilot project proposed to be implemented under the MoU is the dynamic mapping of riding quality of various major roads in Hyderabad through the network of vehicles operating on the Ola platform, it said. This data would be provided to respective state government departments, who monitor road conditions and maintain the overall quality of roads in the city. The intended outcome of this pilot project was to reduce accidents due to potholes, monitor the quality of road construction, and prioritize road repair budget. Under the partnership, Ola will work with the government to build innovative solutions for the city, the release said. It said Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT), Telangana government, was present on the occasion. New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, which completed two years on Tuesday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the former is only presenting report card and doing promotions, while there is nothing on ground. Report card, promotions, all of it sounds good but there's nothing on ground, I'm meeting people every day, all the people are in distress, said Priyanka, who is on a three-day boat campaign from Prayagraj to Varanasi. The remarks came after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, presenting the report card of two years of his governance, said that the BJP government has ensured corruption-free governance with law and order in control, as compared to the erstwhile governments in the state. He said the state had not seen a single riot after the BJP came to power and his two-year government had shown zero tolerance towards crime and criminals. According to the chief minister, the secure atmosphere in the country had become an example for the rest of the country. The UP Sthaapnaa Diwas (Foundation Day) was celebrated for first time after 68 years in 2018, he said. Priyanka also hit back at the Modi government for questioning the Congress 70 years of governance, and said that the former should answer what they have done in five years of their rule. What did they do in 70 years?' argument also has an expiry date. Now they (BJP) should tell what they have done in their five years when they are in power, she said while speaking to reporters in UPs Bhadohi. On Monday, SP chief and former state CM Akhilesh Yadav had described the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government as a "curse" for the people of Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh said people were disappointed as the government had "failed" to deliver on all fronts. New Delhi: Samajwadi Party rebel and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief, Shivpal Yadav, on Tuesday released the first list of 31 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. According to the list released by the party, Shivpal will contest from the Firozabad seat, which has been a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party.A Shivpal will go head-to-head against his nephew Akshay Yadav in the Lok Sabha elections. Akshay Yadav is the sitting MP from the seat, which has been won five times by the SP since 1999. The Congress, which won the by-election from Firozabad in 2009 after Akhilesh Yadav vacated the seat, has decided to not contest from here this time around.A Shivpal Yadav, who is still a Samajwadi Party MLA from Jaswantnagar seat, had formed a separate political outfit aPragatisheel Samajwadi Partya after he alleged that he was not getting due arespecta in the party. The party had earlier claimed that PSP enjoys the support of 64 parties.A A aa aaaaaa asaaaa 2019 aa aaaaa aaaaaa aa 31 aaaaaaaaaaaa aa aaasa a pic.twitter.com/EOO7oXilaE a Shivpal Singh Yadav (@shivpalsinghyad) March 19, 2019 Shivpal Yadavas party PSPL has fielded six Muslim and six Yadav candidates for the Lok Sabha Polls as it looks to cut the SP-BSP alliance votes. Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) claimed it has the support of the Apna Dal faction led by Krishna Patel, days after that party announced a tie-up with the Congress.The PSP-L also announced a pact with Mohamed Ayub-led Peace Party in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls. The Apna Dal faction, however, has not made clear whom it will support if both the Congress and Shivpal Yadav's party are contesting in the same constituency.A A While the PSP-L said it is not averse to an alliance with the Congress as well to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).A When contacted, Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) spokesperson R B S Patel parried a direct reply.A A "We have a pact for seats with the Congress but we are giving policy-based support to all secular and like-minded parties," he said, without elaborating further.A A At a press conference here, Shivpal Yadav, who was flanked by Peace Party leader Mohamed Ayub, said, "We have entered into an alliance with the Peace Party."He later announced "support" from the Apna Dal faction as well.Asked if the Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) will support the PSP-L or the Congress candidates contesting from the same seat, PSP-L spokesperson Deepak Mishra said, "I know that they (Apna Dal) have supported our party. We have got a support letter from them."A A A The Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) had on Saturday sealed an alliance with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.A As part of the seat-sharing agreement, it was allocated two parliamentary constituencies --- Basti and Pilibhit.Soon after the finalisation of the alliance, Patel's son-in-law Pankaj Niranjan Singh Chandel joined the Congress in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi.A A BJP has finalised a seat sharing deal with the Apna Dal (Sone Lal), the other faction of the party led by Anupriya Patel, a minister in the Narendra Modi government.The Anupriya Patel faction will contest on two seats. The Apna Dal (Krishna Patel) is led by its founder and widow of Sone Lal Patel-- a regional leader of Patels who had died in a car crash in 2009. The party later split between his widow and elder daughter. On whether the PSP-L can enter into an alliance with the Congress, Mishra said, "All possibilities are there. For defeating the BJP, we are ready for everything."A Earlier, Shivpal YadavA said, "The BJP government in the state is the worst ever which cheated farmers, youths, minorities and backwards.""It's unfortunate that due to self interest of SP, BSP and Congress an alliance could not be formed against BJP. These parties have weakened the fight (against the BJP) and are doing politics instead of fighting for the common man," he said New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday named Pramod Sawant as the next chief minister of Goa, according to the sources.A The new chief minister is likely to sworn-in at 11 pm. The sources further added thatA Maharashtra Gomantak Party's (MGP)A Sudin DhavalikarA and Goa Forward Party's (GFP) Vijay Sardesai will be two Deputy Chief Ministers of Sawant in Goa. Pramod Sawant has been the Goa Assembly Speaker since March 22, 2017. He also represented Sanquelim seat of North Goa in state Assembly. The BJP with its allies has 20 MLAs in the house where the majority mark is 19. The strength of the Goa legislative assembly is 40. The BJP is backed by the Goa Forward Party, MGP and an independent. Earlier, Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar had said there would be clarity on who would be the state's new chief minister by on Monday. Tendulkar said this after meeting Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari at a hotel near here over the issue. .@BJP4India President @AmitShah, Union Minister @nitin_gadkari and BJP Goa MLAs including Pramod Sawant arrive at a Hotel in Panaji for a meeting Y: ANIhttps://t.co/xueQw1ruvH pic.twitter.com/QYW4pr7afq a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) March 18, 2019 Hectic political activities are on in the coastal state to select the new chief minister after the death of chief minister Manohar Parrikar Sunday. "The decision on chief ministerial candidate is yet to be taken. But the picture will be clear by 2 pm," Tendulkar said, adding that the new chief minister would be sworn in after 3 pm Monday. Tendulkar met Gadkari along with Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant, who is a contender for the top post. Earlier in the day, Gadkari met ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLAs led by Sudin Dhavalikar and BJP legislator Vishwajit Rane. Dhavalikar and Rane are also aspirants for the chief minister's post, BJP sources said. Sawant and Rane are front- runners, they added. Meetings held on Sunday night by the BJP and its alliance partners the Goa Forward Party, the MGP and independents - remained inconclusive. Gadkari again held talks Monday morning with leaders of the BJP and MGP to finalise Parrikar's successor.A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: China on Tuesday denied that its projects under the US dollar 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are leaving Pakistan in a debt trap. "It has been more than five years since we started the CPEC. We have made important positive gains," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in his joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi after their first strategic dialogue. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). "During the dialogue, the two sides undertook in-depth discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations, including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, trade, investment and economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and regional and international issues," read the statement. Wang said 22 early harvest projects have been quite successful and have significantly improved transport and infrastructure and power supply in Pakistan. "It created tens and thousands of jobs in Pakistan. They are playing increasingly important role in social economic development of Pakistan enhancing people's well-being," he said. Answering a question over the criticism of the CPEC projects amid reports that Pakistan government plans to slash certain projects over concerns of debt burden, Wang said that Chinese projects have not resulted in enhancing Pakistan's debt. "Among Pakistan's foreign debt, more than half of it comes from multi-lateral agencies. More than 80 per cent of them use direct investment from China or Chinese grants. None of these contribute to debt in Pakistan. Only 20 per cent CPEC projects uses Chinese loans. So instead of adding to debt burden to Pakistan, the CPEC projects have contributed to greater strength, vitality of Pakistan's economy," Wang said. He also said the CPEC projects have spread to all most all parts of the Pakistan, refuting criticism by some of the provinces that projects are being garnered by the dominant Punjab province. As for the concerns expressed in some media, the CPEC has already entered all parts of Pakistan rather than limited to specific areas, Wang said. "While rejecting the negative propaganda against CPEC, they expressed a strong resolve to safeguard CPEC from all kinds of threats," said the foreign affairs ministry in the statement. "According to our plan future development of the CPEC, there will be more projects in other parts in Pakistan including western part of Pakistan which will benefit Pakistan people," he said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Launching an all-out offensive against the Congress-led opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that when a government works with the spirit of India First instead of Family First, it shows in its working. In his blog titled Institutional respect and Institutional contempt - two contrasting approaches, PM Modi wrote that in 2014, people of the nation voted decisively for honesty over dynasty, development over decay, security over stagnation, opportunities over obstacles and vikas over vote-bank politics. Alleging that the party didn't believe in internal democracy, he said that if a leader wanted to head the Congress, he or she would be "shunted out". He alleged that the Congress saw the defence sector as a source of income. "Sadly, Congress does not believe in internal democracy. If a leader dares to dream to head that party, he or she is shunted out of the Congress," he wrote. "Congress has always seen the defence sector as a source of income which is why the armed forces never got the respect from the Congress that they deserved," he added. Asking people to think before they vote, PM Modi said, "From the press to Parliament, from soldiers to free speech and from the Constitution to the courts, institutional insult is the Congress way. Everyone is wrong, only the Congress is correct. As you go to vote, remember the past and how one family's desire for power cost the nation so greatly. If they could do it then, they can surely do it now," he wrote. Hitting out at the Opposition for raising questions on CAG and other government bodies, the prime minister said, "Remember the UPA years, when the Congress questioned the CAG just because that institution exposed their corrupt shenanigans like 2G, Coal Scam etc. CBI became the Congress Bureau of Investigation- it was used time and again on political parties just before crucial parliamentary votes. Tensions were deliberately created in organisations such as IB and RAW." On how the courts functioned during Congress rule, the PM said: Congress modus operandi is simple- reject, discredit and threaten. If a judicial verdict goes against them, they reject it, then they discredit the judge and thereafter, talk about bringing impeachment motions against the judge. The CBI, he alleged, became the Congress Bureau of Investigation and was used time and again on political parties just before crucial parliamentary votes. "Tensions were deliberately created in organisations such as IB and RAW. A policy decision taken by no less than the Union Cabinet was torn into pieces by someone who was not a member of any ministry and that too, in a press conference," he said. He was referring to Rahul Gandhi tearing a copy of an ordinance which sought to overturn a Supreme Court ruling on immediate disqualification of a lawmaker upon conviction. "The NAC was created as a body parallel to the Prime Minister's Office. And then, Congress talks about institutions?" he asked. Continuing his attack, he said, "When our forces strike at terrorist elements, Congress leaders accuse the political leadership of doing 'Khoon Ki Dalali.' When our air warriors strike at terrorists, Congress questions that too." In an opaque reference to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra's appearance before investigating agencies, he said, "The sense of entitlement can be seen in their conduct towards routine legal processes. At present, their top leadership is on bail vis-a-vis a major scam. When the authorities seek to question them on their dealings, they do not even bother to reply." Hitting back at PM Modi over the blog post, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said that it is the BJP which has "systematically attacked all institutions, including media, in the last five years." "BJP has systematically attacked every institution in last 5 years including the media. PM should stop thinking people are fools and understand that they see through this," she said. New Delhi: Pramod Sawant, Goa Assembly Speaker and BJP leader, was on Tuesday sworn in as the state's new chief minister. Sawant, 45, will succeed Manohar Parrikar, who died on Sunday after battling pancreatic cancer and was cremated with state honours in Panjim Monday evening. He was 63. At a much-delayed swearing-in ceremony, held around 2 am Tuesday, 11 other MLAs, part of the Parrikar-led cabinet, were also sworn in as ministers.o Manohar Ajgaonkar and Sudin Dhawalikar of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijai Sardesai of Goa Forward party (GFP) and Govind Gawde and Rohan Khaunte (both independents) took their oaths as cabinet ministers. As per the power-sharing arrangement reached with allies, an MLA each from MGP and GFP, two small parties backing BJP in the coastal state would be made deputy CMs. Sawant said his party BJP has given him a big responsibility. The ceremony, held at a cramped Raj Bhavan, was to take place at 11 pm Monday but was delayed due to inexplicable reasons. "We have managed to convince the alliance partners and finalised the formula of two deputy chief ministers for the state," a senior BJP functionary told news agency PTI. Pramod Sawant has been the Goa Assembly Speaker since March 22, 2017. He also represented Sanquelim seat of North Goa in state Assembly. The BJP with its allies has 20 MLAs in the house where the majority mark is 19. The strength of the Goa legislative assembly is 40. The BJP is backed by the Goa Forward Party, MGP and an independent. Earlier, Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar had said there would be clarity on who would be the state's new chief minister by on Monday. Tendulkar said this after meeting Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari at a hotel near here over the issue. Earlier in the day, Gadkari met Dhavalikar and BJP legislator Vishwajit Rane. Dhavalikar and Rane were also aspirants for the chief minister's post, BJP sources said. Sawant's elevation to the top post in the coastal state followed hectic parleys between the BJP and its alliance partners. Sawant's political career began in the BJP as a youth leader. A staunch Parrikar supporter, he had worked closely with the late leader. He won the 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections from North Goa's Sankhalim constituency, which used to be a Congress stronghold. He was among the few BJP MLAs who got re-elected in their constituencies during the state polls two years ago, when the party managed to win only 13 seats as compared to t 21 in the 2012 elections. When Parrikar cobbled up an alliance with the Goa Forward Party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Independents in 2017 despite the Congress being the single largest party, Sawant was elected the Assembly Speaker. He is a former chairman of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, a special purpose vehicle set up by Parrikar to take up various infrastructure works in the coastal state. Sawant holds a Bachelor's Degree in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery from Ganga Education Society's Ayurvedic College in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. His wife Sulakshana heads the BJP Mahila Morcha in Goa. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Delhi is on high alert following a specific input by the intel agencies for a terror attack on Holi tomorrow. News Nation has learnt that the sleeper cell of the terror outfits will try to mingle in the public disguised as Holi revellers to carry out the attack. Delhi DCP Chinmay Biswal told News Nation that security has been beefed up across the city. More police force has been deployed at the sensitive locations. The PCR vans of Delhi Police are also making public announcements to spread awareness among the general public. Biswal said that the cops stationed in all 15 districts of the National Capital have also increased the patrolling in their respective areas. Forces have been on high alert since the Pulwama terror attack. Last year, the NIA had carried out massive anti-terror raids across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Fresh raids were also carried out in January this year. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had conducted fresh raids on eight places in western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab in connection with its probe against an ISIS-inspired module Harkat-ul-Harb-e-Islam. The group was allegedly planning suicide attacks and serial blasts, targeting politicians and government installations, in the national capital and other parts of north India. The fresh raids come five days after the counter-terror probe agency arrested Muhammad Absar (24) from Hapur on January 12. The agency had earlier said it had seized a locally made rocket launcher, material for suicide vests and 112 alarm clocks to be used as timers besides recovering 25 kg of explosive material -- Potassium Nitrate, Ammonium Nitrate, and Sulphur. The group had allegedly purchased remote-controlled cars and wireless doorbells to use their circuits in assembling remote-controlled improvised explosive devices. Besides, the NIA had also seized steel containers, electric wires, 91 mobile phones, 134 SIM cards, 3 laptops, knife, sword, ISIS-related literature during the searches conducted earlier. New Delhi: In a controversial statement, National Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Monday said Manohar Parrikar is the first victim of politically sensitive Rafale fighter jet deal, which has been at the centre of an Indian political storm from the last few months. Awhad's statement came a day after Parrikar breathed his last at his private residence near Panaji. "Manohar Parrikar was a very educated and well read person. I think after Rafale deal he did not feel right so he decided to go back to Goa. He was sad. I should not say this as he is not here today but I feel he is the first victim of the Rafale Deal," the NCP leader said. In early January, Parrikar's name was dragged in the context of the Rafale deal after the Congress claimed to have an audio recording of a Goa minister quoting Manohar Parrikar as saying that files related to the Rafale jet deal were "in his bedroom". Manohar Parrikar, who was defence minister before becoming Goa chief minister in 2017, tweeted that the audio clip was a "desperate attempt to fabricate facts". The minister supposedly on tape, Vishwajit Rane, also alleged that it was doctored. Jitendra Awhad is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra. He represents the Mumbra constituency as a Nationalist Congress Party member in the Vidhan Sabha. Awhad has previously served as Cabinet Minister of Medical Education and Horticulture in the Maharashtra state cabinet. For those underved, the Rafale deal controversy is a political controversy in India related to the purchase of 36 multirole fighter aircraft for a price estimated at 7.8 billion euro by the Defence Ministry of India from France's Dassault Aviation. It has been a quite long time that Congress President Rahul Gandhi is alleging that PM Modi ran a parallel negotiation with France bypassing the MoDs procedures to clinch the deal to benefit his industrialist friends. The party also claimed that Modis rafle deal was not on "better terms" than the offer made by Dassault Aviation during the procurement process for 126 aircraft under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government (UPA) government. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prashant Kishor is well-known as the master strategist of elections in India. Known for his quiet demeanour, Kishor was caught in ahate storma on Tuesday after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister called him a aBihari dacoita. Handling the insult rather deftly, Kishor took to Twitter and gave a polite-yet-curt advice to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. aAn imminent defeat can rattle even the most seasoned politicians. So Iam not surprised with the baseless utterances,a Kishor said on Twitter while tagging Naidu. aSirji rather than using derogatory language that shows your prejudice & malice against Bihar, just focus on why people of AP should vote for you again,a Kishor added.A Addressing a rally in Ongole, Naidu had said that, aK Chandrashekar Rao is doing criminal politics. He is grabbing the MLAs of Congress and TDP. Bihari dacoit Prasant Kishore has removed lakhs of votes in Andhra Pradesh.a Nearly six years after he planned poll strategies for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the master election strategist had joined the JDU last year. Both Nitish Kumar and Kishor were attending the JDU's state executive meeting in Patna. A An imminent defeat can rattle even the most seasoned politicians. So Iam not surprised with the baseless utterances of @ncbn Sirji rather than using derogatory language that shows your prejudice & malice against Bihar, just focus on why people of AP should vote for you again. https://t.co/CYSJNRJ43W a Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) March 19, 2019 At that time, Kishore had said that he was "done with campaigning for individuals and he was ready for "electoral politics." Touted as Chanakya (political mentor) of Nitish Kumar, Kishoras association with the JDU leader goes back to 2015. Interestingly, he was also gifted with a dozen white kurta pyjamas in order to be shifted to his latest 'neta' attire. There were also reports about Kishor's planning to work on the tensed relations between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav's RJD, but could not turn it to reality, as Tejashwi Yadav, who is currently in charge of RJD in his father's absence, is not ready to mingle with the JD-U. The election strategist has worked closely with then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The 42-year-old was in the headline for all the right reasons as his campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections succeed to sworn in Modi as the prime minister of India. However, soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into the power, Kishor parted his ways following the growing differences between him and BJP president Amit Shah. Post that, he campaigned for political rivals of the BJP, including JD-U and the Rahul Gandhi's Congress. New Delhi: One CRPF jawan was killed and five other security personnel were injured in an ambush by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Monday, officials said. A team of the 231st battalion of the CRPF, along with a state police unit, was out on road security duty in the district's Aranpur area when an IED exploded and they were fired upon by Maoists, they said. Six personnel of the CRPF were injured in the blast and firing that took place around 4:30 pm near the Kamal post of the paramilitary force in Dantewada district, a senior official said. He said the injured troops are being taken for treatment by helicopter. On March 16, two Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with the police in Agency area of Visakhapatnam district. According to Visakhapatnam Rural police, 20 maoists were moving around in Buradamamidi village in the Agency area around 1 am and they opened fire at police personnel engaged in combing operations. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Five Indians were among the 50 people killed by a white supremacist, who opened fire on worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, in the worst attack on Muslims in New Zealand, the Indian High Commission said Sunday. The attacker, identified by authorities as Australia-born Brenton Tarrant, 28, reportedly targeted immigrants during Friday prayers. Witnesses said victims were shot at close range. The high commission confirmed on Sunday that five Indians were killed in the attack. "With a very heavy heart we share the news of loss of precious lives of our 5 nationals in ghastly terror attack in #Christchurch," it tweeted. It identified them as: Maheboob Khokhar; Ramiz Vora; Asif Vora; Ansi Alibava; and Ozair Kadir. With a very heavy heart we share the news of loss of precious lives of our 5 nationals in ghastly terror attack in #Christchurch Mr. Maheboob Khokhar Mr. Ramiz Vora Mr. Asif Vora Ms Ansi Alibava Mr. Ozair Kadir@kohli_sanjiv @MEAIndia @SushmaSwaraj 1/3 a India in New Zealand (@IndiainNZ) March 16, 2019 In another tweet later, the high commission informed that Immigration NZ has set up a dedicated webpage to expedite visa for family members of Christchurch victims. (https://www.Immigration.Govt.Nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/family-members-of-mosque-incident) Our helpline numbers (021803899 & 021850033) will remain available round the clock to assist families as we together cope with our shared grief. We deeply mourn loss of all other innocent lives including people of Indian origin. 2/3 a India in New Zealand (@IndiainNZ) March 16, 2019 On Friday, shortly after the attack, India's High Commissioner in New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli had tweeted that "there are 9 missing persons of Indian nationality/origin". But, he had added, official confirmation was awaited. The high commission said its helpline numbers -- 021803899 & 021850033 -- will remain available round the clock to assist families of the those affected by the attack. "We deeply mourn loss of all other innocent lives including people of Indian origin." It also said a group of Community leaders is being constituted in Christchurch and their names and numbers will be circulated shortly. Meanwhile, it added, those who need assistance while transiting through Auckland may contact 021531212. In a 74-page manifesto the attacker posted online, he described himself as a white supremacist who was out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called the attack terrorism. Expressing India's solidarity with the people of New Zealand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said hatred and violence have no place in diverse and democratic societies. About 200,000 Indian and Indian-origin people live in New Zealand. Over 30,000 of them are students, according to the Indian High Commission's data available on its website. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Amravati: YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy Tuesday filed a plea in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a probe by an independent agency into the killing of his uncle and former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy recently. In his petition, Jagan alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was trivialising the gruesome murder and using it for political gains. Doubting whether the facts behind the murder would come out in the probe by the AP Police Special Investigation Team, the leader of opposition sought a probe by an independent agency that did not report to the state government. Jagan Mohan Reddy named the Telugu Desam Party, Naidu, the AP director general of police, the Union government, the CBI and others as respondents in the petition. YS Vivekananda Reddy, the younger brother of former chief minister MYS Rajasekhara Reddy, was found dead at his house in Kadapa district on March 15. Police initially registered a case under Section 174 CrPC (unnatural death) when Reddys body was found by his staff early in the morning. After post-mortem, the police confirmed that the case was altered to Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which relates to murder. The YSR Congress chief sought a CBI probe in the case but the state government, which rejected the demand, constituted a special investigation team under the supervision of CID Additional DG Amit Garg. The SIT is currently engaged in the investigation and is probing the case from various angles, including business disputes. It has already questioned three cousins of the slain leader and recorded their statements. The SIT is now questioning some close aides of the former minister based on circumstantial evidence and clues at the scene of crime, police said. The killing triggered a war of words between the TDP and the YSRC in the ongoing campaign for the April 11 general elections in the state. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed around 25 lakh watchmen viaA audio conferenceA as part of his new campaign 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' in the run-up to the Lok Sabha campaign. While interacting with them, he slammed the Congress and other opposition partiesA forA 'chowkidar chor hai' slogan and said that itA is harmful to the country.A "I apologise to all chowkidars (watchmen) that some people, for their own interests, have been abusing chowkidars and saying they are chor (thief), raising questions about the dedication of chowkidars of the nation," said PM Modi.A In a direct attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said that the opposition has not guts to name him. aSome people abusing 'chowkidar', bringing every watchman under cloud. They lacked guts to name me,a he said. #WATCH PM Modi's audio interaction with security guards across the country https://t.co/5G1A99O4N6 a ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2019 Intensifying his attack on the Congress, PM Modi said that people across the country taking a pledge to become watchmen and 'chowkidar' has become synonymous with patriotism and honesty. Earlier, PM Modi urged his supporters to take the 'main bhi chowkidar' (I too am watchman) pledge and said he was not alone in the fight against graft and social evils. "Your Chowkidar is standing firm & serving the nation. But, I am not alone. Everyone who is fighting corruption, dirt, social evils is a Chowkidar. Everyone working hard for the progress of India is a Chowkidar. Today, every Indian is saying-#MainBhiChowkidar," the prime minister wrote on Twitter. Soon after, Gandhi mocked him and tweeted, "Defensive tweet Mr Modi! You feeling a little guilty today" while a tagging a picture of Modi along with businessmen such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, Anil Ambani and Gautam Adani. The prime minister is also scheduled to interact with people, who have pledged their support to the 'Main bhi chowkidar' (I also am a watchman) campaign, from 500 places in the country on March 31. Here are the highlights: 17:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In When our forces conducted strikes in Pakistan, some people here in the country felt the pain: PM Modi 17:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In How much ever they call us 'chor', we should continue to do our work: PM Modi 17:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We all are proud of our Army: PM Modi 17:13 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We need to give values of Chowkidar to our children: PM Modi 17:13 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In You (watchmen) and I are equals, whatever is required for the country's benefit, we will do it: PM Modi 17:07 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In People who support 'tukde tukde gang' are not able to fathom what our forces have done: PM Modi 17:06 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Chowkidar has become synonymous with Patriotism: PM Modi 17:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In No one is recognised because of their name, they are recognised for their work, for their dedication: PM Modi 17:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In I want to apologise as some people in the last few months for their vested interests have run a disinformation campaign against 'chowkidars'. It is unfortunate that the language of these people has hurt you: PM Modi 17:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Today every Indian is saying 'Main bhi Chowkidar': PM Modi 17:00 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Maximum languages across the world have understood the word 'Chowkidar', it seems as if they all have accepted it in their vocabulary: PM Modi 17:00 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In I salute you all from the bottom of my heart, you work relentlessly. Because of you, the society feels safe: PM Modi 16:58 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Holi is a festival of joy and our watchmen plays very important role in making it more beautiful: PM Modi 16:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 'Chowkidars' are being talked about across the country, everyone is saying 'Main Bhi Chowkidar': PM Modi Karachi: Restrictions over large swathes of Pakistani airspace continued to affect numerous flight routes, officials said Tuesday, weeks after clashes between Pakistan and India brought the nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of war. The continued constraints come weeks after Pakistani authorities said they had fully reopened the country's airspace after it was closed for days following clashes and aerial dogfights between the two countries late last month. "All entry and exit points to and from India remain closed," a senior Pakistan official told AFP on the condition of anonymity, saying the decision to keep portions of the country's airspace closed was reviewed daily by authorities. The closure of large swathes of the eastern airspace effectively shuts off major international flight routes in and out of Islamabad and Lahore along with select domestic routes. "At least seven domestic and four international destinations are suspended," Pakistan International Airlines spokesman Mashud Tajwar said. The national carrier's operations to India, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur have all been suspended for nearly a month causing heavy losses to the already struggling airline. "We can't give an off-hand estimates of the losses but yes the losses have been occurring for sure," Tajwar told AFP. Aviation experts said the ongoing restrictions have also affected Indian flights headed west over Pakistan. "Indian airlines are suffering much more compared to Pakistan because their westward operations are much bigger," said Sajid Habib, a former chief of state-run Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Information from online flight tracker flightradar24 showed no flights along the border between the two countries. The crisis between the countries was first sparked by a suicide bombing in Kashmir last month that killed 40 Indian security personnel and was later claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad. Days later India responded with a cross-border air raid on Pakistan that kicked off a quick succession of attacks and dogfights between the arch-rivals. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Three people were killed and several others trapped when a four-storeyed under construction building collapsed at Dharwad in north Karnataka Tuesday, police said. The building came crashing down, triggering panic among neighbours and passers-by, a police official said.A The incident took place near a bus stand. At least 10 ambulances have reached the spot and four JCBs at work. The police said four people have been brought out from the debris while rescue operations are in full swing. As many as 10 ambulances and five fire tenders have been engaged to carry out rescue and relief operations. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he was shocked to learn about the collapse of the under construction building. #Video | Under-construction building collapses in Karnatakaas Dharwad, many feared trapped. Watch video Read full story: https://t.co/ERONzRdQMu pic.twitter.com/2Wz3A1tztn a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) March 19, 2019 #SpotVisuals: An under-construction building collapses in Kumareshwar Nagar, Dharwad, many feared trapped; Search and rescue operation underway#Karnataka pic.twitter.com/zOfdnPH2zD a ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2019 "Shocked to learn about the collapse of an under-construction building in Dharwad. I've instructed the Chief Secretary to supervise rescue operations. I have also directed the CS to send additional resources and expert rescuers by a special flight to #Dharwad," tweeted Karnataka Chief MinisterA HD Kumaraswamy.A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: On Day 2 of her Ganga Yatra, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Bhadohi on Tuesday. She began her public interaction with a special pooja at Sitamarhi Mandir. Later talking to reporters, Priyanka slammed the BJP leaders over their 70 saal rant. What did they do in 70 years?' argument also has an expiry date. Now they (BJP) should tell what they have done in their five years when they are in power, Priyanka said. She also hit out at the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over its law and order claims and said that, 'Report card, promotions, all of it sounds good but there's nothing on ground, I'm meeting people everyday, all the people are in distress. Th Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh-East begin her 140-km-long Ganga yatra from Prayagraj to Varanasi on Monday. Ahead of her visit, Priyanka on Sunday wrote an open letter to the people of Uttar Pradesh and promised to have an honest conversation about their grievances. Meanwhile, a group of lawyers on Monday handed a letter to the district magistrate, claiming that Priyanka should not be allowed to enter the Kashi Vishwanath temple as she is a Christian. The letter claimed that Priyanka was a Christian and she should be stopped from entering the temple, keeping in mind the ancient values of Sanatan Dharma. The letter, addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stated that her place of worship was a church. After a night halt in Sitamarhi in Bhadohi district, the Congress leader will resume her onward journey tomorrow morning that will culminate in Varanasi on Wednesday. The party's newly appointed general secretary had said she would contact the people using various means of transportation, including waterways and padayatra (on foot). The BJP, meanwhile, ridiculed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's boat campaign, saying every election is a "picnic" for the Gandhi family. "They come, they see and resort to rhetorical speeches. After the elections are over, they head towards Switzerland or Italy," BJP leader and UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma said. Polling will be held in seven phases in Uttar Pradesh from April 11 to May 19. Results will be announced on May 23. New Delhi: In his close to three-decade-long career in Hindi film industry, Akshay Kumar has established himself as an action star, a pro in comedy and the face of patriotic movies, but the actor says he still has a lot to offer as a performer. The 51-year-old actor said he does not want to get pigeonholed and is looking for opportunities to contribute to various genres in cinema. I have a long way to go. I still want to do a lot. I want to keep on working. I dont want to stop at one point and have a particular image. I want to have different kind of images. Im still discovering myself and have a lot time with myself to do so, Akshay said at a press conference here. I have Housefull 4 and then I am doing a horror-comedy and then there is Sooryavanshi. I want to do different kind of films and Im looking for opportunities, he added. Akshay was in the capital along with actor Parineeti Chopra and director Anurag Singh to promote their upcoming release Kesari. The film is based on Battle of Saragarhi, which was fought between the British Indian Armys Sikh Regiment and Afghan tribesmen in 1897. Akshay said working on Kesari was an emotional experience for him as he feels a strong connect with the love warriors and soldiers have for their motherland. Also Read | When Yo Yo Honey Singh remembers his chartbuster One Bottle Down Making this film was an emotional experience. Especially, the last 15 minutes of the film were very emotional. But its been an important journey for me. I am sure it is going to be an emotional experience for the audience as well. Kesari, produced by Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment and Cape of Good Films, will hit the theatres on Thursday. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Tata Chemicals has signed a non-exclusive agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation for the latters lithium-ion cell technology. Under this agreement, ISRO will transfer the technology to Tata Chemicals which will utilise the knowhow to manufacture lithium-ion cells, Tate Chemicals said in a statement Monday. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, a part of ISRO, has developed the technology to produce space grade lithium ion cells of various kinds, to power its rockets and satellites. Arvind launches water components and O&M business. Arvind has launched a new business division Kaigo specialising in waste-water management, which will have two verticals including components and spares and operations and maintenance services. Through the new vertical and its sister concern Envisol, Arvind will focus on creating end-to-end solutions across projects, components and services for water treatment, industrial waste water treatment, sewage treatment, desalination and zero liquid discharge at minimal cost, the company said in a statement on Monday. Waaree Energies has launched customized solar modules for electric vehicles. These indigenous modules, specially designed for the transport industry, are portable, flexible, lighter, durable and more efficient, and expected to increase the efficiency of EVs by 10-25 percent, the company said in a statement Monday. Also Read | NASA spacecraft explored edges of Martian sea two decades ago Waaree will manufacture these modules in their facility in Surat in Gujarat. Siemens installs RDS for Gail India Siemens will install state-of-the-art remote diagnostic services (RDS) for state-run gas major Gail India covering gas turbines installed across the Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline and Vijaipur C2/C3 plant. The scope includes supply of RDS hardware, site installation and commissioning including three years remote operational service desk and help-desk services, the company said in a statement Monday. IRB partially commissions Yedeshi-Abad project. IRB Infrastructure has partially commissioned the Yedeshi Aurangabad Tollway project, which is part of the Rs 3,370-crore four laning highway project from Yedeshi to Aurangabad in Maharashtra. The newly-widened highway will now have direct and quicker connectivity between the cities, including Solapur and Aurangabad, the company said in a statement Monday. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday dismissed reports of an alliance with the Congress and said the party is preparing to contest all the six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir. "We are preparing to contest all the six seats," Mehbooba told reporters late Tuesday night. "We had no talks with Congress (on alliance). It is mere speculation. If they want to have an alliance with the National Conference, that is their internal matter," she said. Mehbooba Mufti will also chair a meeting on Wednesday here to finalise the partys candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Peoples Democratic Party has only named one candidateformer trade union leader, Abdul Qayoom Wanifrom Baramulla seat. The partys chief spokesperson Muhammad Rafi Mir said candidates for the remaining seats will be finalised at a meeting, to be chaired by Mehbooba, on March 20. There are speculations that Mehbooba Mufti might herself contest the election from southern Kashmir. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister, began the campaign trail from north Kashmirs Kupwara district but other party leaders stayed put in south Kashmir, holding a party convention in Kulgam district. The PDP campaign strategy seems to be a mirror image of the NC strategy as the party has focussed on areas where they have lost ground over the years. Sajad Gani Lones Peoples Conference has made major inroads in the past five years in Kupwara district while the PDP managed to win only one of the four seats in Kulgam district in the 2014 assembly elections, in spite of a strong wave in its favour at that time. Replying to a question on the death of a teacher in police custody in Kashmir, she said the incident was unfortunate. "It will further take children towards violence and terror, as you all know what happened recently in Pulwama, where a youth attacked a CRPF vehicle and brought India and Pakistan to brink of war," Mufti said. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said top industrialists run away with huge money when 'chowidar' kept watching. New Delhi : A London court has issued an arrest warrant against jewellery designer Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam case, in response to an ED request for his extradition in a money laundering case, officials said on Monday. They said the investigative agency has been informed about the issuance of the warrant by the Westminster Magistrate Court against Modi and he is expected to be put under formal arrest by the local police soon. Nirav Modi will be subsequently brought before the court to secure bail and the legal proceedings for his extradition will begin thereafter, they said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), early this month, had said that United Kingdom's home secretary Sajid Javid had referred India's request for extraditing Modi to a court for initiating legal proceedings against the diamantaire. A British daily had recently published a report and video showing Modi walking in the streets of London and said the fugitive diamantaire was living in a swanky 8 million pounds apartment in the city's West End and that he was involved in new diamond business. The ED and the CBI are investigating Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others for alleged money laundering and corruption to perpetrate the alleged scam in the Brady House branch of the PNB in Mumbai that was unearthed last year. Nirav Modi, 48, is currently living in a three-bedroom flat occupying half of a floor of the landmark Centre Point tower block in London, where rent is estimated to cost 17,000 pounds a month, The Telegraph newspaper of the UK had reported. Modi has been chargesheeted by both the agencies and the ED has also attached his assets worth Rs 1,873.08 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and has also seized assets linked to him and his family worth Rs 489.75 crore. Earlier, after Nirav Modi getting caught live on camera in London, Enforcement Directorate (ED) had said that the UK government has forwarded their extradition request to the court for further proceeding. "The UK Central Authority of Home Office has confirmed that the extradition request has been sent to the Westminster Magistrate Court for further proceedings," ED had tweeted. A special court on Friday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the wife of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, a key accused in the USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The warrant against Ami Modi was issued by Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Judge M S Azmi after he took cognisance of the supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Nirav Modi (48) and other accused a few days ago. The financial crime probe agency has alleged that Ami Modi used an international bank account to move USD 30 million, suspected to be proceeds of the scam. The funds were used to buy property located in New York's Central Park, the ED has said. In its supplementary chargesheet, the agency has recorded additional evidences gathered in the case and attachments made. It is understood that the ED has underlined the role of Ami Modi and funds routed by her in the supplementary chargesheet. The ED had filed the first chargesheet in this case in May last year. According to investigating agencies, Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated PNB to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore through issuance of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs). These LoUs were allegedly issued in a fraudulent manner by a Mumbai branch of the PNB to the group of companies belonging to Nirav Modi since March 2011 till the fraud came to light in January 2018, the agencies have said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Just a day ahead of the floor test, newly appointed Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that he is confident of proving majority in the state Assembly. Sawant, who took charge after paying a courtesy visit to the family of his predecessor late Manohar Parrikar, said that his party has the support of 21 legislators. We have 21 MLAs, we will pass the floor test tomorrow. Our coalition partners are with us, Sawant was quoted as saying by ANI. 45-year-old Sawant who was sworn in as Chief Minister at Raj Bhavan at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, heads a coalition government which has 12 legislators of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), three each from the Goa Forward and MGP, and three independent MLAs, taking the tally of the treasury benches to 21 in the 36-member state legislative assembly. The two-time MLA from Sankhalim in North Goa, Sawant, who was Speaker of the state Assembly, is a dedicated RSS worker. His elevation to the top post in the coastal state followed hectic parleys between the BJP and its alliance partners. Sawant's political career began in the BJP as a youth leader. A staunch Parrikar supporter, he had worked closely with the late leader. He won the 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections from North Goa's Sankhalim constituency, which used to be a Congress stronghold. He was among the few BJP MLAs who got re-elected in their constituencies during the state polls two years ago when the party managed to win only 13 seats as compared to 21 in the 2012 elections. When Parrikar cobbled up an alliance with the Goa Forward Party, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Independents in 2017 despite the Congress being the single largest party, Sawant was elected the Assembly Speaker. Sawant holds a Bachelor's Degree in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery from Ganga Education Society's Ayurvedic College in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. His wife Sulakshana heads the BJP Mahila Morcha in Goa. With PTI Inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's office on Monday congratulated Filipino journalist Maria Ressa for bagging the Nobel Peace Prize. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a regular news conference that the palace hailed Ms Ressa for being the first Filipino to win the prestigious award. Ms Ressa and fellow journalist Dmitry Muratov from Russia shared the 2021 prize after braving the wrath of the leaders of their countries to expose corruption and misrule. Ressa has been reportedly fighting multiple legal challenges in courts related to Rappler's dogged investigative reporting of Duterte's government, its bloody war on drugs, and its use of social media to target opponents. "It is a victory for a Filipina and we are very happy for that," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. "Of course it is true there are individuals who feel Maria Ressa still has to clear her name before the courts," he said, in the first comment on Friday's award from Duterte's camp. It was the first Nobel Peace Prize for the Philippines and the first for journalists since the German Carl von Ossietzky won it in 1935. The Kremlin congratulated Muratov on Friday, describing the investigative journalist as talented and brave. Asked on Monday what her message would be to Duterte, Ressa urged him not to pursue a divide and conquer approach. Tibet issues more green credit Flight crash in Russia, several dead! Iran to continue sending oil fuel product shipments to Lebanon Description *Please see new Theatre Three Covid-19 policy below. Screening at Theatre Three 412 Main Street, Port Jefferson, New York, 11777 A state of secrets and a ruthless hunt for whistleblowers UNITED STATES VS. REALITY WINNER is the story of 25-year-old NSA contractor Reality Winner who leaked a top secret document about Russian interference to the media in the 2016 United States elections. German documentary filmmaker, playwright, author, and photographer Wim Wenders serves as an executive producer. Our guest speaker will be Sonia Kennebeck, director, with a Q&A moderated by Tom Needham, the host of The Sounds of Film on Stony Brook Universitys WUSB radio. Tickets $10 at: Directed by Sonia KennebeckA state of secrets and a ruthless hunt for whistleblowers UNITED STATES VS. REALITY WINNER is the story of 25-year-old NSA contractor Reality Winner who leaked a top secret document about Russian interference to the media in the 2016 United States elections. German documentary filmmaker, playwright, author, and photographer Wim Wenders serves as an executive producer.Our guest speaker will be Sonia Kennebeck, director, with a Q&A moderated by Tom Needham, the host of The Sounds of Film on Stony Brook Universitys WUSB radio.Tickets $10 at: portjeffdocumentaryseries.com/ticketsvenues +There will also be an encore virtual screening of this film on Tuesday, October 12th beginning at 7pm for residents in New York State who can't make it in person. Info at: https://portjeffdocumentaryseries.com/tickets-venues-virtual-fall-2021/ ++We are still cognizant of COVID and will follow all Covid guidelines at time of each screening. Theatre Three has upgraded their ventilation system and has ample seating to maintain social distancing (see new Theatre Three Covid-19 Policy below). *WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THE NEW THEATRE THREE COVID-19 POLICY BELOW UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: Due to the recent increase in Covid-19 cases and our ever-changing public health safety environment, THEATRE THREE is implementing the following protocols. As of August 11, 2021: All THEATRE THREE patrons must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. As of September 1, 2021: In addition to the above mask requirement, all THEATRE THREE patrons (ages 12 and over) must be fully vaccinated* with an FDA-authorized vaccine to attend performances. Therefore, all patrons entering the theater must show a Vaccination Card or Excelsior Pass along with a valid ID. Children under the age of 12 may attend performances with a fully vaccinated adult as long as the children wear masks throughout their time at the theater. Please understand these protocols are for the safety and health of our patrons, employees, and community. Again, we thank you in advance for your cooperation. *Fully vaccinated means the performance date you are attending must be: at least 14 days after your second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. or at least 14 days after your single dose of Johnson & Johnsons Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Theatre Threes COVID-19 protocols remain subject to change. Any policy adjustments will be found on our website and social media as well as communicated to ticket holders in advance of their performance. (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. will let company managers decide when corporate employees need to return to the office -- if at all -- shifting its earlier stance that workers should resume working from offices in January. Most Read from Bloomberg Were intentionally not prescribing how many days or which days -- this is for directors to determine with their senior leaders and teams, Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy said in an email to employees. The decisions should be guided by what will be most effective for our customers; and not surprisingly, we will all continue to be evaluated by how we deliver for customers, regardless of where the work is performed. Like many companies, Amazon has adjusted its return-to-work plans amid a surge in the Covid-19 delta variant. A few months ago, the company wanted corporate employees back in early September. Two months ago, that timing was pushed back to early January. Previously, the company also encouraged staff to head to the office at least three days a week. The pandemic has forced companies to rethink their policies around where people work, and Amazon is the latest to suggest it is open to more work being permanently performed remotely. The company employs more than 75,000 people in the Seattle area, most of whom work in the corporate headquarters complex and in nearby Bellevue. The company also has major offices in the San Francisco Bay area, New York City, Boston, the Los Angeles area and the site of its new campus under construction near Washington. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 Bloomberg L.P. The increasing need for more efficient systems to solve mathematical & computational problems, the emergence of quantum computing, and the growing implementation of AI chips in robotics are expected to drive the growth JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Verified Market Research recently published a report, "Artificial Intelligence Chip Market" By End-user (Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive, Retail), By Technology (Machine Learning, Predictive Analysis, Natural Language Processing), and By Geography. According to Verified Market Research, the Global Artificial Intelligence Chip Market size was valued at USD 7.37 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 109.83 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 40.17% from 2021 to 2028. Verified Market Research Logo Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=29982 Browse in-depth TOC on "Artificial Intelligence Chip Market" 202 - Pages 126 Tables 37 Figures Global Artificial Intelligence Chip Market Overview The AI investment landscape witnessed another year of solid growth in 2019, with the US taking the lead, reaching a record US$22.7 billion. Despite many headwinds and realignment of interest and priorities that can breed uncertainty, the market did not suffer any fatigue. Enterprises are increasingly warming up to the AI value. Not only are enterprises actively adopting automation to automate repetitive processes, ensure compliance, and enhance customer experience, but also they are partnering with machine learning platforms and acquiring AI startups and talent to build data pipelines, create proprietary AI models, and manage their machine learning development and operation lifecycle. Different key players have been innovating to develop a dedicated platform; for instance, Mythic's platform has the advantage of processing digital/analog calculations in memory, resulting in enhanced performance, accuracy, and power life. Furthermore, the surge in need to integrate video surveillance & AI and the rise in government spending for cybersecurity solutions integrated with real-time analytics & AI are anticipated to boost the growth of the artificial intelligence chip. Hence, the increase in investments in AI startups drives the global AI Chips Market growth. Story continues However, there are relatively higher prices of AI chips and the scarcity of skilled workforce with the knowledge of AI-based systems, especially in developing economies. These may adversely impact the global AI Chips Market growth. Key Developments in Artificial Intelligence Chip Market In August 2020, Kneron, a leading full-stack edge AI solutions provider, launched its advanced AI chipset "Kneron KL 720 SoC". The aim is to provide a comprehensive and cost-effective AI chipsets suite for devices worldwide. In May 2020, Nvidia Corporation, a global corporation that manufactures graphics processors, mobile technologies, and desktop computers, expanded its EGX Edge AI platform by launching the new EGX Jetson Xavier NX and EGX A100. The aim is to offer secured AI processing and high-performance at the edge. In September 2019, Alibaba Group Holding Limited launched an AI-based chipset "Hanguang 800" that offers advanced computing capability on the cloud. This chip can accelerate machine learning tasks and improves the customer experience. In September 2019, Apple Inc. built its A11, A12, and A13 Bionic Chips for the high-performance processors that consist of core CPUs integrated with GPUs as accelerators. The major players in the market are NVIDIA Corporation, Qualcomm Technologies Inc, Advanced Micro Devices Inc, Alphabet Inc., Intel Corporation, Apple Inc., Mythic Ltd., Baidu, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and MediaTek Inc. Verified Market Research has segmented the Global Artificial Intelligence Chip Market On the basis of End-user, Technology, and Geography. Artificial Intelligence Chip Market, By End-user Artificial Intelligence Chip Market, By Technology Artificial Intelligence Chip Market by Geography Browse Related Reports: Automotive Artificial Intelligence Market By Technology (Computer Vision, Context Awareness, Deep Learning), By Process (Data Mining, Image Recognition, Signal Recognition), By Application (Semi-autonomous Driving, Human Machine Interface, Autonomous Driving), By Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Diagnostics Market By Component (Hardware, Software, Services), By Technology (Machine Learning, NLP, Context-Aware Computing, Computer Vision), By Diagnosis Type (Radiology, Oncology, Neurology & Cardiology, Chest & Lungs, Pathology), By Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hardware Market By Type (Processors, Memory, Network), By Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Fintech Market By Offering (Services and Solutions), By Application (Credit Scoring, Fraud Detection, Chatbots, Quantitative and Asset Management, and other application), By Deployment (Cloud and On-Premise), By Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Top 10 automotive artificial intelligence companies gearing towards driverless mobility solutions Visualize Artificial Intelligence Chip Market using Verified Market Intelligence:-: Verified Market Intelligence is our BI Enabled Platform for narrative storytelling of this market. VMI offers in-depth forecasted trends and accurate Insights on over 20,000+ emerging & niche markets, helping you make critical revenue impacting decisions for a brilliant future. VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, and Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market. About Us Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions. Our 250 Analysts and SME's offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research. We study 14+ categories from Semiconductor & Electronics, Chemicals, Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Energy & Power, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive & Transportation, Information & Communication Technology, Software & Services, Information Security, Mining, Minerals & Metals, Building & construction, Agriculture industry and Medical Devices from over 100 countries. Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Research US: +1 (650)-781-4080 UK: +44 (753)-715-0008 APAC: +61 (488)-85-9400 US Toll Free: 1 (800)-782-1768 Email: sales@verifiedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artificial-intelligence-chip-market-size-worth--109-83-billion-globally-by-2028-at-40-17-cagr-verified-market-research-301396951.html SOURCE Verified Market Research Key Companies Covered in Business Intelligence Market Research Report are Microsoft Corporation, Tableau Software, LLC (Salesforce), IBM Corporation, SAS Institute Inc., SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, QlikTech International AB, Sisense Inc., Board International S.A, Logi Analytics, Inc., Teradata Corporation, MicroStrategy Incorporated, Informatica LLC, Domo, Inc., Hitachi Vantara LLC (Pentaho), TARGIT, Yellowfin International Pty Ltd, Arcadia Data Inc., Infor (Birst), BITAM, 1010data, Inc., Dundas Data Visualization, Inc. Pune, India, Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global business intelligence market size is expected to reach USD 39.35 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period. The rapidly evolving digital competencies in new business models can have an excellent impact on the global market, states Fortune Business Insights, in a report, titled Business Intelligence Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Solution, and Services), By Deployment (Cloud, and On-Premise) By Enterprise Size (Large Enterprises, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)), By Application (Supply Chain Analytic Applications, CRM Analytic Applications, Financial Performance, and Strategy Management, Production Planning Analytic Operations, and Others), By End-User (IT and Telecommunications, Banking, Finance, Security and Insurance (BFSI), Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. The market size stood at USD 20.60 billion in 2019. Request To Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/business-intelligence-bi-market-103742 The Report Lists the Key Companies in the Business Intelligence Market: Microsoft Corporation (Washington, United States) Tableau Software, LLC (Salesforce) (Washington, United States) IBM Corporation (New York, United States) SAS Institute Inc. (North Carolina, United States) SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany) Oracle Corporation (California, United States) QlikTech International AB (Pennsylvania, United States) Sisense Inc. (Pennsylvania, United States) Board International S.A. (Chiasso, Switzerland) Logi Analytics, Inc. (Virginia, United States) Teradata Corporation (California, United States) MicroStrategy Incorporated (Virginia, United States) Informatica LLC (California, United States) Domo, Inc. (Utah, United States) Hitachi Vantara LLC (Pentaho), (Tokyo, Japan) TARGIT (Denmark) Yellowfin International Pty Ltd (Melbourne, Australia) Arcadia Data Inc. (London, United Kingdom) Infor (Birst) (New York, United States) BITAM (Atlanta, Georgia) 1010data, Inc. (New York, United States) Dundas Data Visualization, Inc. (Canada) REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION: Story continues Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2020 to 2027 Forecast Period 2020 to 2027 CAGR 8.5% 2027 Value Projection USD 39.35 Billion Base Year 2019 Market Size in 2019 USD 20.60 Billion Historical Data for 2016 to 2018 No. of Pages 160 Tables, Charts & Figures 353 Segments covered Component; Deployment; Enterprise Size; Application; End-use Industry; and Geography Growth Drivers Cloud Computing and Big Data to Have a Greater Impact on BI Solutions Emergence of Advanced Visualization Dashboards to Incite Business Amid Coronavirus Advent of Cloud Computing and Big Data to Boost Market Growth Pitfalls & Challenges Expensive IT Infrastructure Investments to Impede the Market Growth The whole world is battling with the novel coronavirus, leaving numerous industries distraught. The authorities of several countries have initiated lockdown to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Such plans have caused disturbances in the production and supply chain. But, with time and resolution, we will be able to combat this stern time and get back to normality. Our well-revised reports will help companies to receive in-depth information about the present scenario of every market so that you can adopt the necessary strategies accordingly. To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/business-intelligence-bi-market-103742 The report on the business intelligence market highlights: All-inclusive analysis of the market Dynamic insights into the segments Extensive data about dominant regions Key information about prominent players Latest developments Market drivers and restraints COVID-19 impact on the market Market Driver : Advent of Cloud Computing and Big Data to Boost Market Growth The increasing adoption of cloud computing and big data analytics owing to its superior technological capabilities will foster the healthy growth of the market. For instance, cloud computing is regarded as an ideal platform to provide business intelligence applications as it serves as a repository for structured and unstructured data. Likewise, big data technology enables BI to analyze a large amount of data to deliver actionable insights into businesses and generate opportunities. The increasing need for business intelligence solutions to analyze huge chunks of data for social media channels will enable speedy expansion of the market during the forecast period. Therefore, the burgeoning social media platforms coupled with e-commerce popularity will have an outstanding effect on the market in the forthcoming years. Emergence of Advanced Visualization Dashboards to Incite Business Amid Coronavirus The market players are focused on advanced visualization dashboards to help users to get real-time status of the Coronavirus. For instance, Dundas Data Visualization, Inc. developed real-time dashboards from Dundas BI. The COVID-19 dashboard helps the users to explore the real-time data by geography and stay updated. Similarly, Microsofts Power BI in working with USAFacts organization to empower the users to visualize and interact with COVID-19 dataset. Thus, data visualization dashboards are expected to uplift the market during the coronavirus pandemic. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/business-intelligence-bi-market-103742 Regional Analysis : Business Expansion Plans to Support Market in Asia Pacific The market in Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest share in the global market during the forecast period due to the lucrative business expansion projects in the countries such as India, China, Singapore, Japan, and others. The presence of major players will further aid the expansion of the market in the region. For instance, in February 2020 Sisense expanded its presence across Australia to support the growing demand for business intelligence and analytics. The company also announced a funding of USD 100 million with approximately more than USD 1 billion valuations to power its growth. The Middle East and Africa is expected to expand radically during the forecast period owing to the rising unemployment & inflation. The surging financial sector is expected to augment the growth of the market in the Middle East and Africa. Key Development : October 2019: M3, Inc. announced the launch of a business intelligence platform namely Insight. The platform is an integrated tool featuring mobile compatibility, ad hoc reporting, robust analytics, and powerful user-driven dashboards. Quick Buy- Business Intelligence Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/103742 Major Table of Content for Business Intelligence Market: Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources Key Takeaways Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 Short-term Impact Long-term Impact Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players PESTLE Analysis Porters Five Force Analysis Ecosystem Analysis Global Business Intelligence Market Share Analysis and Matrix, 2019 Key Market Insights and Strategic Recommendations Profiles of Key Players (Would be provided for 10 players only) Overview Key Management Headquarters etc Offerings/Business Segments Key Details (Key details are subjected to data availability in public domain and/or on paid databases) Employee Size Key Financials Past and Current Revenue Gross Margin Geographical Share Business Segment Share Recent Developments Primary Interview Responses TOC Continued !!! Speak To Our Analyst- https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/business-intelligence-bi-market-103742 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Smart Parcel Locker Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Modular Parcel Locker, Cooling Lockers for Fresh Food, Postal Lockers, and Laundry Lockers), By Deployment (Indoor and Outdoor), By Application (Commercial Buildings, Condos and Apartments, Retail BOPIS, Universities & Colleges, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Telephony, Unified Messaging, Collaboration Platforms), By Delivery Model (Managed Services, and Hosted/ Cloud Services), By Organization Size (Large Enterprises, SMEs), By Vertical (BFSI, IT and Telecommunications, IT-enabled Services (ITeS), Education, Retail and Consumer Goods), and Regional Forecast, 2021 2028 Managed Services Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Services (Voice Service, Non-Voice Service, and IT Managed Service), By Fucntion (Finance & Accounting (F & A), Marketing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Human Resource, and Information Technology (IT)), By End-user (Medical, Financial, Government, Audit & Consulting, Corporate, Telecom, and Insurance & Re-insurance), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 Virtual Reality (VR) in Gaming Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Hardware, Software, and Content), By Device (Mobile, Console/PC, and Standalone), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 Internet of Things (IoT) Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Platform, Solution & Services), By End-Use Industry (BFSI, Retail, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Sustainable Energy, Transportation, IT & Telecom, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fortune-business-insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortuneBusinessInsightsPvtLtd Read Press Release https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/press-release/global-business-intelligence-market-10346 (Bloomberg) -- Chinese technology stocks continued their rebound on Monday after Beijing slapped a smaller-than-expected fine on food delivery giant Meituan. Most Read from Bloomberg Hong Kongs Hang Seng Tech Index jumped 3.2% in a third day of gains after closing on Wednesday at its lowest level since last years official launch. Meituan rose 8.4%, making it one of the top performers on the gauge. The stock also boosted the broader Hang Seng Index, which gained 2%. READ: China Fines Meituan $530 Million in End to Antitrust Probe Meituans better-than-feared antitrust penalty may be leading investors to rethink the severity of punishments that may follow from Chinas tech crackdown, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matthew Kanterman. However, uncertainty remains and may continue to keep sector valuations depressed for several more months until theres greater clarity on the situation. The tech sector has been in Beijings crosshairs for almost a year as the government seeks to rein in tech billionaires and bend their business models to fit President Xi Jinpings common prosperity campaign. The rise in global bond yields has added to the woes for tech shares, reviving concerns about their valuations. The tech rebound gained some support last week with news that U.S. President Joe Biden was planning to meet with Xi before the end of the year. Among other tech stocks that advanced on Monday, JD Health International Inc. surged 8.4% while Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. climbed 7.9%, the most since Aug. 24. Alibaba got an extra boost last week by a report that Charlie Mungers Daily Journal Corp. had increased its stake by 83% last quarter. Story continues The momentum continues in buying Alibaba after Munger, said Steven Leung, executive director at UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong. While the sentiment on Monday was positive, the tech gauge remains more than 40% below its February peak and the sectors outlook is still clouded by the governments crackdown. (Updates with latest prices.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Erin Goss, COO, Blue Chip Partners Erin Goss, COO, Blue Chip Partners Erin Goss, COO, Blue Chip Partners FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Chip Partners, a Farmington Hills, Michigan-based wealth management firm, announced today that Erin Goss, CFA, CAIA, CIMA, CFS, has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer. Goss has been involved in the financial services industry for nearly 20 years and brings a wealth of leadership experience to the company. Prior to joining Blue Chip, she spent over 16 years at Plante Moran Financial Advisors holding several key positions. Most recently, Erin's work as a Senior Analyst helped to build out the firm's alternative investment capabilities. "We are extremely excited to welcome someone with Erin's expertise and reputation to the Blue Chip Partners team," stated Robert Steinberg, Blue Chip Partners Founder and CEO. "We pride ourselves on identifying talented individuals who are ready to take the next step in their career. Erin's unique blend of analytical and communication skills makes her ideally suited to assume the role of COO of Blue Chip Partners," he explained. Current Blue Chip Partners COO, D. Scott Foret, CFP IACCP, CEBS, has chosen to transition to the role of Senior Financial Advisor. "Scott has been integral to the success of Blue Chip Partners in his role as COO over the past five years," says Steinberg. "I am grateful for his efforts, and am looking forward to continuing to work with him as he focuses on helping clients achieve their financial goals." "I'm delighted and honored to be a part of the Blue Chip Partners team," says Goss. "It's going to offer me the opportunity to be part of the executive team of a highly credentialed, growing RIA firm." Steinberg added, "Erin's credentials are phenomenal and we are extremely proud to have her on our team. " Goss believes her previous experience at one of the country's largest and most respected RIA firms has prepared her for this leadership role. "I am looking forward to working closely with Robert and his team to help Blue Chip Partners continue its remarkable growth." Story continues Learn more about Erin by visiting bluechippartners.com . About Blue Chip Partners Blue Chip Partners, Inc., is a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Blue Chip Partners provides personalized financial planning and asset management services. Blue Chip Partners serves as a fiduciary to over 620 client relationships who collectively have over $1 billion in assets under management. Blue Chip Partners was named as a 2017, 2018, and 2020 Financial Times Top 300 Registered Investment Adviser firm. Blue Chip Partners' focus and commitment to managing the full scope of their clients' financial planning and investment management needs has enabled the firm to experience rapid growth. Please visit our website at www.bluechippartners.com for more information. Delegate Confidently with Blue Chip Partners, an equal opportunity employer. CONTACT: Jane Doe Marketing Marissa Moceri marketing@bluechippartners.com Related Images Image 1: Erin Goss, COO, Blue Chip Partners Erin Goss, COO, Blue Chip Partners This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment A 40-year contributor to the VMEbus and VPX standards, GMS readies new MOSA architectures and joins Open Group Future Airborne Capability Environment and Sensor Open Standards Architecture consortia to contribute ideas, recommendations WASHINGTON D.C., October 11, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--General Micro Systems (GMS), planning new rugged, embedded computing architectures that further the Department of Defenses joint service Modular Open Standards Approach (MOSA) mandate, has joined the Open Group Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) and Sensor Open Standards Architecture (SOSA) Consortia. GMS intends to actively participate in both consortiums technical working groups and to contribute ideas for MOSA based upon new open-standard technologies being developed in GMSs R&D labs. GMS, a 40-year proponent of open standards, was an original contributor to the VMEbus specificationnow ANSI/VITA-1 and governed by VITAas well as a participant in myriad VITA specifications, including VPX. The industry leader in rugged, deployed small form factor systems, GMS is also a leading supplier of interoperable VME and OpenVPX single-board computers to military and aerospace, civilian and medical industries. For example, to-date, the company has shipped thousands of single-board computers to the U.S. Navy for combat, weapons, and ship management systems on Aegis, destroyer, guided missile (DDG) and littoral combat ship (LCS) platforms. GMS VME boards also control wafer fabrication equipment at the heart of the semiconductor industry. By joining the two government/industry consortia, GMS intends to bring SOSA-aligned and FACE-conformant products to market over the next several months as promised to key customers. GMS design wins in Army ground vehicle programs and Air Force airborne artificial intelligence sensor platforms necessitate MOSA products per the DoDs Tri-Service memo. Additionally, GMS is readying for market new MOSA architectures for scalable, distributed computing that are SOSA-aligned and based upon common open standards. The GMS X9 SPIDER architecture is designed in alignment with the SOSA technical specification, with OpenVPX, and other DoD requirements. More importantly, GMS believes the system-level architecture perfectly embodies the goal of MOSA, and the mission of SOSA, per the Open Groups stated goals: Story continues - Reduce development cycle time and cost - Reduce systems integration cost and risk - Reduce sustainment and modernization cost - Enable technology transition - Facilitate interoperability "GMS is proud to join SOSA and FACE to continue our commitment to the DoDs quest for common standards," said Ben Sharfi, founder and chief architect, GMS. "SOSA is a great start for vendor interoperability at the board interface, and the Open Group has successfully achieved what others could not." Despite the positive direction, GMS believes the current standards fall short of true interoperability on the system or sub-system level, which is where both prime contractors and industry vendors add the most value to the government. "Theres a better way to do this. and we will be demonstrating what interoperability looks like one or more levels removed from just the board-level LRU," Sharfi said. GMS believes interoperability, scalability and even tech insertion at the systems level is truly what the DoD is searching for. SOSA is a valuable first step and GMS looks forward to participating in the Consortium. With the support of the three main branches of the U.S. military and over 90 industry manufacturers, the FACE and SOSA consortia develop standards that are consistent with the DoDs MOSA directive for new system development as well as modification of existing systems. Both consortia define open architecture for avionics and other platforms and promote modular design for greater interoperability. Any solution that adheres to this standard would be vendor-agnostic, thereby promoting vendor competition. To the developer, this standard presents opportunities for capability-reuse across multiple platforms, which reduces integration time and costs. As an industry expert in rugged computing systems in demanding C5ISR applications, GMS welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the next phase of embedded computing for the defense and aerospace industries as an active member in the open standard community by providing technology solutions aligned with the SOSA and FACE design standards. Additionally, GMS plans to introduce complementary technology to the two consortia with the introduction of new, scalable and distributed SOSA-aligned architectures. Where: Booth #7751 at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting in Washington D.C., Oct. 11-13, 2021. For interviews at the show, ask for Kelly Wanlass at 801-602-4723 or kelly@hughescom.net, or GMS CTO Chris Ciufo at (360) 921-7556 or cciufo@gms4sbc.com. About General Micro Systems: General Micro Systems (GMS) is the rugged server company. The company is known as the industry expert in highest-density, modular, compute-intensive, and rugged small form-factor embedded computing systems, servers, and switches. These powerful systems are ideal for demanding C5ISR defense, aerospace, medical, industrial, and energy exploration applications. GMS is an IEC, ISO, AS9100, NIST-800-171, and MIL-SPEC supplier with infrastructure and operations for long-life, spec-controlled, and configuration-managed programs. Designed from the ground up to provide the highest performance and functionality in the harshest environments on the planet, the companys highly customizable products include GMS Rugged DNA with patented RuggedCool cooling technology. GMS is also the leader in deployable high-end Intel processors and a proud Intel partner since 1986. For more information, visit www.gms4sbc.com General Micro Systems and the General Micro Systems logo are trademarks of General Micro Systems, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. 2021 General Micro Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211011005159/en/ Contacts Kelly Wanlass 801-602-4723 kelly@hughescom.net or Chris Ciufo GMS CTO (360) 921-7556 cciufo@gms4sbc.com DUBLIN, October 11, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Malta: Data Centre - 2021 to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report considers the growth of Data Centre space, power, pricing for Malta. The report shows the revenues for Cloud and Data Centre Market forecast over the period from the beginning of 2021 to the beginning of 2025 and provides profiles of the key Public Cloud and Data Centre providers for Malta. About Malta Although relatively small, the Maltese Data Centre facility has found a sustainable segment through specialising in services for the online gaming and the financial services sectors. These sectors have been attracted to Malta through a combination of low taxes and light-touch regulation. The Maltese Government aims to encourage more digital & IT investments in the territory and has deployed a six year "Digital Malta" strategy from 2014 to 2020 with investment in e-Government services and in education and e-learning. DCP finds that the Maltese Data Centre rentals are above the EU average cost, with utility costs among the highest in Europe. Investors in Data Centre space are typically Maltese Providers with the largest facility size currently of 1,000 m2 of raised floor space. Data Centres in Malta are being used by companies primarily from online gaming and financial services. Table of Contents A simplified map showing the key towns & cities in Malta The key third-party Data Centre Providers & Facilities in Malta The key Malta Data Centre Provider Profiles Malta Data Centre raised floor space forecast from the end of June 2021 to the end of June 2025 in m2 Malta Data Centre Customer Power forecast from the end of June 2021 to the end of June 2025 in MW Data Centre power in Euro per kWH The key Malta Data Centre Clusters A Malta Data Centre Pricing Forecast from the end of June 2021 to the end of June 2025 - in Euro per month A Malta Data Centre revenue forecast in millions of Euro - from the end of June 2021 to the end of June 2025 per annum A Malta Public Cloud revenue forecast in millions of Euro - from the end of June 2021 to the end of June 2025 per annum The key trends for the Malta Data Centre market Data Centre Outlook For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l7r2fl Story continues View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211011005253/en/ Contacts ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 The potential for telehealth across Africa is vast and promising as mobile connectivity deepens, and innovations that could potentially bridge the doctor-patient ratio gap increase, according to a Deloitte report. One company that is planning to drive the wave of telemedicine across the continent, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, is mPharma, a Ghanaian health tech startup that is set to open 100 virtual centers across seven markets in Africa over the next six months. As it rolls out these centers, mPharma said its end goal is to deliver quality primary care in communities they serve by providing medical examinations, a service the startup's co-founder and CEO Gregory Rockson said lacks in most telemedicine structures. We saw this as an opportunity to leverage our pharmacies as virtual doctor offices so that patients could get examined remotely during a virtual consultation. This is what makes mPharma's telemedicine unique, Rockson told TechCrunch. He said that mPharma already provides about 10,000 physician consultations to patients at the startups network of pharmacies, and that the new system will enable them to do it electronically too, reaching more people. Originally founded to manage prescription drug inventory for pharmacies and their suppliers, mPharma also runs retail pharmacy operations and provides market intelligence to hospitals, pharmacies and patients. Founded in 2013 by Rockson, Daniel Shoukimas and James Finucane, mPharma is one of the well-funded startups across Africa, raising over $50 million since inception; this includes a Series C round of $17 million, led by U.K.'s development arm CDC Group last year. Other existing investors include Silicon Valley backer Jim Breyer of Breyer Capital, Shravin Bharti Mittal of Bharti Global Limited -- an Indian Conglomerate, Social Capital and Golden Palm Investments. MPharma also enjoys expertise backing from well-experienced professions in the pharmaceutical industry. They include Helena Foulkes, former president of CVS, the largest pharmacy retail chain in the U.S. and Daniel Vasella, ex-CEO and chairman of Novartis; both are members of the board. Story continues The tech startup plans to use its network of pharmacies to build what they describe as a digital primary care service. It will offer all-in-one diagnostics services using digital stethoscope, otoscope, thermometer, and examination camera with built-in illumination for high-definition skin and throat images powered by Tytocare, a telehealth service. The doctor will also be in a place to request rapid diagnostics tests to be carried out, a service that will be supported by a licensed community health nurse as the medic consults remotely. Patients in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda and Ethiopia, where mPharma has a presence, are set to benefit from the virtual consultations. It is raising more funding to further grow its business across the continent. We currently have five centers open. We have done an assessment of all our pharmacies and plan to establish the Mutti Doctor locations (the virtual centers) based on the needs of the community. We have already identified the first 100 locations, said Rockson. The tech startups efforts will add to services of tens of other startups across Africa offering variations of telemedicine, like Vezeeta, an Egyptian doctor appointment booking startup. Vezeeta fast-tracked the rollout of home-visit solutions, teleconsultation and online pharmacies across Egypt and Saudi Arabia last year after landing $40 million in Series D funding. Quro Medical, a South Africa startup, also offers home care complemented by telemedicine service, a step it had to take following the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the exposure of COVID virus on patients and the doctors. The health startup received $1.1 million in April this year to help the company increase its reach and improve care among its patients. Rocket Health, with a presence in Uganda and Kenya, also offers consultation, pharmacy and lab services electronically and through a USSD service, making these services accessible to people without internet connection too. As the pandemic rages on, the industry is expected to continue growing, especially in emerging markets with poor health infrastructure and where the doctor to patient ratio remains grim, when compared to the richer nations. According to World Health Organisation data, countries across sub-Saharan Africa have an average of 0.23 doctors for every 10,000 people. This is against the best ratio of 84.2 doctors in some of the most developed countries. Telemedicine is envisaged to bridge this gap and inspire partnerships and birth more startups like Bima, which provide other ranges of services, including health insurance policies. The Europe-based startup, which offers services in emerging markets, recently received $30 million in funding. The African pharmaceutical market is also expected to grow exponentially as the population balloons, thus providing a space for innovation and a market for startups offering mobile health solutions. Across Africa, the Deloitte report says, East Africa is the most promising region in terms of healthcare investment owing to its integration and the growing economy, supported by various sectors, including agriculture and tourism. Increased demand for services and products as consumers get more spending power will also increase in healthcare and telecom spend, it said. As more startups are launched, a market intelligence report by Salient on innovations in healthcare across sub-Saharan Africa said that they will need to come up with ways to retain customers as competition grows and also come up with methods to partner. The partnerships could be with e-commerce companies for the faster distribution of products and to develop digital ordering, payment and fulfillment systems. If mHealths opportunity is to be fully exploited, stakeholders will need to proactively seek strategic partnerships, public-private or otherwise, and build cooperative and sustainable business models, the Deloitte report said. Deloitte remains upbeat that the industry will take off and recommended that startups such as mPharma use data for better public health supply chain planning and visibility, to forge partnerships and to inform company growth. Rockson hopes that other telemedicine services can utilize the infrastructure his startup has set up to improve the services they offer to patients. We are not looking to compete directly with existing telemedicine providers but rather enable them to plug their service into our remote medical examination solution to close the gap they currently face when providing a teleconsult. MPharma, which employs 400 people, says it is set to create an additional 340 opportunities over the next six months by employing a wide-range of specialists, including engineers and clinicians. It recently entered the ninth market after it was contracted by the Gabonese government to build a drug supply chain infrastructure. This comes months after the company entered the Ethiopian market with plans to franchise its brand and focus more on building and refining its infrastructure for a seamless sourcing and distribution system. This in the hope of solving the challenges facing the pharmaceutical market across Africa, including unpredictable supply chains, exorbitant prices and low orders. PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / October 11, 2021 / Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is investigating whether Owlet, Inc. ("Owlet" or the "Company") (NYSE:OWLT) violated federal securities laws. During the morning of October 4, 2021, Owlet stock fell more than 30%, on the news that the Company notified investors that Owlet received an FDA warning letter concerning the improper marketing of its Smart Sock medical device product. The Company stated in an SEC filing that "[o]n October 1, 2021, Owlet . . . received a Warning Letter, dated October 1, 2021 (the Warning Letter'), from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA')." According to Owlet: The Warning Letter asserts that the Company's marketing of its Owlet Smart Sock product (the Smart Sock') in the United States renders the Smart Sock a medical device requiring premarket clearance or approval from FDA, and that the Company has not obtained such clearance or approval in violation of the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Warning Letter requests that the Company take prompt action to address the alleged violations. Among other things, the Warning Letter requests the Company cease commercial distribution of the Smart Sock for uses in measuring blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate where such metrics are intended to identify or diagnose desaturation and bradycardia using an alarm functionality to notify users that measurements are outside of preset values. The Warning Letter also identifies certain marketing claims that FDA believes render the Smart Sock a medical device. OWLET INVESTORS WITH SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL LOSSES WHO WISH TO DISCUSS KEHOE LAW FIRM'S SECURITIES CLASS ACTION INVESTIGATION OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL LEGAL CLAIMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT EITHER JOHN KEHOE, ESQ., (215) 792-6676, EXT. 801, JKEHOE@KEHOELAWFIRM.COM, OR MICHAEL YARNOFF, ESQ., (215) 792-6676, EXT. 804, MYARNOFF@KEHOELAWFIRM.COM, INFO@KEHOELAWFIRM.COM. Story continues Kehoe Law Firm, P.C., with offices in New York and Philadelphia, is a multidisciplinary, plaintiff-side law firm dedicated to protecting investors from securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, and corporate misconduct. Combined, the partners at Kehoe Law Firm have served as Lead Counsel or Co-Lead Counsel in cases that have recovered more than $10 billion on behalf of institutional and individual investors. This press release may constitute attorney advertising. SOURCE: Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/667564/OWLT-INVESTOR-ALERT-Owlet-Inc-Investors-With-Significant-Losses-Encouraged-To-Contact-Kehoe-Law-Firm-PC Schenck Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to National Defense Community TYSONS, Va., Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second largest federal credit union, today announced its President and CEO James Schenck received the Association of the United States Army's John W. Dixon Award. The Dixon Award was established in 1989 and is presented annually to one individual for "distinguished service in the industrial community resulting in outstanding contributions to national defense." Schenck's award was presented at the AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition Oct. 11 in Washington, D.C. James Schenck holds the 2021 John W. Dixon Award from the Association of the United States Army. "On behalf of PenFed's employees and volunteers who serve the national defense community, I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the Association of the U.S. Army," said Schenck. "During my seven years as CEO, while PenFed's membership has grown from 1.4 million to 2.4 million, we are so proud of serving our national defense communitythe men and women and their families who sacrifice so much to keep us free. This award recognizes PenFed Credit Union's outstanding service to our core membership base, as well as the PenFed Foundation's contributions to active duty military, veterans, families and caregivers." Schenck also serves as the CEO of the PenFed Foundation, which has raised over $40 million to help military veterans heal their wounds, pay their bills, own their first homes, and start their own businesses. In addition to his work with PenFed, Schenck volunteers on the board of Armed Services Arts Partnership and supports dozens of other organizations contributing to our national defense. Among the most recent charitable causes supported by PenFed Credit Union and the PenFed Foundation: Air Force Association, securing scholarships for young aviators; America's Vet Dogs, training service dogs for disabled veterans; Home Base, providing innovative wellness programs for all kinds of veterans; Marine Scholarship Fund, securing scholarships for children of Marines killed in Kabul; National Military Family Association and Our Military Kids, delivering resources for military families; Pritzker Military Museum, preserving military history; Segs 4 Vets, building mobility devices for disabled veterans; Serve Our Willing Warriors, providing a respite home for wounded warriors at a retreat in Haymarket, Virginia; wear blue: run to remember, supporting families of veterans killed in the line of duty Women's National Memorial, recognizing the service of females in the Armed Forces; Wreaths Across America, honoring the memories of veterans who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. Schenck served in the U.S. Army as an Aviation Officer for 13 years. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Schenck flew Black Hawk helicopters in Korea and trained other U.S. Army aviators as a night vision goggle instructor pilot. Story continues After being selected by the Army to attend Harvard Business School, Schenck went to back to West Point to teach Economics and Finance at the U.S. Military Academy. He was assigned to the Pentagon to serve on the Army Staff in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, and was later selected to serve as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. Schenck received the Legion of Merit for his contribution to the Army by overseeing creation of the $453 million Army University Access Online educational initiative. He was selected by HillVets as one of the nation's 100 most influential and impactful veterans. About PenFed Credit Union Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 2.4 million members worldwide with $29 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services. Our mission is to empower members of our community to achieve their financial well-being. To learn more, visit www.penfed.org. About PenFed Foundation Founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to empowering military service members, veterans and their communities with the skills and resources to realize financial stability and opportunity. It provides service members, veterans, their families and support networks with the skills and resources they need to improve their lives through programs on financial education, homeownership, veteran entrepreneurship and short-term assistance. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has the resources to effectively reach military communities across the nation, build strong partnerships, and engage a dedicated corps of volunteers in its mission. The Credit Union funds the Foundation's personnel and most operational costs, demonstrating its strong commitment to the programs the Foundation provides. To learn more, visit www.penfedfoundation.org . PENFED logo (PRNewsfoto/PenFed Credit Union) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/penfed-credit-union-president--ceo-james-schenck-receives-association-of-the-united-states-armys-john-w-dixon-award-301397290.html SOURCE PenFed Credit Union To NASDAQ Copenhagen Executive Board Lers Parkalle 100 DK-2100 Kbenhavn www.rd.dk Telephone +45 7012 5300 Telefax +45 4514 9622 11 October 2021 Company Announcement No 87/2021 Prepayments, Realkredit Danmark A/S Pursuant to 24 of the Capital Markets Act, Realkredit Danmark A/S hereby publishes prepayments as at Friday 8 October 2021. Please find the data in the attached file. The information will also be available on www.rd.dk . Yours sincerely The Executive Board Any additional questions should be addressed to Hella Gebhardt Rnnebk, Chief Analyst, phone +45 4513 2068. Attachments NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. (First High-School Education Group or the Company) (NYSE: FHS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether First High-School Education Group and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On or around March 11, 2021, First High-School Education Group conducted its initial public offering, issuing 7.5 million American depositary shares (ADSs) priced at $10.00 per ADS. Then, on September 28, 2021, First High-School Education Group announced its first half of 2021 unaudited financial results, including, among other results, gross profit of RMB62.3 million (US$9.6 million), a decrease of 3.6% from RMB64.6 million in the first half of 2020; a net loss of RMB3.8 million (US$0.6 million), compared to a net income of RMB31.9 million in the first half of 2020, which was primarily incurred by certain non-recurring expenses; and adjusted net income (Non-GAAP) of RMB11.2 million (US$1.7 million), a decrease of 64.9% from RMB31.9 million in the first half of 2020. On this news, First High-School Education Groups ADS price fell $0.89 per ADS, or 22.88%, to close at $3.00 per ADS on September 28, 2021. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, 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 . Story continues CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 11, 2021 / The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that class actions have commenced on behalf of certain shareholders in the following companies. If you suffered a loss you have until the lead plaintiff deadline to request that the court appoint you as lead plaintiff. There will be no obligation or cost to you. Selectquote, Inc. (NYSE:SLQT) If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/selectquote-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=20293&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 15, 2021 Class Period: May 20, 2020 - August 25, 2021 Allegations against SLQT include that: (1) SelectQuote's 2019 cohort was underperforming; (2) as a result, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (3) 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. Eargo, Inc. (NASDAQ:EAR) If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/eargo-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=20293&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: December 6, 2021 Class Period: October 16, 2020 - September 22, 2021 Allegations against EAR include that: (1) Eargo had improperly sought reimbursements from certain third-party payors; (2) the foregoing was reasonably likely to lead to regulatory scrutiny; (3) as a result and because the reimbursements at issue involved the Company's largest third-party payor, Eargo's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (4) 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. AppHarvest, Inc. (NASDAQ:APPH) If you suffered a loss, contact us at:https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/appharvest-inc-loss-submission-form?prid=20293&wire=1 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: November 23, 2021 Class Period: May 17, 2021 - August 10, 2021 Story continues Allegations against APPH include that: (1) AppHarvest lacked sufficient training for its recently expanded labor force; (2) as a result, the Company could not produce Grade No. 1 tomatoes consistently; (3) as a result, the Company's financial results would be adversely impacted; and (4) 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. To learn more contact Vincent Wong, Esq. either via email vw@wongesq.com or by telephone at 212.425.1140. Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Vincent Wong, Esq. 39 East Broadway Suite 304 New York, NY 10002 Tel. 212.425.1140 Fax. 866.699.3880 E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com SOURCE: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/667569/SHAREHOLDER-ALERT-SLQT-EAR-APPH-The-Law-Offices-of-Vincent-Wong-Reminds-Investors-of-Important-Class-Action-Deadlines 50/50 Joint Venture to produce up to 20ktpa of advanced anode materials SYDNEY, Oct. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sicona Battery Technologies Pty Ltd ("Sicona"), a groundbreaking battery materials technology company, has executed a non-binding heads of agreement (the "HoA") with the 100% owned Swedish subsidiary of TSX-V listed Leading Edge Materials Corp. ("Leading Edge Materials"). (PRNewsfoto/Sicona Battery Technologies) The HoA lays out the path for the establishment of a Sweden based 50/50 Joint Venture (the "JV") targeting the production of advanced natural graphite and silicon-graphite-carbon composite active anode materials using natural graphite from the Woxna Graphite mine as feedstock to offer the European lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry a secure and sustainable supply of high-performance anode materials. The JV is a direct fit for the fully built and permitted Woxna Graphite mine in Sweden and plans for a vertically integrated production from mine to active anode materials utilizing a low carbon footprint thermal purification process, as recently reported in a Preliminary Economic Assessment study published by Leading Edge Materials (see Leading Edge Materails' press releases dated June 9, 2021 and July 26, 2021). Sicona believes that the existing Woxna mine and developed downstream processes together with Sicona's innovative technology offers the opportunity to deliver a secure and sustainable supply of high-performance battery materials for the European battery industry. Sicona is commercialising innovative silicon-graphite-carbon composite battery anode and binder process technology and materials, developed and perfected over the last ten years at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) at the University of Wollongong. Sicona's current generation silicon-graphite composite anode materials deliver 50% to 100% higher capacity than conventional "graphite-only" materials and as a result, its cell producer customers can unlock more than 50% higher cell energy density than current Li-ion batteries thereby increasing electric vehicle range whilst reducing the cost and the time it takes to charge. Story continues The global lithium battery opportunity is growing rapidly with more than 4TWh (equivalent to 4,000 gigawatt sized factories) of announced cell production requiring in excess of 4,000,000 tonnes of anode materials per annum. Due to its improved storage capacity, silicon graphite composite anode materials attract higher selling prices, >US$15,000 per tonne[1], compared with conventional graphite anode materials between US$7,000 and US$15,000 per tonne[2]. However, due to the higher capacity of silicon graphite composites the cost per capacity unit ($ / KWh) becomes lower for battery cell manufacturers, driving an increased interest to transition into these materials over the future. The HoA lays out certain work packages with the ultimate objective being a Sweden based advanced anode materials production facility targeting an annual production of up to 20,000 tonnes per year of multiple active anode materials products using Woxna graphite feedstock and other complementary suitable feedstocks such as externally sourced silicon and other carbon or graphite materials utilizing Sicona's significant proprietary IP and know-how. Key points of the JV as envisioned in the HoA; The establishment of a Swedish corporation owned 50/50 by Sicona and Leading Edge Materials to operate the JV out of Sweden; The design, funding and launch of a 500 tonnes per annum stage 1 commercial demonstration plant at a suitable location from the Woxna Graphite mine to produce multiple active anode materials products for advanced customer qualification trials; Appropriate feasibility study for a 7,000 to 20,000 tonnes per annum full scale commercial production facility; Funding, building and operation of a full scale commercial production facility; Leading Edge Materials' 100% owned subsidiary Woxna Graphite AB to enter an offtake agreement with the JV to sell it all of its graphite concentrate production on a graphite related all in cost basis plus a 30% margin, with a cap at the price equivalent to an appropriate graphite pricing benchmark less 15% (the "Off-take Agreement"); The JV to be granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license for Sicona's IP to produce carbon coated graphite based and silicon-graphite-carbon based active anode materials (the "License Agreements"); JV to retain exclusivity over the IP in Sweden, with additional timelines proposed to prohibit the licensing of the IP within Europe to other parties; and A twelve month exclusivity period during which the parties are prohibited from soliciting alternative transactions to the proposed JV and must deal exclusively with each other (the "Exclusivity Provision"). The establishment of the JV is subject to Sicona and Leading Edge Materials entering into a definitive binding joint venture agreement governing the Swedish JV corporation (the "Definitive Joint Venture Agreement", and together with the Off-take Agreement and the License Agreements, the "Definitive Agreements"), the Off-take Agreement and the License Agreements and completion of satisfactory due diligence and receipt of all necessary board and regulatory approvals Sicona founder and CEO, Christiaan Jordaan said "From our Australian base, Sicona has its eyes firmly set on deploying commercial-scale production plants in Europe and North America and this proposed joint venture with Leading Edge Materials is a significant step in achieving those goals. We are very excited to be involved in the next stages of project development with Filip and his team at Leading Edge Materials. It is an endorsement of Sicona's value proposition in vertically integrating local supply chain projects to produce next generation final anode materials. The two companies share the same goals and values in the sustainable development of better performing anodes and disrupting the control of Asian controlled supply chains with local European made anode material products. Our work has already shown Woxna's thermally purified natural graphite outperformed similar trials using natural graphite reference materials, which bodes well for our planned next stages of work with Leading Edge. The formalization of this JV will allow Sicona and Leading Edge to commercialize our coating processes and technologies, where Woxna's spherical purified graphite and Sicona's carbon coating technology has shown excellent results in producing a conventional natural graphite active anode material, delivering 98% capacity retention after 500 cycles[3]. Furthermore, in-house unoptimized trials using Woxna spherical purified graphite to produce silicon-graphite-carbon composite anode materials has delivered promising results in initial cell testing. The test results showed an excellent initial capacity of ~700mAh/g, which is more than 90% higher than conventional graphite anode materials." Filip Kozlowski, CEO of Leading Edge Materials said "The opportunity to combine the thermally purified spherical natural graphite from Woxna with Sicona's silicon-graphite-carbon composite technology for the production of high-performance next generation anode materials is obvious. We believe that moving towards a formal joint venture and the establishment of a first stage commercial demonstration facility to produce 500 tonnes per year of various anode materials will demonstrate the quality of our products to potential customers in Europe." Announced lithium-ion battery production capacity recently surpassed 1,000GWh[4], translating to around 1,000,000 tonnes per year of anode material demand in Europe alone. This potential joint venture with Sicona puts Leading Edge Materials in an even stronger position to address this immense addressable market opportunity. I am looking forward to working with Christiaan and his skilled technical team in developing this opportunity further. Contact: Christiaan Jordaan info@siconabattery.com Visit: www.siconabattery.com www.leadingedgematerials.com About Sicona Sicona develops next-generation battery materials technology used in the anodes (negative electrodes) of lithium-ion ("Li-ion") batteries that enable electric-mobility and storage of renewable energy. Sicona is commercialising an innovative silicon-composite battery anode technology, developed and perfected over the last ten years at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM). Sicona's current generation silicon-composite anode technology delivers 50% to 100% higher capacity than conventional graphite anodes and its anode materials can deliver more than 50% higher cell energy density than current Li-ion batteries. In addition, Sicona has developed a water-based binder that has a 3D network structure, improved electro-conductivity, and self-healing properties that significantly increases the cycle of next generation anodes. Sicona uses off the shelf equipment in a highly scalable and efficient manufacturing process to produce its active anode materials and polymer binder. Sicona intends to produce and sell high performance active anode and binder materials into the fast-growing global battery market through a focused partnership approach with established and reputable supply chain partner companies. About Leading Edge Materials Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian public company focused on developing a portfolio of critical raw material projects located in the European Union. Critical raw materials are determined as such by the European Union based on their economic importance and supply risk. They are directly linked to high growth technologies such as batteries for electromobility and energy storage and permanent magnets for electric motors and wind power that underpin the clean energy transition towards climate neutrality. The portfolio of projects includes the 100% owned Woxna Graphite mine (Sweden), Norra Karr HREE project (Sweden) and the 51% owned Bihor Sud Nickel Cobalt exploration alliance (Romania). [1] JP Morgan, Battery Anode Materials, June 10, 2021 [2] Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, 2021 [3] Coin half-cell testing. Cycling at 0.3C, formation cycling at C/20 [4] CIC energiGUNE, September 2021 SOURCE Sicona Battery Technologies Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas by Josh Malerman. This masterful collection of novellas reveals the dark secrets hidden in the seemingly ordinary small town of Goblin. Tales of sacrifice, in the name of love, more daring than that of Vincent van Gogh. A big game hunter determined to capture his ultimate prize: the legendary Great Owl that lives in Goblins deep forests. A zookeeper whose kinship with animals is unleashing dark forces within him. A hedge maze so complicated it defies being solved, until a young girl resolves to be the one to uncover the mysteries at its center. These strange tales and more reveal the enigmatic lives of a mysterious small town. The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros. 1893 Chicago: Alter Rosen dreams of being able to afford to bring his family to America, freeing them from oppression in his native Romania. Alters fantasy is shattered when his best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a series of murdered Jewish boys. While the rest of Chicago is celebrating the Worlds Fair, Alter is thrown into a nightmare. Possessed by Yakovs dybbuk, or dislocated soul, Alter becomes ensnared in a world of corruption and is thrust back into the orbit of a dangerous, though significant, boy from his past. With only days until the dybbuk takes over Alters body completely, the two boys must race to hunt down the killer before the killer gets to them next. Mayas interests took her from dinosaurs to robotics to coding to quantum physics and finally to nuclear physics. There was chemistry in there, too, Mayas dad Adam Wallach said. We have a video of her doing an ode to hydrogen that she wrote herself. At the end she had a little tear, because hydrogen is so lonely [placed by itself at the top of the periodic table]. Kenya Wallach was supervisor of mathematics and science for Stafford County Public Schoolswhich her other two children still attendand now directs Discoverys mathematics curriculum, so she was able to guide her daughter much of the way along her journey into STEM. I dont give my kids answers, Wallach said. I will give you bits and pieces and then you need to figure it out, come back to me, and Ill tell you whether youre on the right path. So she would do that. She would read my old textbooks. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} But once Maya expressed an interest in nuclear physics and was starting to build simulations using the Python programming language, Wallach knew she had to look elsewhere for support. Mom is benched now, she said with a laugh. So the easiest way home for me is to turn RIGHT outside of Pratt Park and take River Road to Gordon Street, then right on Carter Street to Butler Road and head back home. Many people will be doing this, but heres the problem (and it has been going on for a long time). Cars at the intersection of Carter and Butler are trying to turn left. The same thing happens on the other side of Butler when cars on Colonial Street or Carter try to turn left. They often inch into the flow of traffic waiting for an opening and cars pile up behind them. It would be very helpful if left turns were prohibited onto Butler from all of these streets. When the Falmouth intersection was redone, left turns from Butler onto Colonial were prohibited from 7 a.m.7 p.m. and that has made a huge difference in traffic flow. Butler carries many heavy trucks and that increases the danger of left turns. I am excited about the opening of the Chatham Bridge, but I foresee problems on these side streets and Butler. Can you check into this? Penny A. Parrish, Stafford For those not in the loop, the Chatham Bridge opened on Sunday after a nearly year-and-a-half rehabilitation project. Hannon said VDOT will monitor the intersection of Carter Street and Butler Road to see how traffic may respond to the right turn in, right turn out only pattern at River Road and Route 3 Business, and whether a left turn restriction at Carter Street would be recommended once motorists settle into new patterns. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hall stood by while VMRC Commissioner Steve Bowman and Chief of Fisheries Management Patrick Geer discussed what could be done. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Id like to move broadband in the same warp speed that were moving this. Im trying to figure it out, said Bowman. Yeah, thats whats beyond our control is getting the broadband up there, Geer replied. Staying with paper is costing the state too much money and time, said Adam Kenyon, who oversees the mandatory harvest reporting program. He said the online system has over 1,800 users and there are few complaints. Our commercial watermen, the average age is over 55, he said. We get more complaints that they dont like computers or they dont understand computers. A lot of times, its just that they havent really gone through the process of trying to work [online]. When they had to do the paper ones, they had to learn the paper ones. A majority of watermen have always relied on their wives, other relatives or friends to file paperwork with the state. As the state has switched to online reporting, those same people are there to do it. Richard Harding, who owns Purcells Seafood in Reedville, said he helps oystermen report online at his office, which has internet. It was large, blatant and graphic, Mitchell said. A lot happened to make that appear there. He imagined the person responsible for the racial epithets had to prop the boat to hold it still. They had to drive out to a remote area of the national forest with paint and an intent. It was May when Mitchells friend found the message, and it stuck with him so much so, that he woke up on Fathers Day, went back to the bridge with his kayak, paint can and a roller, and completely covered it up. On his next trip to the area, he went to an island Mitchell and McRae frequent. There, on a beautiful, carved sycamore, was another racist message. It had to have been a power tool, more precise than a chain saw. Likely, an attachment on a battery-operated angle grinder, making deep, deep cuts. McRae, who lives in Fluvanna County, said this wont keep him away from the area forever, but it has brought these latent concerns to the forefront of his mind. Every person he passes, every truck and car, he has to wonder if that was the perpetrator, has to worry about what comes next. It isnt like the usual random worries, he said, not a concern that someone crazy is lurking in the woods. The United States and Britain have warned their citizens to stay away from hotels in Kabul, specifically citing the Serena Hotel, a popular venue for foreign guests in the Afghan capital. "U.S. citizens who are at or near the Serena Hotel should leave immediately," the U.S. State Department said early on October 11, citing "security threats" in the area. The U.K. Foreign Office wrote: In light of the increased risks you are advised not to stay in hotels, particularly in Kabul (such as the Serena Hotel). Security at the hotel on October 11 was on alert. Pedestrians were not allowed to linger near the hotels walls, while Taliban security forces were patrolling the area, AIP reported. The heavily fortified Serena was one of the main hotels used by foreign visitors prior to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of Western troops in August. An affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) terror group has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks in the country since the Taliban takeover. No other details were immediately available. Based on reporting by AFP and AIP Five Indian soldiers have been killed in a shoot-out with militants in the India-controlled portion of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, the Indian military reported on October 11. An army spokesman said the five troops were conducting a search operation in a forested part of the southern Surankote area following a report that militants fighting against Indian rule were in the area. They came under heavy fire and were evacuated by helicopter before being declared dead, the spokesman said. Indian and Pakistan both claim the Kashmir region. Tens of thousands of civilians, militants, and government forces have been killed in fighting in the Muslim-majority region since 1989. The latest violence comes amid a sweeping crackdown by Indian forces following several targeted killing in the city of Srinagar in the last week. Based on reporting by AP and AFP Hundreds more flights were canceled by Southwest Airlines on Monday across the country, including at Denver International Airport. At 5 p.m., FlightAware reported Southwest had canceled 363 flights across the country 10% of its schedule for the day with another 1,458 delayed. At Colorado Springs Airport, there were three cancellations and 18 delayed flights by 5 p.m. At DIA, there were 43 cancellations and 214 delayed flights by 5 p.m. This came after Southwest canceled 1,124 flights nationwide Sunday with another 1,206 reported delayed. At Colorado Springs Airport, there were nine cancellations and nine delayed flights. At DIA, there were 155 canceled flights on Sunday with 215 delayed. Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. briefly fell more than 4% before a partial recovery; they were down 3% by afternoon. Click or tap here for the latest flight information at Colorado Springs Airport. Joseph Heilman of Washington D.C. was scheduled to return to the Baltimore/Washington International Airport out of DIA Monday. "My first flight was cancelled, and I rebooked on an earlier flight," Heilman said Monday afternoon. "But I feel lucky because from what I saw, there were only about 10 seats max left on any flight to D.C. in the next 24 hours. My current flight keeps getting delayed further and further. The Southwest employees I see appear visibly stressed out and exhausted." The widespread disruptions began shortly after the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association asked a federal court on Friday to block the airline's order that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19. The union said it doesn't oppose vaccination, but it argued in its filing that Southwest must negotiate before taking such a step. The union denied reports that pilots were conducting a sickout or slowdown to protest the vaccine mandate, saying it has not authorized, and will not condone, any job action. The pilots association offered another explanation: It said Southwests operation has become brittle and subject to massive failures under the slightest pressure because of a lack of support from the company. The union complained about the already strained relationship between it and the company. Airlines convinced thousands of workers to take leaves of absence during the pandemic. Unions at Southwest and American have argued that management was too slow to bring pilots back, leaving them short-handed. Alan Kasher, Southwest's executive vice president of daily operations, said the airline was staffed for the weekend but got tripped up by air-traffic control issues and bad weather in Florida and couldn't recover quickly. Because of cutbacks during the pandemic, he noted the airline has fewer flights to accommodate stranded passengers. The weekend challenges were not a result of Southwest employee demonstrations, said airline spokesman Chris Mainz. The White House has pushed airlines to adopt vaccine mandates because they are federal contractors they get paid by the Defense Department to operate flights, including those that carried Afghanistan refugees to the U.S. this summer. United Airlines was the first major U.S. carrier to announce a vaccination requirement. Southwest had remained silent even after President Joe Biden announced his order for federal contractors and large employers. Finally last week, Southwest told employees they must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8 to keep their jobs. Workers can ask to skip the shots for medical or religious reasons. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged delays in part of Florida on Friday but pushed back against Southwest's air-traffic control explanation. The FAA said Sunday that some airlines were experiencing problems because of planes and crews being out of position. Southwest was the only airline to report such a large percentage of canceled and delayed flights over the weekend. Savanthi Syth, an airlines analyst for Raymond James, said the weekend problems will increase Southwest costs and worsen the companys strained relations with unions. Southwest has struggled all summer with high numbers of delayed and canceled flights. In August, it announced it was trimming its September schedule by 27 flights a day, or less than 1%, and 162 flights a day, or 4.5% of the schedule, from early October through Nov. 5. Heilman's flight eventually got out later Monday afternoon. Denver Gazette Business Reporter Dennis Huspeni contributed to this story. The Boulder judge overseeing the case of the March supermarket massacre has granted an additional two weeks for state doctors to conduct an evaluation of the accused shooters competence to stand trial, according to an order filed Monday. Prosecutors in Boulder have requested a second competence evaluation for the man accused of killing 10 people in the March supermarket massacre, after a court-ordered report found him incompetent to stand trial. The mayoral slot and two council seats are up for grabs in Manitou Springs this November, and voters will decide their next elected representatives. Mayor John Graham faces challengers Alan Delwiche, chairman of the Manitou Springs Planning Commission, as well as write-in candidate Tyler Graefe, as Graham seeks another term as mayor. In office since January 2020, Graham touted his previous newspaper experience as an asset because of the exposure it gave him with city affairs, budgeting and policy making. "I have seen the life of the community in a lot of different situations, over numerous years," Graham told The Gazette. "My ongoing experience as mayor provides abundant insights into our current problems and means towards solutions." If re-elected, Graham intends to focus on COVID-19 recovery, fire mitigation and transportation, among other issues. "The overarching challenge we face is protecting the quality of life for our residents and visitors," Graham said. "I think the most difficult problem is transportation traffic, congestion and providing adequate parking." Contender Alan Delwiche, whose civic engagement includes 25 years of experience with the city's planning commission, as well as time spent with the Housing Advisory Board and the Urban Renewal Authority Board in Manitou, said his strengths are his community engagement and firm understanding of municipal government. Delwiche intends to focus on transportation, too, emphasizing the need for a balance between residents' needs with the city's tourism demands. "We've done a lot in terms of our main street," Delwiche said. "... But meanwhile we have all these other neighborhoods where we really have to start turning our focus." Delwiche also said the city's zoning codes would be a point of focus for him and that he's against "relaxing out standards simply to provide more profit making opportunities for people who don't live in our community or share our values." Tyler Graefe is also running as a third write-in candidate. Graefe, who works in a customer service position at a retail store in Manitou, said he wants to be sure to preserve the idyllic small-town feel of Manitou. "In many ways the tourism is certainly the antithesis of what the local resident wants," Graefe said. "But I think, in that, you can have some sort of a synthesis." If elected, Graefe said he would help the city focus on better utilizing its space and resources. Resident Michelle Whetherhult and former councilman Bob Todd will face each other to represent the city's 3rd Ward. Whetherhult, a sales agent for Comcast, hopes to prioritize environmental initiatives, businesses and solving traffic issues. Bob Todd, whose background is in financial and organizational consulting, plans to focus on the city's financial sustainability, governance practices and creating a local ethics commission. In Ward 1, Natalie Johnson, who was appointed to fill a Ward 1 vacancy in May, seeks election without any challengers. Ward 2 incumbent Nancy Fortuin seeks re-election, and also has no challengers. Jennifer Hickerson stands in an area that used to serve as a memorial to her husband's aunt that burned in the Birdseye View fire. The area was home to a recently planted tree and wildflowers. Hickerson returned home on Sunday after the evacuation orders were lifted to find the fire burned much of the forest on her property but had left her home, vehicles and most everything of value untouched. The Halloween season isn't just for candy and costumes, it's also a time for checking out the festively decorated houses. Throughout Mason City, residences can be seen adorned in kooky, spooky, and downright macabre displays celebrating the popular fall holiday. From vibrant inflatables to menacing spiderwebs to floating phantoms, Halloween setups might be poised to give Christmas decorations some competition in the creativity department. Do you have Halloween decorations to brag about? What are some of your favorite spooky scenes around North Iowa? Send us your photos at news@globegazette.com. Lisa Grouette is a Photojournalist for the Globe Gazette. You can reach her at 641-421-0525 or lisa.grouette@globegazette.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaGrouette Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Harcourt, Iowa man faces a slew of charges after he was pulled over by Mason City police in a truck police say wasn't his on Sunday. And the alleged truck theft was just the beginning. Andre Tyree Williams, 38, took a 2008 Ford F150 truck from the vicinity of 13th Street Northwest and North Federal Avenue without the owner's consent on Sunday morning, according to documents filed in Cerro Gordo County District Court. Williams also availed himself of the victim's credit card, charging $538 at Kohl's while on a bit of a spending spree, according to the documents. But the real trouble came when a Mason City Police officer arrested Williams Sunday afternoon on suspicion of taking the truck for a joyride, according to the documents. While in the backseat of the officer's squad car, a small bag of what is believed to be methamphetamine fell out of Williams' pocket, according to the charging documents, and another little bag of marijuana was found in Williams' underwear after a search. Williams is charged with misdemeanor operating a vehicle without the owner's consent, unauthorized use of a credit card and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. This is not Williams' first encounter with the police. In the last three months, he has also been charged with misdemeanor theft for driving off without paying for the gas he put in a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban, and for using a credit card that wasn't his at Planet Fitness, according to court documents. Williams is a guest of the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $6,000 cash bond while awaiting his day in court. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When Carolyn Reeder was in elementary school, she looked forward to Fridays because that meant it was the day for art class. Over the years, the Northwood woman's love of art continued. She said in high school she was inspired by a teacher. Though she quit art for a time, she has gone into rosemaling, oil painting and now watercolor. Reeder, an elementary school teacher for 40 years in Hanlontown and Manly, said she always tried to do a lot of art with her students, as well, sharing a love of art history with them when she could. When she retired in 2016, she picked up watercolor and it has since been her medium of choice. Reeders work will be on display at the Albert Lea Art Center through the middle of November in the newest show for the arts organization. Reeder said she initially went into the Art Center with an interest in having some of her paintings for sale in the shop and was then approached about having a larger show with her work. She estimated she will have about 30 pieces on display. She said though watercolor is more challenging with oils its easy to cover up a mistake simply by adding on another color she enjoys the challenge. She starts with five or six paintings at a time, starting with one part of a painting, leaving it for a while and then going on to another painting before coming back to the original one. I think with water colors you have to stop and look at what youve already done and know when youve got to say, thats enough Im not going to put anything else into it, Reeder said. Thats challenging, but I love it. She said she enjoys painting barns and gets inspiration from the barns she sees while out with her husband, her sister and brother-in-law. Sometimes she may use the shape of a barn she has seen and then add her own spin on it. She also has a handful of paintings of landmark buildings in Northwood that will be on display in the show, along with her paintings that have been made into desktop calendars and magnets. Reeder said more recently she has also taken on more abstract paintings of tall buildings with large windows and steep rooflines. She said they have grown in popularity, and she recently found success with these paintings at an art show for Founders Day in September. She has taken some art classes in Door County, Wisconsin, and said learns something new from every class she takes. I still enjoy being a student and coming away with certain techniques, she said. Reeders exhibit will be open through the middle of November. The Art Center is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. An artist reception will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. This story first published in the Albert Lea Tribune and is reprinted here with permission. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 American Legion of Iowa Foundation has awarded a community grant in the amount of $1,200 to One Visions Wellness Center in Clear Lake. The money will be used to purchase new flooring for the center to increase safety and expand accessibility. The Wellness Center houses One Visions indoor heated (Boyer) pool, spa, fitness room and gymnasium. Wellness Center memberships and $5 day passes are available to the public. The primary users of the Wellness Center are the residents of Glen Oaks and the facility members. Glen Oaks is an active 55+ living community on One Visions campus composed of 6 townhomes and 48 apartments. Other groups who have access to the Wellness Center and equipment are One Visions employees and individuals with disabilities who are supported by One Vision. One Vision, a nonprofit organization, provides services to more than 400 individuals with disabilities. Based in Clear Lake, One Vision supports people of all ages throughout North Iowa including Clear Lake, Mason City, Fort Dodge, Garner, Lake Mills and more. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A granddaughter and her boyfriend have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of an 88-year-old Danville woman, authorities announced Monday evening. Lindsey Mae Johnson, 24, and 22-year-old Nicasio Antonio Guzman, both of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, are charged in the homicide of Elizabeth Morris Adkins who was found dead in her home at 368 Juless St. on Sunday morning. The police department cannot speak on the motive for this homicide, as the investigation is ongoing, but investigators do not believe this to be a random act nor are any further suspects being sought, authorities announced in a Monday evening news release. Police have worked around the clock since discovering Adkins dead shortly after 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Officers responded to a 911 call after someone found the woman unresponsive inside her home. She was pronounced dead on scene. Evidence at the scene led to the death being investigated as a homicide, police reported in a news release, without providing any other details. Through the assistance of the members of the local Juless Street community, the suspects in this tragic homicide were identified, arrested and are now being held at the Danville City Jail without bond, police wrote in the news release. Youngkins response, which consisted of a printout of his answers to questions during two debates with McAuliffe, explained why he opposes the Virginia Clean Economy Act. I believe that, in fact, we can tackle bringing down emissions in Virginia without putting forth a plan that not even executives at the utilities believe is doable, he said. Its gonna, in fact, increase Virginians bills by up to $1,000 a year, it puts our entire energy grid at risk. While McAuliffe supports accelerating the clean-energy acts goals by 15 to 20 years, Youngkin called for a more measured approach. I believe in all energy sources, we can use wind and solar, but we need to preserve our clean natural gas and we can, in fact, have a reliable energy grid, he said at the second debate with McAuliffe. The Virginia League of Conservation Voters is endorsing McAuliffe, despite the organizations strong opposition to both the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley projects and its work to ensure the MVP is never realized, deputy director Lee Francis said. But once the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Dalton visited at her mothers window, she saw fewer and fewer aides pass by, and her mother sometimes left in a soiled diaper for hours. Her hair was often matted and her toenails grew long. A bedsore the size of a fist festered on her backside. Sometimes, unable to dial a phone herself and with no aides in sight, she would holler to a passing custodian for help. She would call out for help and no one would come, she said. There was no one around. Blumenthals staffing fell in the year after Theresa Dalton entered the facility. Even more in the first year of the pandemic. And still more in the months since. By June, four months after the retired minister died of COVID-19, the facilitys staffing was down 15% from the start of 2020, and 25% from the start of 2019. They did that for their own pockets, Dalton says of the lower staffing. Theres a lot of greed. Requests for comment to Blumenthal and its operator, Choice Health Management Services, were not returned. In a letter to state regulators, an attorney for the facility said complaints were taken seriously and that some problems, like the bedsore, were exacerbated by the patients failure to follow orders. RALEIGH The federal governments new investigation into threats being made against local school boards is splitting North Carolinas elected officials along partisan lines. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced this month that he would have the FBI investigate the disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers and staff. Democrats say the probe will help protect school board members who are worried about their safety during a time of heightened tension. But Republicans are charging that the investigation is meant to intimidate parents who are opposed to requiring face masks and the use of what they call Critical Race Theory in schools. We are concerned about the appearance of the Department of Justice policing the speech of citizens and concerned parents, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and the other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote in a letter Thursday to Garland. We urge you to make very clear to the American public that the Department of Justice will not interfere with the rights of parents to come before school boards and speak with educators about their concerns, whether regarding coronavirus-related measures, the teaching of critical race theory in schools, sexually explicit books in schools, or any other topic. The cause of death in unknown, and the NPS said it's investigating along with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles and connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, according to the National Park Service. The Yadkin Valley Overlook is in Blowing Rock, about 97 miles northwest of Charlotte. Man charged after crashing SUV into restaurant, killing 1 Police say a Siler City man has been charged after police say he crashed into four people at a restaurant on the afternoon of Oct. 8, killing one. Media outlets report that John Salvatore Graviano, 60, was booked in the Chatham County Detention Center and placed under a $1,000 secured bond. He was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and driving left of center. Officials said that the driver was traveling west on N.C. 64 when he crossed the center line and collided with a car making a left turn. After crashing into that car, the driver continued riding into oncoming traffic before exiting the road and stopping in a parking lot. The Black student then called the white student a cracker, to which the teacher responded with a threat of disciplinary action, Tillman said. That incident and several others were recounted on a private Facebook page devoted to the schools parents. In another incident detailed on the Facebook page, a group of Black girls was trying to explain how being called a monkey is racist when the teacher walked up to them and allegedly said: Its OK, Youre all my little monkeys. During yet another instance, the teacher asked Black students in her class to raise their hands. Thats when she then told the students that they would be her field slaves, were it not for the Constitution, parents alleged. Children complained about the racist references, but no action was taken, Tillman said. Later, the school sent an email saying it would look into the complaints. The teacher turned in her resignation, but the white student who made the comment to the Black student returned after a two-day suspension, according to Tillman. HIGH POINT A celebrity stylist, designer and author will tape six episodes of his design-oriented TV talk show during the fall High Point Market. Carson Kressley, who first shot to fame in 2003 as the fashion expert on the Bravo networks original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, will talk to design industry leaders such as Corey Damen Jenkins, Douglas Truesdale, Mark and Jason Phillips and Amy Matthews for Couched on The Design Network. The show mixes interviews, game show-inspired contests and insider advice. Market attendees with a valid fall Market pass can be a part of the live studio audience on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 19-20, in the High Point Theatre in the Transportation Terminal. The full schedule is available at www.highpointmarket.org/events/couched-with-carson-kressley. Doors open 15 minutes prior to each episode. Tom Conley, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority, said in a press release that Kressley has been on stage during the Market before and brings such energy to a room. Were thrilled hes using High Point Market as his platform for Couched season two. It makes a lot of sense with the whos who of the industry already in town, he said. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. But that wasnt what she was responding to. Aubrey said I suppose in response to whether she was confident that you can focus on whats going on here, according to a transcript quoted in court records. Asked for an explanation, the prosecutor said he mis-remembered and was concerned about her ability to focus on the trial, Buffum told justices Wednesday. If he had stood by his original stated reason, that he was worried about her ability to be fair and impartial, that wouldve been a stronger position, Buffum said. But by shifting his explanation, and now taking the position, actually, I was concerned about her focus, the prosecutor has revealed that he never really was concerned about her focus. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Of the 12 jurors and one prospective alternate juror that were ultimately chosen at Cleggs trial, 12 were white and one individual was biracial, according to court records. Buffum noted that there were multiple jurors who said they had concerns about focusing on the trial due to their jobs, medical appointments, or having to arrange for child care, who were not excused. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} For those still susceptible, Wohl said they may not be at the same risk as those already infected. COVID-19 spreads best in environments where people are unmasked and not socially distanced inside for a prolonged period of time like prisons, schools and nursing homes. The people who are the low hanging fruit for getting infected, get infected. And then people who are less likely to get infected start to make up more of the unvaccinated susceptible population, Wohl said. A pattern of surges After the first case of COVID-19 was detected in North Carolina in March 2020, the state saw its first increase of cases in May. That surge peaked in July. Cases saw their biggest surge after Thanksgiving last year, lasting until mid-January. The delta surge started in July and peaked last month. Overall, North Carolina like the rest of the country and the world has followed surges that lasted for about two months each. Wohl said the science behind the pattern is complicated, but he attributed it to weather patterns, human behavior and holiday gathering. The key to that scheme was the creation of competing slates of electors in Georgia and six other supposedly disputed states. Again, it didnt matter whether those competing slates were legitimate. All that mattered was that a useful fiction was created, that those slates could be said to exist. According to the plan laid out by Eastman, Pence would unilaterally announce to a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 that because of the ongoing disputes in the seven states, there are no electors that can be deemed validly appointed in those states. Using that excuse, all votes cast in those states would be canceled and their electoral votes would not be counted, thus reducing the total number of available electoral votes from 535 to 454. The statement of Ibrahim al-Qaftan, head of the Future Syria Party, came in a statement to our agency, on the second anniversary of the assassination of the party's Secretary-General, Hevrin Khalaf, at the hands of mercenary groups backed by Turkey. Hevrin Khalaf was martyred with her driver and one of her assistants on October 12, 2019, along with six civilians on the M4 international road in northeastern Syria. Khalaf was killed in an attack by Ahrar al-Sharqiya mercenaries, after a group of them infiltrated with Turkish air cover into the depths of Syrian territory, during the Turkish aggression on the areas of Serekaniye / Ras al-Ain and Gire Spi / Tal Abyad. Hevrin was assassinated a few kilometers from the American forces base. 'The Turkish state keeps the perpetrators' In that context, Al-Qaftan said, "The Turkish state is still embracing the perpetrators who committed the crime against the martyr Hevrin Khalaf. We are still following this issue through all international forums, whether it is at the level of the United Nations or human rights organizations, but there is nothing so far regarding a trial. These perpetrators are kept by the Turkish state." He pointed out that the groups that assassinated Hevrin Khalaf; "It and its supporters are responsible for the destruction of Syria during the 10 years of the ongoing war," calling for "we renew the call to hold accountable the perpetrators who committed war crimes, led by the Turkish state, which continues to support terrorism in all its aspects, whether it is in Syria, Libya or Azerbaijan." Khalaf was appointed in the summer of 2014 as the co-chair of the Energy Authority, before she became the co-chair of the Economic Authority in the Jazira canton, to be elected in the spring of 2018 the Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party. 'Turkey must end and political dialogue begin' The head of the Future Syria Party, Ibrahim Al-Qaftan, stressed that "crimes will continue in the region at a time when the Turkish state sponsors terrorists. This must be put to an end by the international community, while the Damascus government relies on foreign countries and marginalizes Syrian society and its issues," adding that "the solution lies in the solidarity of the people of Syria." The Syrian people and the start of political dialogue between the Autonomous Administration and the government of Damascus and even with the Turkish state, and in that context, the Syrian Democratic Council expressed its willingness to do so. The Turkish aggression by land and air on October 9, 2019, caused dozens of victims, women, children and men; The displacement of about 300,000 Syrian citizens from their homes, and the occupation of the cities of Sere Kaniye/Ras al-Ain and Gire Spi/Tal Abyad, and large areas to the Syrian depth of 32 km. A ANHA Yezidis of Afrin confirmed that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) mobilized its forces to storm Shingal under the pretext of electoral propaganda for their candidate for the Iraqi Parliament, which is nothing but a new plan to pass Turkey's plans and implement its agendas and ambitions to occupy Shingal and exterminate the Yazidi Kurds after ISIS had previously failed. Pictures and video attached. Member of the Leadership Council of the Kurdistan labor Party, Hiwa Saeed Salim, said that the Turkish bombardment with chemical weapons on southern Kurdistan reminds him of the Halabja and Anfal massacre, and called on the government of Basur and Iraq to move the file of Turkish crimes against the Kurds in the UN Security Council. The people of the eastern region of Qamishlo and members of the Culture and Art Center flock to the Semalka border crossing to participate in the sit-in tent activities. (photos and video attached). The people of the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside staged a mass demonstration to denounce the attacks of the Turkish occupation on the region in general, and to denounce the international conspiracy against the leader Abdullah Ocalan. (photo and video attached) The Remaining and Returning Committee presents memoranda of protest by the forcibly displaced from the occupied city of Serekaniye to the International Coalition in the city of Al-Hassa, at 11:00. (photos and video attached). a report After years of severing relations between Jordan and the Damascus government, the recent talks between the two parties, especially at the level of presidents, raised several questions about the nature of relations and whether they stop at the economic aspect or are moving towards full normalization. In this context, a political analyst stressed that the relations between the two countries will witness complete normalization, but not in the near future. He did not rule out an Egyptian openness to the Damascus government. Politics The head of the Future Syria Party stressed the need to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes in Syria, led by the Turkish state, the sponsor of terrorism. Pictures and video attached. The co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council, Amina Omar, explained that the expulsion of the occupying Turkish state and its mercenaries from the occupied areas is their main agenda. Pictures and video attached. youth The Kurdish Youth Council in Rojava indicated that the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) is trying to create chaos and problems by attaching fabricated charges to the revolutionary youth movement to tarnish their image and reputation, and stressed that these practices will not deter them from pursuing their revolutionary struggle. Pictures and video attached. woman Struggling mothers, armed with will and determination against the tyranny of Erdogan, 23 years ago, took upon themselves the task of introducing the Kurdistan Liberation Movement by organizing events and activities, and wearing the black uniform, pacts not to remove it until the leader was physically liberated. Pictures and video attached. The women living in Washoe Kani camp reiterated their affirmation to resist all the difficulties they face, saying, "A small tent in itself is a great resistance," hoping for a safe return to their homes, with international guarantees and after the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation from it. Pictures and video attached. A ANHA Kurdistan Democratic Party had mobilized its forces about 10 days ago on the borders of Shengal province. The Yazidis believe that this step is nothing but a continuation of the plan of the Hewler and Baghdad governments that were agreed upon on the 9th of October of the year 2020, in addition to serving Turkey's interests and passing its ambitious plans to occupy Shengal and exterminate the Yazidi community. In statement that was issued by Democratic Autonomous Administration in Shengal Province had expressed its total rejection to enter PDK forces to its lands, and large number of people took to the streets in mass protests, blocking the road in the face of these forces. Administrator of Diplomatic Relation Committee for Yazidi Union in Afrin region, Mustafa Nabo, explained that Turkey failed in humiliating the Yazidi Community via ISIS/ Daesh in August, 2014, in which Turkey seeks again by KDP and its military forces under the pretext this time by parliamentary elections. After the recovery of the Yazidi Community from the 73 Firman, the beginning of its restructuring and the rebuilding of its institutions, the PDK quickly signed agreements at the expense of Yazidi society; "as a treason between the governments of Hewler and Baghdad aimed at tearing down Yazidi society and consolidation Turkey's occupation plans." For her part, member of the Yazidi Union of Afrin, Medya Gawish, asked, "Where were the Iraqi army and the Democratic Party forces when ISIS mercenaries began to exterminate the Yezidis in Shengal, they killed thousands and sold Yazidi women in slave markets, and all this before their eyes. After they withdrew from it and left the Yazidis alone in the face of confrontation ISIS". In her turn, the Yazidi woman, Maryam Jando, deplored what the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Baghdad government were doing, "which is better to research and reveal the fate of more than 3,000 Yazidi women, whose fate is still unknown. At the end of her speech, Maryam Jando said, "If the Kurdistan Democratic Party is sincere in its claims to restore security and stability to Shengal, as well as the Baghdad government, why did they remain silent in the face of Turkey's crimes and its continuous bombing of Shengal without any respect for Iraq's sovereignty or its government?" The Yazidis of Afrin expressed their solidarity with the Yazidi Community in Shengal in the face of the conspiracies being hatched against them, and stressed their refusal to reoccupy Shengal under any pretext. T/S ANHA The city of Helena administrative offices and the transfer station will be closed Monday in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day. Garbage normally picked up on Monday should be put out by 7 a.m. Tuesday for collection. For more information on the transfer station or trash collection, call 447-8086. The Helena City Commission passed a resolution in 2019 to change the name of Columbus Day, a federal holiday in October commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, to Indigenous Peoples Day. Efforts to make a similar change statewide have repeatedly failed in the Montana Legislature. An Indigenous Peoples Day Call to Action & Rally will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday in front of the Missoula County Courthouse at 200 W Broadway St, in Missoula. On Friday, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day, lending the most significant boost yet to efforts to refocus the federal holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus toward an appreciation of Native peoples, the Associated Press reported. The day will be observed Oct. 11, along with Columbus Day, which is established by Congress. For generations, Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures, Biden wrote in the Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation. Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society. In a separate proclamation on Columbus Day, Biden praised the role of Italian Americans in U.S. society, but also referenced the violence and harm Columbus and other explorers of the age brought about on the Americas. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden felt strongly about recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. Asked if Biden might seek to end marking Columbus Day as a federal holiday, she replied, I dont have any predictions at this point. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Amid growing interest from telecommunications companies to expand, Helena is adapting with a city ordinance for processing their applications. Last week, the city commission approved first passage of an ordinance to charge fees for cable and telecom franchises to cover the cost of reviewing their applications. Helena has received inquiries in the last six months about companies possibly expanding telecom service, including installing fiber optics, according to commission documents. Currently we have exhausted what we have available for this type of technical review, and we are at the first quarter of the year, so no, we do not have sufficient resources for it, City Manager Rachel Harlow-Schalk said to the commission. The ordinance came about a month after the commission considered and tabled a similar emergency ordinance. Harlow-Schalk said the pace of inquiries had slowed down and the city proposed a regular ordinance instead. City Attorney Thomas Jodoin said in an email his office recommended the emergency ordinance was not immediately necessary. The regular ordinance would require an application fee plus reimbursing the city for processing and outside consulting costs. A separate resolution would set a preliminary fee amount of over $2,500 based on staff time required, Harlow-Schalk said, adding that the city is reviewing all its fees. The fee would cover review costs but not be enough to expand city staff for this work, Harlow-Schalk said. The city hires River Oak Communications as outside consultants, according to Jodoin. The Colorado-based company redirected an interview request to the city. Historically, Helena has had only one cable provider and negotiated franchises, right of way and installations every handful of years, according to commission documents, but things have changed. The city has received about five inquiries and telecom company TDS has applied for a cable franchise, according to Harlow-Schalk. She said in her opinion the interest in expansion is mainly due to anticipated investments from the federal infrastructure bill. Weve heard many times that its hard to create competition, and its exciting to see competition with companies interested in investing in the community, Harlow-Schalk said. Commission documents said the fees might reduce competition and become an obstacle for companies entering Helena's market. Harlow-Schalk said theres always the opportunity to waive requirements, but theres no reason to suspect fees would be an obstacle. TDS volunteered to pay the city for the consulting costs of its application, about $5,500, according to Jodoin. He told commissioners the company would not agree to match its end date with the existing Spectrum agreement, which expires in 2027. That means an agreement with TDS made this year would extend to 2031, he said. City Commissioner Andres Haladay said it would be nice to get a better understanding with outside consulting. He said seeking parity between contracts seemed to reinforce the status quo. It always felt like we were going into a knife fight with a couple of out of date legal books whenever we negotiated these contracts, Haladay said. Other cities request multiple lines to schools, to the civic center so we can broadcast programming for the community. How do we do that if were always looking back at the preexisting contracts, which will then always be the same? TDS serves more than 280,000 cable customers nationwide, according to its website. The company has started construction for service in Billings but does not currently have service in Montana, Joshua Worrell with TDS said. The Wisconsin-based company said it had reached a franchise agreement with Helena that was going before the city commission but did not respond to a subsequent interview request in time for this story. The city was sued by, and countersued, Treasure State Internet & Telegraph earlier this year related to the companys micro-trenching projects, with a trial scheduled for summer 2022, the Independent Record reported. Harlow-Schalk said the company played no role in the ordinance and she could not comment on a legal matter. Commission documents said the ordinance would have a second reading at a hearing on Oct. 18. Editors note: This story was revised Oct. 19, 2021, to correct the status and type of TDS service in Montana. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 4 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Make-A-Wish of South Dakota and Montana surprised a 5-year-old Townsend boy with the sandbox he wanted Saturday afternoon. Ezekiel has a brain tumor, and his love of big trucks inspired Make-A-Wish to deliver the sandbox filled by a dump truck. Ezekiel was also given an outdoor play set, which was delivered in mid-September. The play set and sandbox were what Ezekiel initially wished for, but it was Make-A-Wish that decided to have a dump truck deliver the sand during a party held for him. The dump truck came from Valley Sand & Gravel in Helena, which donated the sand and time for this cause. The sandbox was built by Make-A-Wish volunteer Chris Jensen's husband, David Jensen. The play set was purchased by Make-A-Wish from Rainbow Play systems. Ezekiel was first referred to Make-A-Wish in January 2021. According to CEO of Make-A-Wish South Dakota and Montana, Sue Salter, kids are often referred to the organization through referral by a doctor, nurse or family member. Make-A-Wish fulfills wishes for children diagnosed with a critical illness. "We love to have surprises and things the child would not expect," Salter said. "The party is a chance to bring together not only Ezekiel and his family, but also the community of supporters around him." Ezekiel's wish was adopted by Bristol Myers Squibb, which is celebrating five years of partnership with Make-A-Wish this year. BMS donates $500,000 annually to adopt wishes of children diagnosed with various forms of cancer, according to Salter. This wish marks one of the first Make-A-Wish has fulfilled in the Helena area since the Montana and South Dakota chapters combined in September 2020. Salter described it as an opportunity to grant more wishes. The organization now has 19 board members across both states and over 300 volunteers. "We are so privileged to serve these kids. For us, it's all about inspiring hope in kids that battle critical illness," Salter said. "Working with partners like Bristol Myers Squibb allows us to do that. We work to serve these kids when they need it the most. Wishes like these can transform lives and brings out the best in everyone." Love 28 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LONDON (AP) Paul McCartney has revisited the breakup of The Beatles, flatly disputing the suggestion that he was responsible for the group's demise. Speaking on an episode of BBC Radio 4's "This Cultural Life" that is scheduled to air on Oct. 23, McCartney said it was John Lennon who wanted to disband The Beatles. "I didn't instigate the split," McCartney said. "That was our Johnny." The band's fans have long debated who was responsible for the breakup, with many blaming McCartney. But McCartney said Lennon's desire to "break lose" was the main driver behind the split. Confusion about the breakup was allowed to fester because their manager asked the band members to keep quiet until he concluded a number of business deals, McCartney said. The interview comes ahead Peter Jackson's six-hour documentary chronicling the final months of the band. "The Beatles: Get Back," set for release in November on Disney+, is certain to revisit the breakup of the legendary band. McCartney's comments were first reported by The Observer. When asked by interviewer John Wilson about the decision to strike out on his own, McCartney retorted: "Stop right there. I am not the person who instigated the split. Oh no, no, no. John walked into a room one day and said, 'I am leaving The Beatles.' Is that instigating the split, or not?" McCartney expressed sadness over the breakup, saying the group was still making "pretty good stuff." "This was my band, this was my job, this was my life. So I wanted it to continue," McCartney said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Donnette Beckett "Together Decatur" Columnist and Food/Drink Reporter Together Decatur columnist and food and drink reporter for Lee Enterprises Central Illinois. Follow Donnette Beckett Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today DECATUR Art is usually not intended to be touched. However, the colorful pianos placed at various locations throughout Decatur beckon to be played. The musical artwork is the subject of the Public Painted Pianos Project in Macon County. One of the artists, Lindsay Thompson, was requested to use her talents in creating an artistic piece. I was asked to volunteer my time to donate and spread music and art and joy, she said. Thompson is an art major at Millikin University. The pianos design was thought of while she began painting for the project. I pick a color scheme that I want to go with, Thompson said about the piano sitting in the Student Center at Richland Community College. I just started painting. Painting a piano is more difficult than working on a flat canvas, according to Thompson. Its a lot more precise, she said. Theres a lot more curves on a piano. Greg Florian, RCC vice president of finance and administration, said he enjoys listening as piano players take a break to play. We thought it would be a great addition for our students, he said. A few of them have come by to play a little bit. Recommended for you Public Painted Pianos Project organizer Gail Fyke had viewed Thompsons work and asked her to paint one of the donated pianos. Fyke has convinced 11 other artists to join the project. Some of the places displaying their work are the Childrens Museum of Illinois, Hope Academy, Boys and Girls Club, Webster Cantrell Hall, Decatur Family YMCA, McGaughey Elementary School and Millikin University Dolson Hall. Others are still in the planning stages, including a future piece at the Salvation Army and Macon Resources Inc. Fyke was inspired to create the project while assisting her son after his brain surgery in New York. Sing for Hope is a project with 50 painted pianos placed in public areas inviting the community to play them. Artists from all over the country compete to paint those pianos, Fyke said. And when they are done in June, they give them away to the New York City school district. Fyke has approached artists while other artists have volunteered. Finding the pianos doesnt take as much effort. They are falling out of the sky, she said. Ive had 300 offers and Ive only taken 12. Placing the pianos in various locations has been easy as well, according to Fyke. Nobody has told me no, she said. However, an explanation is often needed, since the public is encouraged to play the art piece. Its OK to let them touch it, Fyke said. Fyke lets the artist decide on the scene, which may direct where the piano may be placed and the audience it is expected to draw. It cant be loud if its going to a nursing home, Fyke said. The piano at the Childrens Museum of Illinois was painted in honor of Tanner Gillen, a 14-year-old resident who died from brain cancer. His aunt painted it, Fyke said. Shes an art teacher at Johns Hill. Abby Koester, president and CEO of the museum, said the blue piano, with its sunflowers and origami boats, has been a popular piece since it arrived in April. We put it right next to our theater space, she said. People will play the piano, and people dance and sing. Piano players with various levels of experience will play. Including some kids whove never had the opportunity to play or touch a piano, Koester said. Everything here is hands-on, so you can touch it and play with it. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PANA A 61-year-old man was found dead in an alley in Pana Sunday morning. Illinois State Police investigators are probing the death, but released few details in a news statement Sunday afternoon. Preliminary investigation has determined this to be an isolated incident and there are no active threats to the community, the news release said, without describing the nature of the mans death. Police said the mans identity will not be released until next of kin notification has been completed. The statement said the Pana Police Department had received a 911 phone call at 6:54 a.m. and responding officers found the man in an alley in the 700 block of Monroe Street. Pana Police Department requested Illinois State Police to conduct the death investigation, the news release added. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday at the McLean County Coroners Office in Bloomington. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Union workers at Deere & Co. voted down the company's latest contract offer Sunday night. According to a release from Deere & Co., the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America informed Deere & Co. that "its production and maintenance employees have voted to reject the tentative collective bargaining agreements that would have covered more than 10,000 workers at 14 facilities across the United States." Deere and UAW had reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract on Oct. 1. For ratification, the agreement required 51% approval. Facilities impacted by the contract are Davenport Works, Des Moines Works, Dubuque Works, Ottumwa Works, and Waterloo Works in Iowa, including Tractor and Cab Assembly, Engine Works, and the Foundry. In Illinois, Harvester Works in East Moline, North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan and the Seeding Group and Cylinder Division in Moline are subject to the agreement. According to a Facebook post from UAW 281, which represents Davenport, 86% of workers rejected the company's offer. Also, UAW 281 said the bargaining committee has been recalled Monday morning, and set a hard strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Recommended for you The current contract expired on Oct. 1, but a 14-day contract extension was approved overnight, allowing operations to continue as scheduled as negotiations went on. John Deere remains fully committed to continuing the collective bargaining process in an effort to better understand our employees viewpoints," said Brad Morris, vice president of labor relations for Deere & Co. in a news release. "In the meantime, our operations will continue as normal. The union previously approved a strike authorization, and Local 281 reminded its members on Sept. 30 that a strike-duty roster was in circulation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Illinois House Redistricting Committee held its first hearing last week on new congressional and judicial subcircuit district maps at the Michael Bilandic Building in Chicago. Another half-dozen hearings were scheduled for the following seven days to redraw the maps, which have to be reconfigured after each decennial census. The hearings arent likely to matter a whole lot when push actually comes to shove. After all, legislators paid next to no attention to public input during the General Assemblys own remap process last spring and summer. A new map passed in the spring by super-majority Democrats was redrawn in the summer when more detailed data was released by the federal government. But an updated lawsuit filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund could matter. MALDEF alleges that the revised legislative district map created fewer opportunity districts where more than half the voting age population is Latino - than the state currently has. This despite the fact that the voting age population of Illinois Latinos went from 8 percent in the 2010 census to 11.2 percent in the most recent count. This seems like a pretty straightforward argument to non-lawyers like me. But the Democrats have never seemed at all concerned that they will lose this or any court case. Even when given an opportunity to redraw the maps, not much changed. And not to mention that the chairs of both the House and Senate Redistricting Committees are Latinx. Recommended for you Why the confidence? Weve seen a whole lot of news media coverage of the plaintiffs case against the new maps. But the defendants have mostly stayed silent because the issue is under litigation, so their position is less understood. I decided to seek out a top source who could help me understand what the Democrats are thinking. Remember, you're drawing a map for the next 10 years, the Democratic attorney with years of experience dealing with redistricting explained to me. You're not only looking at what the district looks like now, but you're looking at what the districts are going to look like in the next (10 years). There are several factors to consider when drawing maps in Latino areas, the lawyer explained, including voting age population (because Latinos tend to skew much younger than the population as a whole), the specific areas citizenship rates (a statistic not measured by the Census, but can be generally estimated using American Community Survey data) and sometimes competing factions within the Hispanic umbrella (Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, for instance). If you want to ensure that Latinos can win a district, the lawyer said, you have to make sure that the citizen voting age population is high enough where they will continue to be able to elect their candidates of choice. So if you have an area with high non-citizenship rates, you want to have higher levels of citizen voting age population. And while several of the new districts voting age populations are low, that will change over time as the districts residents get older and eventually strengthen Latino candidate chances long before the next Census in 2030. The Democrats also have sophisticated arguments about population movement trends to buttress their cause. The differing factions within the broad-brush of Latino voters means voters can sometimes be played off against one another, which has to be another consideration when drawing the maps. Latinos don't necessarily coalesce, the attorney continued, pointing to traditional rivalries between Mexican and Puerto Rican voters. Beyond regional origin differences, national political trends can also have a major impact. For instance, Asian-American Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) capitalized on the 2nd House Districts strong Latino support for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primary to woo progressive Latino Democrats in her bid against a regular Latino Democrat. And that brings us to something Ive mentioned before in other places. The Democrats contend the evidence clearly shows white Illinois voters are willing to vote for candidates of color at multiple levels. This evidence, they say, is what helped them win the last legal challenge to their remap. And American University's Allan Lichtman testified to just that evidence in his late May testimony to a joint redistricting committee hearing. So, if the Democrats can prove up their reasoning behind their map-making decisions and show again that Illinois elections arent racially polarized by white Illinoisans only voting for white candidates, they believe theyll walk away with a court win this time as well. I guess well see. Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Most employers realize they cant discriminate against candidates for employment by seeking someone younger or seeking male only. Likewise, they shouldnt be hiring a staffing agency to discriminate on their behalf. Staffing agencies also cannot comply with a clients request for a preference in a candidate that could result in discriminatory recruitment and hiring practices. Staffing firm Aerotek learned this lesson the hard way. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced earlier this month that it settled a discrimination investigation against Aerotek for $3.525 million over allegations of systemic discrimination in hiring and placement of individuals assigned to work at Aeroteks clients. According to the EEOC, Aerotek failed to recruit and denied assignments, placements and/or hiring to individuals based on age (over 40), sex and race in violation of federal law. Aerotek agreed to continue to maintain and distribute to its employees and clients a policy prohibiting compliance with discriminatory requests by clients and will conduct internal EEO audits of its placement of temporary workers, as well as other settlement terms. She resigned in May, but only after working for weeks to sift through internal company research and copy thousands of documents. Still, she told congressional investigators, she is not out to destroy Facebook, just change it. "I believe in the potential of Facebook," she said during her testimony last week. "We can have social media we enjoy, that connects us, without tearing apart our democracy, putting our children in danger, and sowing ethnic violence around the world. We can do better." Maybe, but those who know the industry say Facebook and other tech giants will dig in. "There's going to be a clamp down internally. There already has been," said Ifeoma Ozoma, a whistleblower at Pinterest now trying to encourage others in tech to expose corporate misconduct. "In that way there's a chilling effect through the increased surveillance that employees will be under." Within the larger community of whistleblowers, many are rooting for Haugen, praising what they see as her gutsiness, calm intellect and the forethought to take the paperwork that reinforces her case. The Virginia Redistricting Commission will not finish its work on the states legislative maps, and will instead move on to drawing maps for the states congressional districts. In an update issued Sunday afternoon, commission staff said the body will convene virtually Monday at 9 a.m. and hear guidance from counsel about next steps for a new map of the states 11 U.S. House districts. The commissions deadline to approve legislative maps for the General Assembly to consider is Monday, but the commission cant take votes virtually, all but ensuring it will miss the deadline. After a chaotic meeting Friday, some commission members had left the door open for continuing to work on legislative maps. The commission had the option to trigger a 14-day extension, but no vote to that effect was ever taken. The commission has until Oct. 25 to finish its work on a new map of congressional districts. If the commission fails to submit plans for legislative or congressional districts to the General Assembly for its consideration, the state Supreme Court becomes responsible for redrawing and establishing the new districts. The court would hire two experts, called special masters, who would work together to develop maps for the courts consideration. To quash opposition from ordinary citizens and officeholders who are accountable to them, national government union bosses and their state and local lieutenants are already demanding that Richmond politicians rewrite the monopoly-bargaining law they rubber-stamped barely more than a year ago to make the corrosive system they favor mandatory in every public agency in Virginia. In an Aug. 26 union press release, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Lee Saunders didnt mince words: His plan is for every Virginia public-sector worker, including the 125,000 state civil servants who are exempt from the 2020 law, to be subject to union monopoly bargaining. McAuliffe, who has already raked in $3.4 million in cash alone this year from Big Labor (including $1.3 million from government unions), is vowing to give Saunders et. al. exactly what they want. Interviewed earlier this year, he pledged he would get collective [monopoly] bargaining done as governor. He would also sign a bill repealing Virginias popular Right to Work law banning forced union dues as a job condition if it comes to his desk. There is no secret formula for coming to terms with it. Theres no easy path to healing or a reliable respite from grief. Those are difficult truths familiar to most, and a reality thrust upon thousands more in nearly two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. So many of those who succumbed to the disease died in restricted hospital wards, connected to family through technology when possible. It impeded the comfort people can give and receive in the final moments and robbed them of the closure the living can find at the end of a loved ones life. Funerals were delayed, memorial services postponed. Some used Zoom or Facetime to connect with family and, together, celebrate cherished memories, but that simply isnt the same as a warm embrace or an actual shoulder to cry on. All of that takes a terrible toll. It can fuel depression and hopelessness, increase stress and anxiety. It can cause physical as well as emotional and psychological ailments. It affects personal relationships and even employment. As the pandemic exposed serious flaws and gaps in our health care system, the cumulative effect of so much grief demonstrates the inadequacy of our mental health systems. People are oftentimes reluctant to seek help, and overstretched professionals can struggle to provide it. BOONE The International Fly Fishing Film Festival, coming to Boones Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on Oct. 16, features 10 films, six to 16 minutes in length, from throughout the world showcasing the passion, lifestyle, and culture of fly fishing. Theater doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the screening at 7 p.m. The theater venue is at 559 W. King St., Boone. Tickets are priced at $15 either in advance or on the day of the event. The event is being hosted by Boones Fly Shop. For information about the screening, contact the host at alex@boonesflyshop.com. One attendee will be selected to win the 2021 grand prize drawing consisting of fly-fishing gear provided by International Fly Fishing Film Festival sponsors. Total film festival viewing time is 118 minutes, said Chris Bird, festival producer. Among the films to be screened are: "Turbo Giants," by InTents Media: An adventure to the Seychelles off the coast of Africa in search of exceptionally large giant trevally. The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman. Today,introduced the bipartisan Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act, which would provide tax incentives to farmers and rural electric cooperatives who invest in biogas technology. Rep. Kind was joined in introducing this legislation by Wisconsins dairy farmers are the heart of our state economy, contributing $45.6 billion to it each year, said Rep. Ron Kind. We need to ensure our farmers have the tools they need to continue to grow their businesses and create jobs. Providing these tax incentives is a commonsense way to make pursuing biogas technology more affordable for Wisconsin dairy farmers, helping to reduce their energy costs all while protecting our natural resources. The bipartisan Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act recognizes the value that biogas systems can have for dairy producers of all sizes as they continuously improve their sustainability nationwide, said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF. This new investment tax credit also incorporates nutrient recovery technologies, which can transform manure into fertilizer for crops and bedding for cows. These technologies are important, but expensive. This bill will help farmers incorporate these new technologies into their operations, for the benefit of everyone. Sustainable manure management is just one example of how the agriculture sector is delivering innovative climate solutions. Digester and nutrient recovery technologies can reduce methane emissions, improve soil fertility and water quality, and directly benefit a producers bottom line. Yet, the upfront costs to install these technologies often impede adoption. We applaud Representatives Kind and Reed for reintroducing legislation that would make biogas and nutrient recovery systems more affordable, said the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance. "The ABC applauds the continued leadership of Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI-03) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) in recognizing the sustainable agricultural benefits provided by biogas systems and nutrient recovery technologies. The reintroduction of the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act will spur deployment of these systems which will in turn foster cleaner air and water while providing greater economic opportunities to agricultural producers. This legislation will provide a real boost to the agricultural economy," said Patrick Serfass, Executive Director of the American Biogas Council (ABC). The Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act promotes investment by allowing biodigesters to qualify for an energy tax credit that is on-par with the 30% tax credit for solar energy. This will allow for Wisconsin dairy farms to finally have affordable access installation of biodigesters on their farms, significantly reducing the upfront cost. Farms will now be able to use digesters or other biological, chemical, thermal, or mechanical processes to make biogas that is at least 52% methane, adding an immediate new revenue stream and dramatically decreasing pollution and runoff. This bill is also included in the comprehensive Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act, which would help address climate change by promoting the use of green energy technologies and invest in Wisconsins workforce by creating new energy credits for manufacturers and bolstering stable, clean, good-paying jobs. To help secure the future of Wisconsin Dairy, Rep. Kind also recently unveiled his Family Farm Action Plan. Rep. Kinds comprehensive plan would support hardworking family farmers and help Wisconsins dairy industry continue to build a bright future. Rep. Kind serves on the Ways and Means Committee, the most powerful - and the oldest - committee in the House of Representatives. It has jurisdiction over tax measures, the management of public debt, trade and tariff laws, Social Security, Medicare, pensions, and many other economic growth measures. The author is chief marketplace officer for Farm Credit East, ACA. Farming can be a risky endeavor. There are many challenges that farmers face, ranging from short-term crises to long-term issues. Broadly speaking, they can be categorized into five major types: Production risk Marketing risk Financial risk Legal risk Human risk In previous columns, Ive talked about the first three risks. In this edition of Money Matters, Ill discuss No. 4: Legal risk. Let me start with the disclaimer that I am not an attorney, and readers should seek appropriate legal counsel when considering these risks. There are many areas of legal risk on todays farms, and its challenging to cover them all in one article. But many of them fall into the following categories: farm regulatory compliance, human resource issues, and liability risk. Regulatory compliance is one of the major categories of legal risk and one that can be difficult to stay on top of. There are many regulations that apply to dairy farms; some are general and apply to all businesses, while others are specific to agriculture or dairy farms in particular. Requires constant attention Environmental regulations are a significant portion of these. Running afoul of environmental regulations can bring major penalties, require costly changes to your farm, and disrupt relationships with your local community. For assistance in complying, use the many resources that are available to you. A nutrient management plan developed in conjunction with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or a state agency can help you stay on the right side of regulations regarding manure management. In addition, taking these steps can help preserve ground and surface water resources and improve your crop performance. In addition to regulatory compliance, there is the issue of third-party certifications, which may not be required by law but may be mandated by your milk buyer. These certifications are covered by the National Milk Producer Federation in its Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program. Maintaining good animal welfare conditions has always been a must, but its more essential now than ever. You should always run your farm as if someones watching because they may be. Animal rights activists and others are out there, looking for poorly run farms to use as examples. Certainly, every dairy farmer Ive ever interacted with believes in taking excellent care of their animals. But do all your employees share your attitude and adhere to your guidelines and protocols? Poor training or supervision can add risk to your operation. Employees need attention Human resource compliance could be considered regulatory compliance as well, but its significant enough that it deserves its own category. Employment law is an entire branch of legal practice. The rules can be complex, and it could take only one complaint to bring enforcement to your doorstep. The best course of action is to be proactive in this area. Take the time (and consider consulting with your legal counsel) to review your hiring, firing, and other employment practices. Be sure youre in compliance with your states labor laws keeping in mind that many states have made recent changes in things such as minimum wage, overtime, paid leave, and other requirements. Immigration law deserves a special mention. Review your files and make sure you have proper I-9 forms for all employees. Remember it is illegal to hire people not authorized to work in the United States, but it is equally against the law to discriminate against those who are legally employable based on things like country of origin, ethnicity, race, or other protected characteristics. Your documentation policies should be consistent and enforced evenly for all your employees. Overdocumenting certain people based on their background can be as problematic as not having adequate documentation. If you have questions in this area, consult your lawyer or visit www.uscis.gov/i-9-central. Worker safety is another potential problem area. Having good safety practices is a must, not just to keep you out of legal trouble, but to keep your workers safe from on-the-job hazards. Having an up-to-date workers compensation policy is essential, but even that wont shield you from all potential liability if your workplace isnt up to standards. Most insurance companies and many state workplace safety agencies will do a free, proactive walk-through of your farm to identify and note possible safety issues so you can correct them before they lead to an accident. Take advantage of these services dont wait for an injury to think about safety. Are you running heavy trucks or equipment over-the-road? Theres another whole area of regulation. Agriculture enjoys many exemptions from federal and state motor carrier regulations, but many rules still apply to farm vehicles. Dont assume that youre exempt . . . your state farm bureau can be a good resource and give some guidance as to the key trucking compliance issues in your area. Carry enough coverage Finally, there is general and product liability. Be sure you have adequate liability coverage in place. Farm operations change over time. When was the last time you reviewed your insurance coverage with your agent? Has your coverage been updated to reflect changes in your business over time? Are you doing new things that may not be covered under an older policy? Product liability coverage is essential for any farm that is doing value-added processing or direct-to-consumer sales. Develop an action plan Managing all these legal risks could be a full-time endeavor and is certainly most farmers least favorite part of the job but dont put it off. Here are some of the key steps to keep your farm protected from legal risk: Review the key areas of legal risk. Where is your farm vulnerable? Put a plan in place to address each area, and work to mitigate any weak points. The best solution to legal risk is prevention. Dont allow that accident, that spill, or that violation to occur. Your farm will be better managed, your workforce safer, and your animals better cared for as a result. Make an appointment with your insurance carrier(s). Review your coverage and, if possible, do a walk-through of your operation to see if there are gaps or out-of-date policies that need to be addressed. Review your records. Pay particular attention to employment and OSHA/safety compliance. Most of the violations and fines levied are actually for record-keeping issues. Consider your legal structure. The formation of an entity or entities could be worth considering for liability protection and can be part of an estate plan, as well. Many farms separate their land ownership and operations for these purposes. Be sure to consult legal counsel before making any major changes. Finally, be sure to have concrete plans in place should an emergency occur. What would you do in case of a serious on-the-job injury? A manure spill? Are you ready for a visit from ICE or OSHA? What if youre not there when these occur? Is there someone designated to speak or act in your absence? Dont wait for a crisis to happen. Think about these scenarios ahead of time and plan for them versus reacting to them. Focus on RISK Are the digital platforms doing enough to stop the spread of misinformation? Image: Shutterstock Digital platforms are once again in the spotlight over the spread of disinformation and misinformation on their services as the local arms of tech giants continue their attempts at self-regulation. On Monday the Digital Industry Group Inc (DIGI) announced the governance and public complaints feature of its voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation along with an independent oversight board. Signatories to the code include Facebook, Google, Twitter, and TikTok who must commit to safeguards to protect against online disinformation and misinformation such as providing ways for users to report policy violations. The new public complaint feature which can be completed through this Google form is limited to complaints specifically about digital platforms conduct in relation the Disinformation Code itself and complaints about content must be made through the platforms themselves. Reset Australias director of tech policy, Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran, called the announcement laughable and a PR stunt. The DIGI code is voluntary and opt-in, with no enforcement and no penalties. Clearly, self-regulation does not work, he said. If DIGI are serious about cracking down on the serious harms posed by misinformation and polarisation then it should join Reset Australia and other civil society groups globally in calling for proper regulation. Sooriyakumaran called for proper regulation in the wake of recent revelations from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen who provided previously unseen internal documents from the company showing it is well-aware of the harms its platforms can cause. We need answers to questions like, how do Facebooks algorithms rank content? Why are Facebooks AI based content moderation systems so ineffective? The proposed reforms to the code do not provide this, Sooriyakumaran said. DIGI Managing Director Sunita Bose defended the code saying the pandemic has proven how important it is for the spread of misinformation to be curbed. The Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation provides a strong framework for continued technology industry action and transparency on these complex challenges, and we wanted to further strengthen it with independent oversight from experts, and public accountability, she said. Free speech Digital platforms have long trod a fine line between free speech and active censorship. In late 2019, Mark Zuckerberg warned against cracking down too much on free speech. While I certainly worry about an erosion of truth, I dont think most people want to live in a world where you can only post things that tech companies judged to be 100 percent true, he said. Zuckerberg has come under fire for the role his companys platforms has played in the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 and the Capitol Riots in January. It has also been alleged that Zuckerberg struck a deal with former US President Donald Trump in which he agreed not to fact check Trump while he was in office and in return, Trump would avoid strict social media regulation. YouTube meanwhile only decided to ban all anti-vaccine content in late September, signaling a change in its AI policy that cannot be properly scrutinised so long as the proprietary algorithms behind YouTube remain hidden. Nerida OLoughlin, Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), said now is the time [for digital platforms] to make good on their word and address community concerns. A responsive complaints-handling system with robust governance is a critical component of an effective self-regulatory regime, particularly in the online environment, she said. However, we do have concerns that complaints about non-compliance with opt-in commitments will be treated differently to those about mandatory commitments. We will be watching how this works in practice and whether expanding the committees remit will be necessary. Publisher or platform The government has also signalled its intentions to act aggressively toward the tech companies that are crucial to the spread of information in Australia with Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggesting a wholesale change in the way social media platforms are legally defined. Responding to online rumours that former NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro had been having an affair with the daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Scott Morrison said social media has become a cowards palace. People can just go on there, not say who they are, destroy peoples lives, and say the most foul and offensive things to people and do so with impunity, he said. Now thats not a free country where that happens, thats not right. They should have to identify who they are. The companies, if theyre not going to say who they are, well theyre not a platform anymore, theyre a publisher. Digital platforms are not currently treated as publishers of content and thus avoid responsibility for what users say and post. Its a necessary distinction for them to function as they currently do, and something which was explored in detail in a landmark High Court ruling last month. But as Morrison loudly condemned social media platforms, Morrisons Defence Minister, Peter Dutton, is in the midst of a defamation trial against refugee activist Shane Bazzi over a tweet in which Bazzi called Dutton a rape apologist. Classing digital platforms as publishers could give more scope for litigious politicians and other public figures to go after the platforms themselves, as Barilaro has done in his dual defamation cases against both YouTuber Jordan Shanks and Google. The government is not yet walking in lockstep on this issue, however, with Communications Minister Paul Fletcher floundering on the topic when he appeared on the ABCs Insiders program this Sunday. Fletcher dodged repeated questions about whether platforms should be treated as publishers. Well that is certainly one of the options that is before us in this process, he said referring to ongoing work by state and federal attorneys general. I agree with the Prime Minister, yes we expect a stronger position from the platforms. For a long time theyve been getting away with not taking any responsibility in relation to content posted on their sites. A man who exchanged gunfire with Winston-Salem officers and kept police at bay for hours overnight Thursday into Friday died in a house on South Main Street in Winston-Salem, Police Chief Catrina Thompson said. The dead man was identified as Gilbert Lee Collison Jr., 47, whose address is listed as Pfafftown on the N.C. sex offender registry. He allegedly broke into a house at 4201 S. Main St. in Winston-Salem sometime before 9 p.m. Thursday. Jayna Prater, who lives at the house and told investigators Collison was a short-term boyfriend, called police to say that Collison had gotten into her house and was threatening to kill any officer who came to the house. As police responded to Main Street, they also made contact with Prater, who told them how events began unfolding earlier in the evening. According to police, Prater said that she and Collison got into an argument after Prater learned that Collison was wanted by law enforcement. During that argument, Collison allegedly pointed a shotgun at Prater and threatened to harm her. Collison then left Praters house. YAVNE, Israel (AP) Israeli archaeologists on Monday said they have unearthed a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years. The complex, discovered in the central town of Yavne, includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars, they said. Israel's Antiquities Authority said the discovery shows that Yavne was a wine-making powerhouse during the Byzantine period. Researchers estimate the facility could produce some 2 million liters (over 520,000 gallons) of wine a year. Jon Seligman, one of the directors of the excavation, said the wine made in the area was known as "Gaza" wine and exported across the region. The researchers believe the Yavne location was the main production facility for the label. "This was a prestige wine, a light white wine, and it was taken to many, many countries around the Mediterranean," he said, including Egypt, Turkey, Greece and possibly southern Italy. Seligman said wine was not just an important export and source of enjoyment in ancient times. "Beyond that, this was a major source of nutrition and this was a safe drink because the water was often contaminated, so they could drink wine safely," he said. MATTOON The Lake Land College Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday evening to consider extending a digital marketing agreement and creating and filling a new dean position. If approved, the digital marketing contract with Interact Communications of La Crosse, Wisconsin, that started in October 2020 would be extended for another year for $83,709. "Since we are just completing our campaign with Interact, we would like to request approval to extend our contract to be able to build upon the experiences we have had and to draw on Interacts expertise for the 2021-2022 digital advertising campaign," said Director of Marketing & Public Relations Kelly Allee in a report to the board. Allee said the campaign resulted, overall, in Lake Land ads appearing 1.5 million times to people in the community college district as they were consuming content on YouTube, general internet sites, TV streaming, TikTok and browsing on Google. She said this comprehensive approach resulted in 33,014 visits to the college website and 463,939 video ad views from December 2020 to August 2021. The board meets at 6 p.m. Monday in the Board and Administration Center. After voting on the marketing agreement and other proposed action items in open session, the board will go into closed session to discuss personnel matters. The board will then return to open session to vote on creating a dean of academic operations position and appointing someone to this post. Other proposed action items include purchasing a CDL driving simulator from Virage Simulation Inc. of Montreal for $115,000 and accepting Teutopolis Auto Repair's donation of a vehicle alignment machine valued at $5,000 for the automotive technology program at Lake Land's Marshall location. The board also will consider hiring E.L. Pruitt Co. of Springfield for $53,832 to replace remaining campus water fountains with newer models with bottle fillers. The full meeting agenda is posted at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/board-of-trustees/agendas-board-books-minutes/. Contact Rob Stroud at 217-238-6861. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Coles County is rich in railroad history, especially Mattoon, where the first plat was filed in October 1855. Trains for generations have been the lifeblood of the region's economy. Here's a look back at what shaped our train past. MATTOON GEOGRAPHY Mattoon sprang up at the intersection of the Terre Haute-Alton and Illinois Central rail lines. The Illinois General Assembly chartered the Illinois Central Railroad in 1851 to build the north-south line. The Springfield firm of Phelps, Mattoon & Barnes had the contract to create the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad. What is Coles County named after? Who was Charles Morton? The people of the past live on in the names of places in our region. The intersection was Section 13 in what became Mattoon Township. At the junction, settlers marked lots with pegs, spawning the area's nickname: "Pegtown." The first train to cross was on June 9, 1855, and an estimated 3,000 turned out to the see spectacle. "Toward noon a shriek was heard from the east and the eager watchers, straining their eyes beheld a small cloud of smoke out of which gradually emerged the first steam locomotive hundreds of them had ever seen," recounted the Journal Gazette in a July 1976 article. THE NAME William B. Mattoon, a native of Vienna, New York, was a partner in Phelps, Mattoon & Barnes and is credited sparking Mattoon's growth in agriculture and industry. The junction of the two busy lines on what was the edge of the prairie turned Coles County into hub of commerce. "Businessmen and farmers, some of the earliest settlers of the region, were quick to seize the opportunity that this coincidence of railroad construction offered," the Journal Gazette wrote. "They started a courtship with the railroads by naming the new town after William B. Mattoon, the construction man who laid the east-west line, and the love affair eventually grew into an enduring marriage." The name was approved during a May 1855 meeting. Three years later, trains would bring Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas for their September 1858 debate at the Coles County Fairgrounds as well as President-elect Lincoln during his last visit to Coles County. He saw his stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln, a few months after being elected president then returned to Springfield. THE STATUS TODAY Four rail systems ended in Mattoon or went through the community by 1889. An interurban service was established from Mattoon in the early 1900s. Early on, a depot called the Essex House served the railroads. What became known as the Illinois Central-Gulf Railroad station opened on Jan. 21, 1918. The red brick depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Crews remodeled the building in 2011 and today organizations are based in the structure, which still serves as a train depot. Amtraks Saluki route passes through the community, linking Chicago and Carbondale. 10 photos of Charleston from the JG-TC archives Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Homegrown by Heroes program allows Illinois farmers who have served or are still serving in any branch of the U.S. military to use a special logo on the agricultural products they sell to the public. Chicago Park District CEO Mike Kelly resigned Saturday, more than a year after he reportedly first learned about the wide-ranging sexual abuse allegations among lifeguards that would come to dominate the city agency. In a text to the Tribune, Kelly forwarded a resignation letter he sent to Park District Board president Avis LaVelle on Saturday that said his departure was effective immediately. It has been an honor to steward this extraordinary organization for the past ten years, he wrote. It has also been an honor to serve Chicagoans as a public servant for the past 27 years. I have always had the best interests of our patrons and our employees at heart. Kelly stepped down the same day Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement calling for his immediate removal following a Friday emergency Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners meeting. In that session, which was closed to the public, Lightfoot urged for Kellys ouster, she said. The culture of sexual abuse, harassment, and coercion that has become pervasive within the Districts Aquatics Department lifeguard program under his leadership, combined with the Superintendents lack of urgency or accountability as new facts have come to light, is unacceptable, Lightfoot wrote on Saturday. Therefore, in my estimation, it is time for new leadership immediately. During Fridays Park District board meeting, an hours-long closed presentation by an outside counsel centered on various employment and personnel issues but ended with no action taken. LaVelle, the board president, did not immediately respond to request for comment Saturday. Park District spokeswoman Michele Lemons wrote in a brief Saturday statement, Michael Kelly resigned from his position as General Superintendent & CEO of the Chicago Park District. Kelly, who was appointed permanently by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2011, led the agency during the time of the scandal first reported by WBEZ in April. Alleged victims described a misogynistic culture among workers at city pools and beaches that included sexual assault against minors and retribution for reporting the abuse. According to the WBEZ report, Kelly was informed of the first allegation early February 2020 but did not forward the complaints to the inspector general until mid-March that year. Recently, several aldermen and eventually Lightfoot called for his resignation, citing the lack of action against the disturbing allegations. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Complaints of retaliation surrounding the misconduct have reached as high as the Chicago Park District watchdogs office. In August, the deputy inspector general of the agency, Nathan Kipp, said he was placed on an indefinite suspension that he speculated was because he was zealously pursuing this investigation. He specifically criticized Kelly, who opened a new office of protection, for opaque reforms. Since the probe into sexual misconduct at the parks district began, the agency has reprimanded more than 40 employees in the Beaches and Pool Unit for sexual harassment, Kelly announced in August. That includes nine workers allegedly tied to sexual misconduct and abuse there, and two high-level managers. Two employees were fired and six resigned, while others got written reprimands or suspensions. Most recently, a supervisor was suspended and then resigned Monday after an investigation included screenshots of texts describing inappropriate communications and choking done in a sexual manner between him and an underage former employee. Also this week, Cook County states attorney Kim Foxx upped her investigation into the Park District scandal by publicly calling for victims to reach out to her office. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DANVILLE Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup released Monday the name of a Sunday morning shooting victim in Urbana. Adrian Watson, 20, of Danville, was pronounced dead at 7:50 a.m. Sunday at the Carle Hospital Emergency Department. Watson died from multiple gunshot wounds he received during an incident in the 1000 block of Smith Road, Urbana. An autopsy will be performed Tuesda at the Champaign County Regional Autopsy Facility. An inquest may be held at a later date. The circumstances surrounding this shooting and the death of Watson are under investigation by the Urbana Police Department, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, and the coroner's office. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank is leaving the university at the end of the school year to become president of Northwestern University. Blank, now in her ninth school year at UW-Madison, became chancellor in the summer of 2013. Blank will become the first woman to serve as president of Northwestern. She will succeed Morton Schapiro as 17th president of the university in Evanston, Illinois. She has deep ties to the university and the Chicago area, serving as a faculty member in Northwestern's economics department from 1989 to 1999 and directing the Joint Center for Poverty Research. She was married in Chicago and her daughter attended Northwestern as a student. Leading UWMadison and serving the people of Wisconsin has been an honor and a privilege," Blank said in a statement. Now its time to let someone else step into leadership." Blank's tenure as chancellor is the longest since Irving Shain, who served for nearly a decade until his retirement in 1986, according to the university. She has the second longest tenure of any current Big Ten public institution president or chancellor. Among the accomplishments UW-Madison highlighted in Monday's announcement of Blank's departure were: Record-high graduation rates that place the university among the top 10 of public universities Reducing the graduation gap between white undergraduate students and those of color in half over the last 10 years A scholarship program that covers tuition and fees for more than 4,000 low-income Wisconsin students A recently concluded $4 billion fundraising campaign, the most successful in UW-Madison history Establishment of 255 new endowed faculty positions, an increase of 300% Achieving a 93% COVID-19 vaccination rate on campus without a mandate The University of Wisconsin System is already in the midst of searching for its next president. The UW Board of Regents expect to identify interim System President Tommy Thompson's successor sometime this winter. The University of Wisconsin is one of the finest universities in the world, and Chancellor Blanks tenacious advocacy and strong leadership have helped build on that legacy during her tenure," Thompson said in a statement. Regents President Ed Manydeeds said he appreciated that Blank will stay on through the end of the school year. Chancellor Blank is an extraordinary leader whose commitment to the Wisconsin Idea, including her efforts to expand the Universitys outreach to every corner of the state, have UW-Madison well-positioned for success in the future," he said. "The impact of her leadership has been felt throughout the UW System and entire state, and she will be sorely missed." The Associated Press contributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 We are reporting once again from the intersection of the news media, policy and politics. From here, we can see how and why government really works and mainly how and why it too often fails to work the way it should. Its the place where all the vehicles of governance converge and collide: the executive, legislative and judicial branches plus those of us in the news media. For better and worse, we play an undescribed, but always understood, role in shaping policy agendas and priorities by what we cover and what we ignore. Now this: Weve just seen some astonishing breaking news. Astonishing because it was good news. Yet, there it was, announced but barely noticed, smack in the middle of this glob of godawful news. But if you care about finally fixing a longtime problem in which your governments bureaucracy has been shafting hardworking public servants, the news that was announced last week by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was your kind of good news. And well get to it. But we must begin by reminding you what first happened back at the intersection. Perhaps you saw yet another CBS News "60 Minutes" piece that left you fuming at the injustice of seeing your government inaction. Correspondent Lesley Stahl and a team had been investigating another long-known but forever unfixed failure of a program that was designed to reward underpaid public servants. It was a well-intentioned 2007 program signed into law by George W. Bush, implemented by Barack Obama, to forgive student loan debt of public servants ranging from school teachers to those in military service who made 10 years of monthly payments without ever defaulting. Run by the Department of Education, the program became infamous for being a jumble of bureaucratic rules that hurt those it was designed to help. Department functionaries mindlessly rejected 98% of all who presented what they were assured was valid proof of their decade of on-time payments. When consumer protection officials first probed the program in 2017, Trumps Education Department simply canceled it with hundreds of thousands still in it and was sued by the American Federation of Teachers. Last April the Government Accountability Office issued a scathing report. And CBS "60 Minutes" got on the case. Joe Bidens Education Department surely knew where this story was going. Stahls piece show us the faces and told the infuriating tales of impressive public servants our government had shamelessly shafted. They werent naive and defenseless victims; all were skilled military lawyers. All were sure and had been officially assured that they had met the rules and paid as required for a decade. But there was always a technicality: wrong kind of loan company; wrong kind of loan. Bidens Education Department put out the word that a major announcement was coming soonest. And just hours after the "60 Minutes" piece aired, Secretary Cardona announced a temporary program designed to make things right for all who were unfairly rejected by the botched and boggled bureaucracy. Teachers, military service members and all other eligible public servants will now have until Oct. 31, 2022, to re-apply, show their proof of 10 years of good-faith payments and then get the rest of their student loan debts forgiven and wiped off the books. Now, lets return to our intersection of the news media, policy and politics. Think about how good governance just might have happened if our all-news cable networks were still back in the business of having teams that do enterprise journalism. What if the all-news cable nets routinely reported original stories in Washington and especially in the field? What if they hadnt virtually abandoned that role to do it on the cheap, paying talking heads to tell us, one show after the other, the same old stuff about what they think (and how they feel about what they think) about the old news everyone already knows? What if, several years ago, CNN, MSNBC and Fox had all been airing their own Lesley Stahl/"60 Minutes"-type versions of this failure of governance? What if we all had seen our most deserving public servants telling us how they had been misled and rudely rejected by the government they loyally served? Isnt it possible that Republicans and Democrats might have united to at least end that absurd injustice long ago? Martin Schram is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Email martin.schram@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Forsyth health director Joshua Swift discusses September, October increases in COVID-19 deaths Forsyth County reported four more COVID-19 related deaths over the weekend, even as key COVID-19 numbers continued to decline statewide. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported Monday that Forsyth had 324 new cases since noon Friday, including 78 listed for Sunday. As of noon Monday, Forsyth has had 50,324 cases and 534 deaths since the onset of the pandemic. There have been 21 COVID-19-related deaths confirmed in Forsyth so far in October. State and local hospital health-care officials say the vast majority of the COVID-19-related deaths in Forsyth, the Triad and Northwest N.C. and the state have been unvaccinated individuals since the delta variant of COVID-19 became prevalent in early July. Meanwhile, Cone Health said Monday that more than 99% of its employees are in compliance with the mandatory vaccination requirement for all staff. That means out of nearly 13,000 employees, 68 opted to not meet the mandatory vaccination requirement and therefore have voluntarily left the organization. Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill said at a hearing in juvenile court last month that Evans and Miller, both students at the high school, had had a dispute over the summer that culminated in the shooting. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The shooting was captured on security cameras, and according to ONeill, Evans threw away the gun in a trash can on campus before leaving the school. Immediately following the shooting, a large number of Forsyth County sheriffs deputies and Winston-Salem police officers arrived on the high school on Petree Road. Mount Tabor and other schools around the area were locked down for hours while law-enforcement officers looked for the shooter. Anxious parents waited hours, texting back and forth with their children to see if they were OK and then picking them up at another location. Evans was taken into custody at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1, with the help of the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. The shooting made national news, and on Sept. 2 Gov. Roy Cooper addressed the issue of school violence during a news conference at the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office. Since the shooting, there have been at least five separate incidents where a gun was seized at a local school. Friday, law-enforcement officers seized a box cutter at Diggs-Latham Elementary School. I see a very exhausted young dancer in the back of my car as we went back to the school, she said. When Foster came to UNCSA, she had already been sexually assaulted at a school she attended elsewhere, and now, she said, she was at a school where sexual abuse was happening around her. Foster said she wasnt a victim of sexual abuse at UNCSA. But being exposed to the abuse around her was difficult to process, she said, especially when the teachers tried to normalize it as something necessary for becoming successful in the arts. According to the lawsuits, Kuch and Gain constantly told high-school age students that they had to have sex in order to be good dancers. Were dealing with people in power who have the power to put you on stage or put you in the wings, Foster said. We were just abused and preyed upon and they ****** with our minds all the time. According to Foster and other sources, the latest lawsuits came as a result of conversations on a private Facebook group for 1980s UNCSA alumni. Graduates would come to the Facebook page to reminisce about their time at the Winston-Salem arts school. Then in February, one former female student who later became a plaintiff in the lawsuits wrote on the Facebook page to share her experience of sexual abuse. If I were that bride, I would have lost my mind worrying that they would not fit, Bell-Kite said with a laugh. But Willie Kay was an expert. And they all fit. Campbell, the former mayor of Atlanta, said that when the curators began looking for women with Willie Kay gowns for the exhibition, they didnt have too look but so far his wifes friends in Atlanta had some in their closets. They had no idea that my grandmother had created their wedding dresses, Campbell said. **** Glenn Hinson, a professor of folklore and anthropology at UNC-Chapel Hill, sees Kay as an example of the resolve to fight for civil rights. With their clientele, both Kay and her father served some of the people who might have been bent on preserving the status quo, but her family used their money to strengthen and affirm the African-American community. Her daughter Junes husband Bill Campbells father served as the president of the Raleigh chapter of the North Carolina NAACP during segregation. Young Bill Campbell and other members of their family were part of the demonstrations and protests over Jim Crow laws. That blue suit I was wearing was a brand new suit. It was the first time I ever wore it. The last time I saw it they had cut it off me and it was in shreds in the corner of my hospital room. So thats why Im telling you, If youre ever going to be shot, dont be wearing a new suit. Then he said, That young man who shot me Hinckley. Yes, I said, John Hinckley. I understand his family is in the oil business. Yep. Do you think they have any money? Theyre in the oil business and they live in Denver. Of course theyve got money. Why? Well, do you think theyd ever buy me a new suit? That was what my father was really like. Unlike so many people in and out of politics today, he was never angry even after being shot. Humor was his way of putting people at ease, whether it was his worried son, his doctors or the entire country. His good-natured temperament and the virtue of forgiving the trespasses of others are what we miss and what we could all use a lot more of today. Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant and the author of Lessons My Father Taught Me: The Strength, Integrity, and Faith of Ronald Reagan. Follow @reaganworld on Twitter. Lockhart, who took over as Boston Pops conductor from Williams in 1995, was able to secure the necessary rights and permission and the Lincoln Symphony signed on to perform the concert. Lincolns Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform under the baton of the legendary Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, LSO executive director Barbara Zach Lee said in the release. We consider it such a privilege to be part of the Lied Centers season, performing the iconic music of John Williams. Williams, who has won four Academy Awards, is the composer of scores for the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Superman, Schindlers List, Jurassic Park, E.T the Extra-Terrestrial, the "Indiana Jones films and the first three Harry Potter movies. He (Lockhart) was able to get the scores sent off first, Boring said. Hes coming two or three days before the concert to rehearse with the orchestra. Theyre going to play as many John Williams things as you can possibly fit in a concert. And were adding some lighting for the bigger ones to put it over the top. The Lied Center will bring the Boston Pops to Lincoln in the future, Stephan said. Von Lutz, clinical services supervisor with the Two Rivers Public Health Department, said the testing that has been available has been mostly through doctors offices and pharmacies. But a lot of those appointments have been filling quickly. Some residents dont have a primary care provider to go to for testing. Lutz has heard from residents who have made appointments to get tested and then received emails canceling the appointment because the provider didnt have testing supplies. If they re-register, it can take a couple more days to get in, putting them four to six days out before getting tested. Often, asymptomatic people havent been able to get tested. People seeking negative PCR tests for international travel also have been having a difficult time, because most doctors offices and clinics dont perform tests for that purpose. When Test Nebraska was running, he said, the health department had nine test sites open per week in its seven-county territory. It will launch its test site with TotalWellness on Monday and offer tests on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Mark McCurdy, owner of Marks Pharmacy, said the business previously served as a provider for Test Nebraska. Dr. Tom Safranek, chief medical officer for Omahas TotalWellness, said that if someone with symptoms does an at-home test and gets a positive result, you can take that to the bank, especially if they do it early after the onset of symptoms. But if a person with symptoms tests negative, questions may arise on whether they collected the sample correctly or read the results properly, said Safranek, a former Nebraska state epidemiologist. A doctor might order another test, also factoring in a patients vaccination status and exposure details. But a negative test also could mean a person was too early in the course of his or her infection to register on the tests, which are less sensitive than PCR. Relying on at-home tests, however, effectively results in a person acting as his own doctor, Safranek said. Well-trained clinicians bring experience in determining what tests to use and in interpreting test results that home users may not possess. I wouldnt totally pooh-pooh these things, he said. But not everyone will read and appreciate the subtleties. Omahan Kate Geiger navigated the ins and outs of home testing just before Labor Day. Two of her children, who unknowingly had been exposed to a friend who had COVID, tested positive with the at-home tests. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's executive vice chancellor will leave her post a year and a half after she started, the university announced Monday. Elizabeth Spiller, who was named UNL's chief academic officer in March 2020, the same week the coronavirus pandemic pushed classes to move online, submitted her resignation to Chancellor Ronnie Green, she wrote in a letter to campus. "As the crisis for UNL begins to recede, I need to manage a family crisis," Spiller wrote. "I must return home, to Boston, to care for an aging parent, to honor my commitment to the person who raised me." Spiller came to UNL from the University of California, Davis, filling the role vacated by Donde Plowman, who became chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In her letter to campus, Spiller said she valued her time at UNL, particularly the work done to secure raises for tenure-line faculty and lecturers that came as the university responded to COVID-19. Spiller also helped launch the Husker Starter Pack initiative, which allows freshman students to earn credit hours before arriving on campus, as well as the winter mini-sessions that were offered last year. But that wasnt needed for the citys first bicycle boulevard, Partida said. The eight-block stretch of F Street, from Southwest Second to South Sixth, already has on-street parking on both sides, and that naturally slows traffic. F Street also dead-ends by a double set of train tracks with a bicycle and pedestrian underpass so drivers cant cut through. Partida presented the citys plan at a recent South Salt Creek Community Organization meeting. And those in attendance liked what they heard, said its president, Justina Clark. A lot of residents are avid bikers in that area, so there was a lot of good, positive feedback, Clark said. For us, we knew it wasnt really going to change the integrity of the street because its already pretty quiet to begin with. The city spent $4,000 on the signs and street markings. The boulevard is still new, so it hasnt received much feedback yet. But Partida did see it in use when it was unveiled at the Streets Alive! festival late last month. We were actually able to talk to neighbors and people who were able to ride their bikes on the bicycle boulevard, he said. We heard, Were glad to have this here, and we look forward to whats to come. Do we have courts for lay people and courts for people of privilege? Its a good question, said McChesney, who clerked for judges for nearly two decades before she became an attorney 10 years ago. Its my experience that the expectation that courts be open is taken seriously. We have an above-reproach bench who does not take sealing records lightly. Attorneys sometimes try to keep court filings quiet while bemoaning that courthouses are the worst places to try to keep a secret. The irony of Paynes efforts to seal: It is doubtful that Nebraska court observers would have noticed his divorce filing, even without the sealing. It was filed as Constantine A. Payne vs. Maria K. Payne. Payne goes by his middle name, Alexander. The World-Herald was sent a copy of the filings in the case. It is not clear who originally leaked them. As in most cases, the filings arent tawdry. Courts have long since turned to no-fault divorces, where it doesnt matter who, if anyone, was in the wrong. Both Marias filing and Alexanders filing give no reason for the divorce, other than the standard language of irreconcilable differences and the marriage being irretrievably broken. Heres where the divorce gets unusual: A thunderous sound of drums and the whirl of Native dancing in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday heralded celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Native Nebraska tribal flags found a permanent home in the ornate East Chamber and a sculpture of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte was unveiled on Centennial Mall north of the Capitol. "This day was a long time coming," said Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, a member of the Oglala Sioux and the first Native elected to the Legislature. Brewer was the catalyst for the Legislature's decision to place the tribal flags of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Santee Sioux Nation, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska in the colorful chamber that once housed the Senate when Nebraska had a two-house Legislature. Those are the tribes that are federally recognized and headquartered in Nebraska; the flags of other Native tribes will be displayed inside the Capitol tower. The outdoor event that followed the Capitol ceremony unfolded under bright sunshine along the mall and saluted the life of the first Native doctor, a member of the Omaha Tribe whose life is celebrated in a book written by Lincoln author Joe Starita called "A Warrior of the People." RACINE Weve talked a lot about equity, but its time we put our money where our mouth is. Those were the thoughts of Alderman Jason Meekma as he introduced Ordinance 0014-21: Commitment to Equity, which will make investments to remove the barriers to a diversified city workforce. By the numbers Preliminary data captured at the beginning of 2021 by the city demonstrates the distance the city will have to go to close the hiring gaps. 65% of Racine residents are white, but 76% of city staff members are white. 22% of Racine residents are black, but 11% of the city's staff members are black. 14% of Racine residents are Hispanic, but 11% of city staff members are Hispanic. The citys commitment to equity also created a new position in the city workforce to ensure the goals of the ordinance were being carried out. The City Council voted 8-3 to adopt the ordinance, with Aldermen Jeffery Peterson, Henry Perez and Jeff Coe voting in opposition. Alderman Melissa Lemke was absent. The equity ordinance noted that there are historical legacies, structures, and systems that repeat patterns of exclusion that make the adoption of such an ordinance necessary. The ordinance further outlined the intentionality on the part of the city and all of its departments to diversify the workforce. Racial makeup One of the long-term goals of the city is to have a workforce that better reflects the diversity of the city itself. Preliminary data captured at the beginning of 2021 by the city demonstrates the distance the city will have to go to close the hiring gaps. While approximately 22% of the citys population is black, only 11% of city staff is black. At the time the data was captured, only 78 of the citys 700 or so employees were black. Of those 78 black employees, only 14 were female. The citys Hispanic population is approximately 14%, and the citys data showed 79 Hispanic employees in the workforce, which is approximately 11%. In early 2021, there were 27 Hispanic females and 52 Hispanic males in the citys workforce. By contrast, the city employed 128 white women and 407 white men in early 2021, making up approximately 76% of the workforce. The preliminary information was not broken down by department to indicate what percentages of each department were diversified. That information may be released at a later date. Social equity officer The ordinance includes the creation of a permanent social equity officer. The social equity officer will work in partnership with the mayors office and human resources to plan, monitor and evaluate the citys efforts to establish racial equity. Alderman Edwin Santiago, who sits on the Affirmative Action Human Rights Committee, has spoken about the challenges they see in their efforts to diversify the city workforce. One of those challenges is the ability to gather information, he said. Who applied for a certain job? Who was hired? Who was declined and for what reason? The social equity officer will examine the barriers to employment that communities of color experience and then make recommendations for eliminating those barriers. There are also issues of who gets promoted and who doesnt. The equity officer will examine what training or education people of color might need in order to be promoted. Additionally, the equity officer will work to diversity the citys boards, commissions and authorities. Codified positions Everyone on the council supported the ordinance in principle. However, three voted against it, in large part due to the inclusion of a social equity officer who would work in the mayors office. Coe said he believed the ordinance was important but could not support adding another position to the mayors office. He said it seemed as though the position was a function of human resources and should be in that office. Peterson agreed. He questioned the need to add the position to an ordinance and added his opinion that putting the position in the mayors office made it a political position, which he did not think was a good idea. Peterson attempted to add an amendment that would have moved the position to HR, but the amendment did not garner the support of the council. John Tate II, the president of the council, spoke in favor of keeping the ordinance as presented. He explained the challenges that come with addressing racial inequity will take time. By codifying the position of social equity officer, the position will be protected and funded. Meekma, too, spoke out against what he saw as an attempt to hide the position away in HR in order to take away the essence of what they were trying to accomplish. He called it an insult to the work that needs to be done. Next step There are still a number of steps that must be completed before a social equity officer is hired. The matter will have to be picked up by the Finance and Personnel Committee in order to determine pay grades. According to SimplyHired, the average pay for a social equity officer is around $62,000 per year. However, the competition may drive that price up. As was noted in the meeting, the city will be competing with other municipalities looking to diversity its workforce. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MADISON Wisconsins Democratic attorney general, who represents the state elections commission, on Monday called for a Republican-ordered investigation into the 2020 presidential election to be shut down, saying it is a partisan political effort that lacks credibility, wastes taxpayer money and is not serious. This investigation suffers from glaring flaws that destroy any credibility its results could have had, Attorney General Josh Kaul said at a news conference. Shut this fake investigation down. Kauls comments came after the Republican leader of the Assembly election committee, Rep. Janel Brandtjen of Menomonee Falls, said shes been kept out of the loop and doesnt agree with moves being made by the leader of the probe. The latest twists come after Michael Gableman, the retired Wisconsin Supreme Court justice leading the investigation, issued a video over the weekend taking aim at Gov. Tony Evers. Evers, a Democrat, told local election officials they should be lawyered up and called the taxpayer-funded investigation a $700,000 boondoggle. Gableman called that an incomplete and misguided view of the probe. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, ordered the investigation under pressure from former President Donald Trump, who has claimed without evidence that he won Wisconsin last year. President Joe Biden won the state by just under 21,000 votes, an outcome that has withstood recounts and a variety of court rulings. Gablemans investigation has been criticized by Evers and other Democrats as a sham, by moderate Republicans who say it undermines faith in elections that have been proven to be fair, and by conservatives who say hes not being aggressive enough in pursuing a review like the widely discredited audit recently completed in Arizona. That was the complaint raised Monday by Brandtjen, who said anything short of a recount of all ballots that looks at voting machines would not restore faith in Wisconsins election. Brandtjen disapproved of Gableman saying mayors in Wisconsins five largest cities including Racine who cooperate with his investigation would be granted immunity. As special counsel, Gableman has no power to prosecute. Brandtjen said she has only learned of Gablemans actions, including issuing subpoenas to election officials and the mayors of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Racine and Kenosha, from media reports and the two videos Gableman has posted. She said Gableman does not speak for her or the committee. Despite multiple requests from The Journal Times, leaders in the City of Racine have not publicly commented on whether they will comply with the four subpoenas the city and three of its staff members, including Mayor Cory Mason and Clerk Tara Coolidge, have received. The past week has been eventful for the investigation. After Gableman issued the subpoenas, someone working with him told the mayors they could submit more limited information and avoid in-person interviews later this month. But Gableman on Friday said the interviews must happen if the officials dont cooperate. Gableman also subpoenaed the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. Kaul said the subpoena as issued is overly broad and any testimony delivered by the elections commission administrator Meagan Wolfe should be in public before the Assembly elections committee, not behind closed doors as Gableman proposed. Claims without evidence Gableman also said he had compelling evidence that Wisconsins elections laws were not properly followed by election officials at both the state and local levels. He said violations of law, or protocol, or both may have occurred and that ballot security measures might have been undermined. He did not describe that evidence. Gableman in November told a rally of Trump supporters, without evidence, that the election was stolen. In an interview with the Journal Sentinel last week, Gableman said he didnt understand how elections work. Gableman targets governor On Saturday, Gableman shifted his criticism to Evers and comments he made nearly two weeks ago when he called the probe a boondoggle. I would like to ask Tony Evers how is it a boondoggle for the people of Wisconsin to find out if their elections were run fairly? Gableman asked in the video. Whats the alternative? The alternative is looking the other way. Evers spokeswoman Britt Cudaback compared the investigation to a circus and said Gableman was a ringleader who by his own admission doesnt understand the elections process and has predetermined the results of this sham review. The probe initially focused on grants that the heavily Democratic cities of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine received from the nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life to help run the election. The grants were funded by donations from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. They angered some Republicans because $6.3 million went to the five Democratic cities that ultimately voted for Biden. That was part of $10 million in grants that went to more than 200 communities across Wisconsin. Gableman suggested in the video that the grants were illegal, even though courts, including the state Supreme Court he previously was elected to, have ruled they were not. Following Kauls press conference Monday, Vos issued a statement in which he said: Election integrity should be a bipartisan effort. Sadly Attorney General Kaul has sided with the out-of-state billionaires meddling in our elections and ignored Wisconsin citizens who bring up irregularities. In order to restore confidence in our election system, Justice Gableman will continue his investigation. The subpoenas have been issued correctly a fact backed up by the nonpartisan Legislative Council in a memo requested by Assembly Democrats. Adam Rogan of The Journal Times contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 An allegation the Wilmot Union High School Board is overstepping its role and micromanaging things has been raised as the district gets set to consider a petition on board reapportionment. Residents seeking to ensure the board has a broad representation from across the district submitted a petition Sept. 29 to put the issue on the annual meeting agenda, which will be considered during a rescheduled annual meeting on Thursday, Oct. 28 Silver Lake resident Diane Brenner raised concerns at a recent School Board meeting that the board, led by President Laurie DeMoon, is interfering with day-to-day operations within the school. Brenner initially approached the board to express the importance of maintaining the districts Community Service Fund and opportunities within the school for community outreach and education. It is a commitment made to the community when the last facility referendum was passed, Brenner said. Residents enrolled in the programs had been sent an email that the programs supported by fund were in jeopardy. I am not sure of the future of the fitness center and community outreach programs at this time, a letter from the community outreach coordinator read. At the Aug. 11 meeting, Ms. Demoon said that a communication that was sent out was a lie and the employee would be dealt with, Brenner said during citizens comments. That staff member, employed by the district for 32 years, has since resigned. There is no acting community outreach coordinator. Knowing her passion for the community it hurt to see her treated in such a disrespectful and insulting manner, Brenner said. Brenner said she left the meeting feeling as though some board members do not understand the value of community outreach and the fitness center to the community at large. Those who live near Twin Lakes have access to other fitness centers and senior programming. Those who live in other areas of the school district do not, she said. The board indicated to Brenner they would form a committee that would include citizens to look at community outreach and education programming. Eight weeks later several residents who volunteered to be part of the committee have yet to be contacted, Brenner noted. Reapportioning the School Board is a way to ensure the interests and needs of residents from all areas of the district are represented, Brenner said Thursday. I dont know any of these board members personally, Brenner said Thursday. Im sure they are all fine individuals. But collectively, as a unit, I do not feel they are responsive to values, beliefs and priorities of the greater community. Questions raised It was through exploring the fitness center/outreach program fund issue that Brenner said it became clear to her the School Board has a vengeance-driven agenda, which she had heard others in the community describe. I didnt want to believe that, but I have since watched recorded meetings, attended sessions, reviewed communications, and talked to staff, Brenner said during citizens comments. I see micromanaging, overstepping and intimidation. Brenner said the board should be focused on strategic planning, goal setting and policy. She said directives are being given by the board to multiple staff members, which is the role of the district leader following the restructuring of the administrative staff and elimination of the school administrators position last year. Let the administration do their jobs, Brenner told the board. Drop any personal agendas you may have and do what is right for all students, staff, and the community at large not just the items in which you have a personal interest. Board taking steps With regard to recent school board authority agenda items, DeMoon said Friday a Board Development and Relations Committee has been established. Weve been doing a lot of board education, DeMoon said, adding topics so far have included Finance 101, strategic planning and goal setting. She said there were a lot of responsibilities that previous boards neglected. For example, administrator evaluations were not done annually and strategic planning and goal setting has not been done in over a decade. Were committed to doing a better job, DeMoon said. Were committed to making our school a destination district. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An Indiana man inaccurately told police his 2-year-old son shot himself last week with a .40-caliber handgun, "because he just wished it wasn't the rifle," according to a newly filed charging document. "When asked if he was 100% sure it was the rifle, (John) Mourani stated, 'It was the rifle, I heard it,' " the document states. Mourani, 30, who is charged with a felony count of neglect of a dependent, told police when he walked into his bedroom Thursday afternoon after hearing the gunshot, he saw the Micro Draco 7.62x39mm rifle "under Victim 1's leg crisscrossed with it," Portage, Indiana, police said in the charging document. Police found was appeared to be an entry point inside the boy's right calf and a large exit wound on the outer right calf/lower leg, according to the incident report. The boy was transported to Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary and later taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mourani initially told police the boy shot himself with a .40-caliber handgun and that the gun and extended magazine were left out of its case due to "hearing things around the house" the previous night. But he later told police the rifle was used in the shooting and "that he keeps both firearms under his bed with rounds in the chamber," according to a court document. Mourani reportedly told police his son had come to stay with him at the residence in the 6200 block of Old Porter Road around noon the previous day. He and the boy's mother no longer live together, police said. The child had been playing with Play-Doh in Mourani's bedroom while Mourani was in the bathroom, police said. The accused said he believes he was in the bathroom for four minutes when he heard the gunshot and then the child scream after being shot. Mourani said he entered the bedroom and found both the rifle and handgun had been pulled out from under the bed, according to police. He pushed the guns out of the way and wrapped the boy's leg. "He stated that the firearm (rifle) had a safety, but it was turned off," according to the charging document. Police said they were called to the home shortly after noon, and Mourani was running out of the house carrying the boy, who was crying. Police removed a bloody T-shirt that was tied around the gunshot wound. Officers said the wound was barely bleeding and medics arrived shortly after to treat the boy before he was taken to the hospital. Mourani said he was the sole person taking care of the child at the time of the shooting, police said. Police said they found a blood splatter on the carpet in a bedroom in the house and the handgun was half out of the holster. An officer found a .40-caliber hollow point round in the chamber of the pistol when clearing it. The pistol's magazine was full with 22 rounds, not counting the round in the chamber, police said. The magazine secured to the rifle had 28 rounds and an additional round in the chamber. Police said they also found a steel drum-style magazine containing several rounds. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 After 20 years in Afghanistan, with 2,461 U.S. servicemen and women making the ultimate sacrifice serving there, it was time to leave Afghanistan. The mission to help Afghanistan build a government to defeat the Taliban failed. Those 20 years werent the fault of President Joe Biden. But the August exit that was on the shoulders of the Biden administration and the botched exit shouldnt be brushed under the rug. During the exit, 13 servicemen were killed in the Kabul Airport Attack and a botched U.S. drone strike killed 10 civilians, including seven children. On top of that, the president promised to not leave until all Americans were out, and that wasnt what happened. Besides, leaving people weapons were also left behind that ended up in the hands of the Taliban. Some of the remaining weapons were destroyed in the end to avoid them getting in the hands of the enemy, but there was enough time and more of the weapons could have been taken out earlier. This botched exit was examined during a recent House Armed Service Committee meeting, but besides that hearing, it seems as if many are trying to ignore the mistakes. As the saying goes, those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. There are mixed opinions about if the U.S. should have left a limited number of troops in Afghanistan, and its apparent after the Armed Services Committee hearing that top commanders recommended leaving 2,500 troops, but that Biden went against that advice. Some want to move on after this botched exit. But it should leave a shadow over the Biden administration. The mission in Afghanistan has ended, but the war on terror is still going strong. After the exit, Biden will need to rebuild American trust. It cannot just be brushed under the rug. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Yes. Council members appear to have taken time to review each section carefully. 2. Yes. The council has set up town halls and a public hearing to inform the residents. 3. No. The council should have set up a charter review committee, including residents. 4. No. Some of the items proposed so far benefit the council more than the community. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say until after the public has had more opportunities to weigh in. Vote View Results Hospital staff and tribal leaders decided to move vaccinations from the cramped clinic to the spacious school gymnasium where, starting Jan. 6, they offered shots each Wednesday. There, they vaccinated an average of 150 people each week through the spring and early summer until almost every adult was vaccinated. More recently, they have moved vaccination back to the clinic, where they still average about 25 newly vaccinated people per week. The elders showed the importance of the vaccine to Winnebago, Zuffante said. At one of the tribes first clinics, one woman worried that she was too old to get the vaccine. But she decided to go through with it, because she wanted to hold her baby granddaughter after not being able to hold her for most of 2020. At another mass clinic, Zuffante watched the elders who had been vaccinated earlier in the day lingering together in a corner of the gym. The senior center was still closed. Some hadnt spoken in months. It was so powerful, because you could tell how much they missed each other. ... I asked a nurse how long she told them they had to stay after receiving their shots. 15 minutes, she said. What time was that? An hour. I was going to kick them out. Nah, Zuffante said. Leave them be. Lightning struck twice for a pair of Midwestern documentary filmmakers who earned their second Emmy Award Saturday night at the 22nd Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Awards Gala at the Radisson Blu Mall of America. Tim Jacobson and George Howe from the La Crosse area earned the coveted television award as producers of the nature documentary, Decoding the Driftless. The award also names fellow producer and previous Emmy winner Rob Nelson along with first-time winner Jonas Stenstrom for his directorial role. Decoding the Driftless had its commercial television premiere last year in La Crosse. Since then, PBS stations in no less than 28 states, including as far away as California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Alaska, have aired the film, and its broadcast reach continues to grow. The latest Emmy Award is part of a long line of accolades for Decoding the Driftless coming from international and national film competitions, including in London, UK; Florence, Italy; New York, NY; Las Vegas, NV; and Los Angeles, California. The documentary has been honored as either Best Picture or Best Documentary by Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards in Hollywood, Gold Movie Awards in London, UK, Festigious International Film Festival in Los Angeles, Filmmakers Connect Awards, Los Angeles Cinematography AWARDS, Beloit International Film Festival, Iowa Independent Film Festival, and Red Cedar Film Festival. Walking the red carpet in both Hollywood and London for our film, and now receiving an Emmy Award, have been tremendous opportunities to draw positive attention to critically important landscape conservation issues, said film producer Howe. This is what we only dreamed of accomplishing. Its not just the number of awards thats significant, said film producer, cinematographer and Sustainable Driftless, Inc. president Jacobson. Its the varied types of awards, too. Weve been recognized for top-notch content, an engaging story, the artistry of the cinematography, and for the positive humanitarian impact in promoting care for our precious earth. The first time I traveled from Sweden to visit the Driftless Area, I knew it was a special, magical place, said Untamed Science, Inc.s Stenstrom, the films director. Capturing the scenic beauty and mysteries of the landscape on film has been a true joy. In the feature-length documentary Decoding the Driftless, viewers are taken on a wild ride of adventure above, on, and below the Driftless Region through this film of exploration. From day one I predicted that this film would blow peoples socks off, said Nelson, president of Untamed Science and another of the films producers. Based upon the enthusiastic reception from thousands of audience members, the huge TV broadcast distribution, numerous film festival awards, and now an Emmy Award, that has proven to be true. This Emmy Award comes seven years after Nelson, Howe, and Jacobson received an Emmy in 2014 for the similarly-themed documentary short, Mysteries of the Driftless. Decoding the Driftless was produced through collaboration between two nonprofit organizations, Sustainable Driftless, Inc. and Untamed Science, Inc., with an outpouring of community support and a wide range of sponsoring organizations. For more about the documentary visit SustainableDriftless.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mayor Mitch Reynolds issued a proclamation Monday recognizing it as Indigenous Peoples Day, continuing the citys celebration of Native Americans instead of Christopher Columbus each October. It was the fourth year in a row the city has recognized Indigenous Peoples Day. The proclamation details that the day is intended to recognize the traumas and struggles that those native to La Crosse endured, to educate about and celebrate their culture, as well as to uplift the communities and commit to collaborating with them. In recent years, communities have chosen to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in lieu of Columbus Day, which many say glorifies the colonization and genocide of Native Americans, and falsely celebrates Christopher Columbus, who enslaved and committed violence against indigenous people. Several states, including Wisconsin, have recognized Indigenous Peoples Day, and this year marks the first that a sitting U.S. president has officially recognized the holiday, though it has not replaced Columbus Day. The La Crosse region was first home to the Ho-Chunk, and the citys proclamation attempts to highlight the harm and displacement done to them in the region. The Ho-Chunk people of this community were subjected to seven removals starting in 1829, and were forced to sign the Treaty of 1837, ceding all territory east of the Mississippi, and were then forced to hide while bravely returning to the land they call home, it states. At this time, the federal government attempted six different times to forcibly remove local Ho-Chunk to reservations up and down the Mississippi River on a steamboat, according to the Voices of La Crosse History Tours. The history project states that some of the earliest communities in the La Crosse region were identified as the Mississippian and Oneota cultures, who were Wisconsins first farmers, and historians have identified a number of Indigenous burial sites that have been disrupted by developments throughout the city, including under the Oktoberfest Grounds and other sites near downtown. The city of La Crosse seeks to continue to support Indigenous Nations struggles for social and environmental justice, religious freedom and tribal sovereignty, the citys proclamation states. It added that the city honors our citys Indigenous roots and history, and seeks with this celebration to bring greater understanding to the people of La Crosse regarding indigenous cultures and the enormous contributions they have made and continue to make to our nation and to the city of La Crosse The city first recognized Indigenous Peoples Day in 2018, and this proclamation reissues a commitment to recognize it each year. The holiday has typically been marked with a celebration in the city, but it was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A family of four says it was mistakenly given COVID-19 vaccines instead of flu shots at a Walgreens pharmacy in Indiana, according to local reports. The Evansville familys attorney spoke to two Indiana TV stations regarding what they said was an accidental shot mix-up at their local Walgreens this month. The family of two adults and two kids, ages 4 and 5, have not been publicly identified. Attorney Daniel Tuley, also of Evansville, says the four family members went to Walgreens wanting the annual flu shot, according to WFIE. They left thinking thats the shot they each received. But about 90 minutes later, a pharmacy employee called to explain the vaccine mistake, WEHT reported. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, also known as Comirnaty, has not been approved for children under 12, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are currently no COVID-19 vaccines approved for that age group. In late September, Pfizer announced it submitted data from a study to the FDA regarding its vaccine in kids ages 5 to 11, according to McClatchy News. The study tested using a lower dose of the shots, unlike the doses the family says they received at Walgreens. Children 12 and up currently receive the adult dosage. In a statement to McClatchy News, Walgreens spokesperson Kris Lathan said Walgreens cannot comment on specific patient events because of privacy laws. However, in general, such instances are rare and Walgreens takes these matters very seriously, Lathan said. In the event of any error, our first concern is always our patients well-being. Our multi-step vaccination procedure includes several safety checks to minimize the chance of human error and we have reviewed this process with our pharmacy staff in order to prevent such occurrences. Tuley says the familys children are both sick, and a pediatric cardiologist found heart issues in the kids following the vaccine, according to WEHT. The family has reported this to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the lawyer. Last month, McClatchy News reported a Walgreens pharmacist in Maryland mistakenly injected a 4-year-old with the Pfizer vaccine instead of the desired flu shot. Following the incident, Walgreens spokesperson Phil Caruso told McClatchy News that safety checks are in place, and theyve recently reviewed this process with our pharmacy staff in order to prevent a future occurrence. Patient safety is our top priority, Caruso said. Events like this are extremely rare and we take this matter very seriously. We are in touch with the patients family and we have apologized. At the time, WBFF reported the family wasnt planning to file a formal complaint with Maryland regulators. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children 12 years and older, and without any contraindications, receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This is similar to the CDCs recommendation. The CDC says that cases of myocarditis and pericarditis inflammation of the heart have been reported in adolescents and young adults who received mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, though these reports are rare. As Wisconsin uses tens of millions in federal money to address homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Republican-controlled state Legislature has largely refused to make new financial commitments of state resources. Since the onset of the pandemic, Gov. Tony Evers administration has launched a series of initiatives, including an initial 60-day moratorium on rental evictions and housing foreclosures, and tapped federal funds for rental assistance, food aid, schooling for homeless children, housing initiatives, support for veterans and more. The federal funds are still flowing. But in February, Evers also proposed spending $15.7 million annually on initiatives to directly support the homeless in the current two-year budget, by far the largest investment in state history. The GOP-controlled budget committee, however, rejected almost all of the new funding. The Legislature has also declined to set a committee hearing on bipartisan legislation introduced by two GOP lawmakers to deliver funding that stalled in the Senate last year. The Legislatures response to homelessness before and during the pandemic has been beyond disappointing, said Michael Basford, director of the Wisconsin Interagency Council on Homelessness. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, who has become a champion on addressing homelessness among Republicans in the Legislature and one of the lawmakers who reintroduced the stalled legislation, said awareness continues to be a challenge. Too many people still think of homelessness as a problem only present in large cities when in fact its present all across our state, even in the smallest of towns, Steineke said. Until theres broad willingness to look at this problem as one that affects all 72 counties, it will continue to be an uphill task to make sweeping policy advances. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, did not respond to requests for comment. Systems are strained The interagency councils action plan to end homelessness was developed under Republican leadership in response to bipartisan recognition of the persistence of homelessness in Wisconsin. Despite the influx of federal money, the problems the initiative was intended to address havent gone away. On any given night, there are about 20,000 people in Wisconsin with no adequate place to sleep, according to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Homelessness. In most ways, the pandemic didnt create new challenges for homelessness but further highlighted issues surrounding homelessness and the need for action in addressing them, Basford said. We are seeing increases in unsheltered homelessness across the state. Adding to the challenge, in many communities its become harder during the pandemic to identify and count the homeless, Basford said. To adhere to public health guidelines, many shelters have had to reduce capacities, stop taking new clients or close entirely, he said. The result of this has lower numbers of people being served by shelters. Additionally, the pandemic resulted in fewer volunteers for the annual Point in Time count, meaning fewer homeless people were counted. Zeroing in In Dane County alone: About 100 homeless people are being housed in hotels. Between 60 and 70 people are camping at on Madisons East Side, while a dozen more are camping at the Starkweather Creek Conservation Area on the East Side. Many others remain without shelter. The Salvation Army of Dane Countys facility at 4502 Milwaukee St. on the East Side is hosting 35 families. Sixty women are staying nightly at the Salvation Armys main shelter at 630 E. Washington Ave. on the Near East Side. About 100 men are staying nightly at the citys temporary shelter in the former Fleet Services building at 200 N. First St. on the East Side. The numbers dont include many other homeless, including a largely unseen population of individuals, and often families, who have no place of their own to stay so they double up with friends or relatives, or pay to stay in motels because they cant get an apartment. In the Madison schools, about 540 students have so far been identified as homeless this school year, with the number expected to surpass 1,000, said Jani Koester, who helps coordinate services for homeless families and students in the Madison School District. The end of the eviction moratorium is having some effect on numbers and those are trickling in, she said. Most of these are first-time homeless families. The districts numbers dont include adults, very young children or parents under 18, who usually drop out of school. Housing a priority The big challenge remains the availability of affordable housing, officials said. A quarter of renters in Wisconsin, and a third of those renters in the labor force, are extremely low-income, and two-thirds of those households are severely cost-burdened or spending over 30-50% of their income on housing, said Brad Paul, executive director of the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association. More than 300,000 renters, pre-pandemic, paid over half their income on housing. Over the long haul, that is practically a built-in feeder system to homelessness, he said. Madisons housing challenges, already daunting before the pandemic, are even more so now, said Jim OKeefe, city community development director. People are struggling to financially retain housing and folks who are experiencing homelessness are having a hard time navigating the housing market to find available units. We need to address homelessness as a community, and housing opportunities must be provided to those in vulnerable situations. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that the state has a shortage of more than 119,000 units for extremely low-income households seen as making 30% of the county median income, Basford said. In Dane County, thats up to $27,900 for a family of three. The federal assistance is helping. The state is receiving over $89 million in federal funds this year to support housing development projects, Basford said. In August, Evers also announced a $200 million Neighborhood Investment Fund grant program for which local governments can apply for funding for affordable housing initiatives and other uses, he said. The current and proposed investments from the federal government and through the Wisconsin Neighborhood Investment Fund will certainly be helpful, but much more is going to be needed, Basford said. Toxicity at Capitol At some point, the federal money will dry up. The funds from the federal government are one-time with a limited use and specifically tied to pandemic response, Basford said. Once theyre gone there will be no renewal of those funding sources. But efforts to increase the states own commitment to homelessness remain stalled. In February, Evers proposed spending $15.7 million annually on initiatives to directly support the homeless in the current two-year budget. The proposals, including $11.5 million in new annual spending, were to be focused on preventing homelessness, diversion from shelter, shelter support, housing assistance, case management and more. The governor also recommended a $50 million grant program that would provide funding to local municipalities to encourage the development of additional low-cost housing in the state. But the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee rejected almost all of the items and provided just $600,000 annually in new funds compared to the governors $5 million a year for the housing assistance program. In March, Steineke and Sen. Kathy Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, reintroduced legislation to deliver funding that stalled in the Senate in 2020. The legislation, based on proposals by the interagency council created in late 2017, passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly in 2019 and were echoed in Evers first budget. But the eight bills, which would provide $7.5 million in new spending over two years, initially stalled in the budget committee and seven never made it to the Senate floor for a vote. The lone bill that passed provides $1 million in additional funding to a grant program that supports emergency homeless shelters over two years. The new bill by Steineke and Bernier that combines the ones that stalled was referred to committee on March 5, and more than 200 days have passed without a public hearing. Convincing 132 members of the Legislature to invest millions of dollars in any one initiative is not an easy task, Steineke said. At the end of the day, we were successful in securing new funds to help provide housing to those who need it the most. More must be done, Paul said, adding, the toxicity in the Capitol has devastating consequences on peoples lives. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Subpoenas issued as part of a GOP-ordered investigation into how the 2020 presidential election was conducted are unlawful, said Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul on Monday, who urged Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to call off a probe he said has been irrevocably tainted by bias. Kaul faulted lead investigator Michael Gableman for hiring Andrew Kloster, a Republican attorney and former member of President Donald Trumps administration, a hardly neutral fact-finder who has already proclaimed without providing any evidence that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, fair and square and that election training in the state was woefully inadequate. This investigation suffers from glaring flaws that destroy any credibility that its results could have, Kaul said at a press conference Monday. My request to Speaker Vos is simple: Shut this fake investigation down. In a statement, Vos, who accused Kaul of taking a partisan stance on the matter, said subpoenas he signed earlier this year on behalf of Gableman, a retired state Supreme Court justice, were issued correctly and he has no plans of calling off the review. In order to restore confidence in our election system, Justice Gableman will continue his investigation, said Vos, R-Rochester. The condemnation of the inquiry from the states top lawyer, who is representing the Wisconsin Elections Commission, comes after Rep. Janel Brandtjen, who chairs the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee, said she has been kept in the dark on Gablemans investigation. While Gableman has tried to distance his effort from the widely panned partisan election review in Arizona, Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, has called for a similar review she has characterized as a full cyber forensic audit. Gableman, who has largely limited his public comments to YouTube videos and friendly talk radio hosts, did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Vos has allocated nearly $680,000 in taxpayer money for the one-party investigation, which is focused on some of the procedures voters and clerks relied on in casting and processing ballots. Although some have raised the prospect of fraud, no claims of large-scale cheating have been substantiated, and the investigation, so far at least, is not seeking to review any ballots. In a video posted on YouTube Saturday, Gableman claimed, without providing evidence, that his investigation had found compelling evidence that Wisconsins election laws were not properly followed by election officials at both the state and local levels. There is also evidence that ambiguities in the law were expansively interpreted so much so to potentially undermine ballot security measures, Gableman said in the video, without providing specifics. A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Biden defeated Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Four voters out of roughly 3 million who cast ballots have been charged with fraud. Gableman on Saturday said the investigation is not a prosecution and said city clerks and mayors who have been subpoenaed will be granted immunity. Intraparty rancor Brandtjen, who has tried to subpoena voting machines, ballots and other election data in two counties, pushed back against Gablemans comments. Brandtjen, whose subpoenas have not been signed by Vos and have been rejected by the counties, said in a statement Monday that she objected to Gablemans promise of immunity. Brandtjen said she has not been provided copies of Gablemans subpoenas, while also criticizing the former justice for comments he made in a Friday interview with WISN-AMs Dan ODonnell in which he called the election review in Arizona a waste of money. Even Justice Gableman seems to find it difficult to have a comprehensive understanding of how elections work, Brandtjen said in reference to comments Gableman made last week to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A cyber forensic audit, including the recounting of physical ballots and an audit of the machines, would finally rebuild trust in Wisconsin elections. Kaul on Monday questioned whether Gableman even has the authority to grant such immunity, adding that the subpoenas were not only overbroad, but his request to have officials, including elections commission administrator Meagan Wolfe, testify in secret meetings this Friday was improper. Kaul said Gablemans request to meet with Wolfe in private is unlawful and any meeting should be held in public before a legislative committee. In a letter to Gableman Monday, Kaul said he hopes to reach a mutual agreement on the matter, but added he may take court action if an agreement is not reached. Aiming at Evers Gablemans Saturday statement took aim at Gov. Tony Evers over the Democratic governors criticism of the partisan investigation, with Gableman accusing Evers of having an incomplete and misguided view of the probe. Evers in late September described the investigation as a $700,000 boondoggle after Gableman said the burden will be placed on local election clerks to prove that the 2020 election was conducted fairly, which Evers called a bit outrageous. If I was a clerk Id be lawyered up and make sure that youre doing the right thing, Evers told reporters at the World Dairy Expo last month. I hate to see an inquisition like this, especially when youre being told you have to prove it was a good election. Everybody knows it was a good election. Everybody knows there was no fraud. Gableman contended that local election officials should have no reason to be concerned about the investigation if they complied with the law. If the governor believes that it has been proven the election has been conducted flawlessly, then he is completely ignorant to the concerns of Wisconsin voters who have great concerns regarding the sanctity and the security of their vote, he said. In a video last month, Gableman said hes not trying to overturn the election results, even though he told Trump supporters in November, without evidence, that he thought the election had been stolen. Gableman has said he plans to look into advice the bipartisan state Elections Commission gave to clerks, and donations the Facebook-funded nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life gave to Wisconsin communities, to help run the 2020 election. On Saturday, Gableman said the alternative to his investigation would be to look the other way while millions of dollars in private funds may have been used in the public management of elections to achieve a preferred outcome at the expense of election integrity. If indeed this occurred would be the true definition of a boondoggle, and it would also mark the beginning of tyranny and the end of the American experiment in democracy, Gableman said. Sham review Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a statement the video further underscores that Gableman has predetermined the results of this sham review. This video only further underscores the governors comments that this is a $700,000 boondoggle on taxpayer dime to confirm what independent reviews have already proven: Wisconsin had a free, fair and secure election, and President Biden won, Cudaback said. Republicans have claimed CTCL essentially took over administration of the 2020 election, specifically in Green Bay. The city has forcefully pushed back on that narrative, arguing the allegations are completely without merit and that it followed state and federal laws. A federal judge found nothing in the law to prohibit use of the grant money, which went to more than 200 Wisconsin communities last year to help cover election costs during the pandemic. Most of the money went to the states five largest Democratic-leaning cities, including Madison, which are the focus of Gablemans investigation. The mayors and clerks in Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Racine and Kenosha had been ordered by Gableman to testify as part of the investigation later this month. But in an about-face last Thursday, investigation officials said they had backed off an initial request for interviews to now only include records that have already been produced in response to public records requests, rather than interviews and hundreds of thousands of additional documents. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Ginger Asian Kitchen has opened in East Hempfield Township with Japanese and Vietnamese dishes. The restaurant at 320 Rohrerstown Road in the Lime Spring Square shopping center is owned by Tony Tran, who owns Mikado Japanese Steak House locations in Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg as well as Pho 99, a Vietnamese food restaurant in Harrisburg. The roughly 110-seat East Hempfield restaurant combines menus from Trans two other restaurant concepts. It features chicken, beef, tofu and shrimp cooked on a hibachi-style grill as well as stir fry, Vietnamese hoagies, noodle soup and rice vermicelli. Tran said a full bar at Ginger Asian Kitchen will begin operating by November, when he expects a liquor license transfer to be finalized. Ginger Asian Kitchen occupies a 3,800-square-foot restaurant space briefly occupied by Metro Diner. A Florida-based chain, Metro Diner opened in March 2018 but closed five months later. It still has a diner in Mechanicsburg. People gathered at the Columbia River Park on Saturday, Oct. 9, to celebrate Lancaster County's version of Bigfoot, the Albatwitch. The Albatwitch, according to urban legend, is a hairy humanoid creature who throws apple cores at people who get too close. He's often depicted or portrayed with apples. Albatwitch Day brought together over a dozen vendors, most of whom sold Albatwitch- or Bigfoot-themed items, as well as several live performances from bands enthusiastic about urban legends and cryptids. There was something for every Albatwitch fan: paintings, food, clothing, decorations and more. Here are 13 interesting Albatwitch-themed items we spotted at the 2021 Albatwitch Day celebration. In less than a decade, spotted lanternflies have devastated vineyards and interrupted outdoor fun throughout Pennsylvania. Theyre so unwanted that Kill it! Squash it, smash it...just get rid of it is the advice for sightings inside the quarantine zone from the state department of agriculture. Researchers have discovered one good thing from this bad bug. It actually looks like lanternflies are great for bees, says Robyn Underwood, assistant research professor at Penn State who focuses on bees. Bees in the quarantine areas have made dark honey with a smoky flavor thats been described as the epitome of autumn. Underwood and Julie Urban, a spotted lanternfly expert and associate research professor at Penn State Entomology, discussed spotted lanternflies and bees in an online talk for Penn State Extension. Here are a few highlights. The entire talk can be found here. Why are spotted lanternflies so hated? Spotted lanternflies are native to China. Here in Pennsylvania where there arent many natural predators, they have spread to areas including Lancaster County. Lanternflies feed on more than 70 species of plants and trees grapevines plus apple and stone fruit trees, not good for farmers. They feed on sugary plant sap and excrete honeydew, a sugary water that makes leaves look shiny. Sooty mold grows on these sticky, shiny leaves. In areas with a lot of lanternflies, understory plants have so much mold, they look burnt, Urban says. The soots covered outdoor surfaces like decks. The fermenting honeydew combined with weeping tree sap creates a foam that smells like vinegar, not pleasant for people spending time outdoors. Do spotted lanternflies harm honey bees? No. They can help honey bees. In Pennsylvania, honey bees collect nectar from April through July and sometimes an additional window in October, Underwood says. Yet, in areas with spotted lanternflies, bees were gaining weight after their main forage period. They gained weight at the same time when adult spotted lanternflies were present. So during this period from July in through October, they're just collecting away and filling up their colonies with what we think is honeydew honey, she says. The extra food means beekeepers dont have to feed bees as much in the fall. The bees are bulking up enough on honeydew to survive the winter. And they make strange honey. (Underwood also researched whether pesticides used to control tree of heaven had an effect on honey bees and found they do not.) What is honeydew honey? In fall 2019, beekeepers found a different honey in their hives. It was brown and had a distinct smoky flavor. Signs point to spotted lanternflies. The dark honey was found in the years after spotted lanternflies arrived and in the same areas where the pests are present. Plus, beekeepers have seen honey bees foraging honeydew. We're continuing to do this research, but the pieces of the puzzle are all pointing to this honey literally being spotted lanternfly honeydew honey, Underwood says. The dark honey was tested and a substance called ailanthone was found. This is a chemical made by the tree of heaven (ailanthus), one of the preferred host plants of spotted lanternfly. Ailanthone is not in nectar that bees collect. Its sucked from the tree by insects like spotted lanternfly. Also, lanternfly DNA was found in a single sample of the smoky honey. One test is not comprehensive but it was cost-prohibitive to do more testing. While Underwood said she doesnt like the taste of the lanternfly honey, there are fans. Philadelphia Bee Co. made Doom Bloom honey collected from throughout the state. Its described as a robust fall honey with a smokey flavor. Carla Marina Marchese, a honey sensory expert and founder of the American Honey Tasting Society, described lanternfly honey as more like a dried fruit, a fig, maybe a date." Is lanternfly honey safe? Honeydew is the poop of lanternflies, as Urban describes it. Is it safe for people to eat? I dont think it would be a problem, Underwood says. Researchers are looking into the sooty mold. Outside the U.S., honeydew from other tree species and insects has high ash levels. That can cause dysentery in bees eating the honeydew. Beekeepers will let those bees collect honeydew and remove it from hives so the bees wont eat it and die over the winter. This issue is not happening in the U.S., Underwood says. What should beekeepers do if they find smoky honey in hives? Harvest it and find a buyer. Or, leave it for the bees to eat over winter. They'll be super happy, Underwood says. You won't have to feed them. And then they'll make that into bees come spring. West Donegal supervisors on Monday night will vote on a controversial plan to rezone a 30-acre agricultural parcel in the village of Rheems for a quarry to expand its limestone mining operations. The targeted parcel on Landis Road is the most ideal place for expanding this quarry and would be easier than constructing a new quarry, said Erik Hume, a representative of R.E. Peirson, a corporation headquartered in New Jersey. R.E. Pierson wants to update the parcel from agricultural to a mining-and-natural-extraction district, in order to expand their existing limestone mining operations into the neighboring farmland. About a dozen residents at the September meeting spoke out against the proposed rezoning. Rheems resident Margaretta S. Lisi, accompanied by her attorney Veronica Morrison, argued that the proposed rezoning was not properly advertised. She explained that there was insufficient signage posted at the expansion site, and that the public was not given adequate notice regarding the hearing. Township solicitor Josele Cleary disagreed, maintaining that the municipalitys planning code was upheld. Other residents concerns centered around the disruptive and unsightly nature of the quarrys operations. Several were worried that the expansion would further deplete the groundwater supply, pointing to the quarry as the reason their wells have gone dry, as well as the cause of structural damage to their homes. An elementary school teacher stated that the blasts from the quarry can be felt in her classroom, rattling windows and distracting students. Others worried for the preservation of the areas natural beauty. The company understands the concerns of local residents, Hume said, and R.E. Peirson will do what it can to address these issues. The board, after a public hearing before the supervisors regular meeting on September 13, voted to table a decision on the zoning issue until its meeting Monday at 7 p.m.. The meeting is open to the public and livestreamed on the townships YouTube page. Residents are free to make comments about it during the public comment section of the agenda. Those comments are limited to 5 minutes per person, Township Manager John Yoder said in an email. The board will then vote to approve/reject the rezoning, or table it until the October 25 meeting. If no action is taken by October 25, the issue will have to be re-advertised. Harvest Days return to Landis Valley Museum, with apples on the menu CONESTOGA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT Conestoga Valley School District school board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, in the Harry W. Wirth Administration Building, 2110 Horseshoe Road. Livestream available. Mask required to attend in person. Among the agenda items: - Action/discussion items: (a) change orders for the new Gerald G. Huesken Middle School; (b) PlanCon D and PlanCon E for the new Smoketown Elementary School; (c) PlanCon D and PlanCon E for renovations at Leola Elementary School; (d) budgetary planning for 2022-23 school year: budgetary calendar and budgetary index; (e) student enrollment presentation; (f) policy review: Policy 606 tax collection, Policy 606,1 district-initiated tax assessment appeals, Policy 607 tuition income, Policy 608 bank accounts and Policy 609 investments; (g) Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit curriculum services agreement; (h) 2021-24 comprehensive plan. - Review board agenda: tentative agenda for Oct. 18. LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL Lancaster City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in council chambers, City Hall annex, 120 N. Duke St., Marion Street entrance. Among the agenda items: - Proclamations, honors, awards and resolutions of recognition: mayoral proclamation, recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Council Resolution No. 56-2021, supporting the Protecting the Right to Organize Act; Council Resolution No. 57-2021, recognizing Fair Trade Month. - Reports requested by council: (a) Center for Regional Analysis housing study; (b) administrations interim housing strategy. - Reports of committees of council meetings held Oct. 4: (a) public safety committee, Garcia-Molina; (b) public works committee, Soto; (c) economic development committee, Arroyo; (d) finance committee, Bakay; (e) community planning committee, Craig; (f) personnel committee, Diaz. - Legislative agenda: (a) nomination for appointment: consider nominations for appointment of the Historical Commission; (b) ordinances for first reading: (1) Administration Bill No. 21-2021, amending the Code of the City of Lancaster, Chapter 262, Streets and Sidewalks, and Chapter 285, Vehicles and Traffic; (2) Administration Bill No. 22-2021, authorizing appropriation of American Rescue Act Plan funds for affordable housing projects; (c) resolutions: (1) Administration Resolution No. 53-2021, authorizing application for a Keystone Communities Grant jointly with the Lancaster Public Library; (2) Administration Resolution No. 54-2021, amending the Capital Improvement Plan funded with 2016A bonds; (3) Administration Resolution No. 55-2021, amending the Capital Improvement Plan funded with 2018 bonds. HEMPFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT The Hempfield school board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Performing Arts Center at Hempfield High School, 200 Stanley Ave., Landisville. Enter door D4. Among the agenda items: - Student Council representatives. - COVID-19 update. LANCASTER COUNTY PLANNING The Lancaster County Planning Commission will meet at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 150 N. Queen St., Rooms 102/104. Online at call.lifesizecloud.com/1696302; or call 312-584-2401, code 1696302#. Among the agenda items: - New planning matters: (a) summary: Dean Severson, director for planning services; (b) community planning reviews: (1) No. 58-83, Strasburg Township, proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance to revise regulations governing residential development in the gateway north zone and residential zone (R-1); to establish a new residential zone (R-2) and provide regulations for such zone; to rezone certain tracts of land as agricultural zone and residential zone (R-2); and to make technical corrections; (c) subdivision and land development items: (1) No. 67-24-2D, 36 Muddy Creek Church Road, East Cocalico Township; (2) No. 68-25-3, 352 Oak Lane, East Donegal Township; (3)No. 78-74-3, Bryce J. and Julia B. Ressler, West Hempfield Township; (4) No. 78-265-2, 430 Spring Grove Road, East Earl Township; (5) No. 85-280-2, Kurtz Family Homestead, Earl Township; (6) No. 86-370-5, Abner S. Glick, Bart Township; (7) No. 21-37, Silver Spring Restaurant and Multi-Family, West Hempfield Township. - Next scheduled meeting: 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25. LANCASTER TWP. SUPERVISORS The Lancaster Township Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at the municipal building, 1240 Maple Ave. Among the agenda items: - Regular meeting: secretarys report, treasurers report, payment of bills, other reports, workshop/department updates - Announcements: (a) Friday, Oct. 15, is the final day for all curbside yard waste collection. This will be a townshipwide collection on one day, all yard waste bags must be curbside the evening of Thursday, Oct. 14; (b) Monday, Oct. 18 leaf collection on signed streets begins; (c) 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct 29, trick or treat to be celebrated; (d) Monday, Nov. 8, woody waste facility hours change to 2-5 p.m. (Monday to Thursday); (e) Friday, Nov. 12, large appliance/tire collection will take place townshipwide on this day only, tags are required. All tagged items must be curbside the evening of Thursday, Nov. 11. - Planning and zoning business: The board will act on a request for approval of a stormwater management site plan for 596 River Drive. - New business: The board will act on the following: memorandum of understanding for Little Conestoga Creek Blue/Green project; request for the Lancaster Township fire police to provide traffic control assistance for the Schaeffer Elementary School PTO annual Fall Parade on Oct. 28. MANHEIM TWP. COMMISSIONERS Manheim Township commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at the Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive. Remote access and info: manheimtwp.org. Among the agenda items: - Old business: plan for the coordination of payroll. - Consent agenda: (a) Grandview Strand, preliminary/subdivision and land development plan, 1251 New Holland Pike, zoned B-1; R-3; T-4 and T-1 overlay, extension of time request; (b) Parkside Reserve, revised preliminary subdivision/land development plan, Petersburg Road, zoned R-1, extension of time request; (c) 744 Honey Farm Road, stormwater management plan, zoned R-1, financial security release; (d) 701 Honey Farm Road, stormwater management plan, zoned R-1, financial security release. - Resolutions: Resolution 2021-53, appointing members to Stormwater Management Task Force. - Ordinances. - Motions/Decisions: 1260 Fruitville Pike, stormwater management ordinance, zoned R-1, modification requests. - Acknowledgements: engineering and traffic study (to post a Watch Children sign on Hillcrest Avenue). WEST LAMPETER TWP. SUPERVISORS The West Lampeter Township supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at the municipal building, 852 Village Road, Lampeter. Among the agenda items: - Presentations: Lancaster Public Library, Jaime Hall and Eva Dombrowski. - Planning matters: letter of credit reduction, 1443 Eshelman Mill Road. - Monthly reports: (a) treasurer; (b) public works department; (c) police department; (d) community development department; (e) township manager. - Township administration matters: (a) Resolution 15-2021 appoint building code official Shawn Strausbaugh; (b) YMCA collateral assignment of lease and memorandum of lease. When: Earl Township supervisors meeting, Oct. 4. What happened: Residents from Windsock Way in New Holland expressed concerns about construction done by Petra Church, 565 Airport Road, which changed stormwater runoff controls. Instead of water going into a retention pond, it now goes into a swale. Eric Copenhaver contacted the township about the problem and learned the church had not received an application to make the change. Action taken: Rick Kochel, supervisor chair, speculated the church made changes due to the heavy rainfalls in August and September. The township will investigate and pursue what can be done to resolve the issue. Quotable: "I don't want to make problems, but property owners already have water issues in basements. We're concerned the new construction will make things worse with heavier storms," Copenhaver said. Appointment: The board approved the appointment of Lou Ann Miller to the Elanco Library Board of Trustees. She replaces Brandi Lee who resigned as township board representative. Road equipment: Supervisors approved the purchase of a new truck, plow and dump device at a cost of $37,290. Editor's Note: The woman who died in the fire Saturday night has been identified as Candy Lee Gray. Read more here. A fire in Shillington Borough, Berks County, killed one woman Saturday night. Fire crews were called to the fire at 38 Philadelphia Ave. shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, said Eric Kohl, 2nd Lt. and spokesperson with the Shillington Fire Department. The Berks County Coroners Office was contacted at 7:17 p.m. and pronounced one woman dead three hours later, according to Acting Coroner Jonn Hollenbach. The woman has not yet been identified. Officials believe the woman was a resident of the house, Hollenbach said in an email. He added that the house is rented and not occupied by the owner. William and Suzanne Hurley own the property, according to Berks County property records. The Shillington Fire Department was assisted by 11 other departments including Mohnton, Wyomissing, Spring Township, Western Berks, West Reading, Exeter Township, City of Reading and the Brecknock fire departments, Kohl said. Crews were on the scene for six hours, though he could not specify how long it took crews to extinguish the fire. My daughter and I saw the smoke and heard the sirens... you could tell it was bad from Lancaster Ave., said Amy Melendez, who lives about a block away from the house. I figured we wouldn't be able to do anything but you never know, even though we don't know all of our neighbors there's a feeling of tight community there and we would do anything we can to help. Melendez said she was heartbroken by the loss as a result of the fire and devastated when she learned someone had died in the fire. She also commended firefighters efforts in battling the fire. Kohl said the Pennsylvania State Fire Marshall is investigating the fire. An autopsy for the woman who died is scheduled for Oct. 12 at Reading Hospital. James Buchanan was not legally a slaveholder, Matthew Pinsker told a Zoom audience late last month. Nor did Buchanan or his contemporaries consider him a slaveholder, he added. But was Buchanan, as we view him now, a slaveholder? The answer hinges on the distinction between slavery and servitude, explained Pinsker, a Lancaster native and professor of history at Dickinson College. Speaking to a LancasterHistory audience, Pinsker examined the known facts of Buchanans ownership of a Black mother and child. He added some new information to that story, which has been discussed in this column on July 19, 2017, and Feb. 21, 2021. In March 1835, Buchanan paid $250 to the owner of two Virginia slaves. The owners condition was that the slaves leave the state, as required by Virginia law, and that they would be indentured to Buchanan in Pennsylvania. The slaves/indentured servants were Daphne Cook, 22, and her 5-year-old daughter, Ann. The two were indentured under terms that were not required under Pennsylvanias Gradual Abolition Act of 1780, but which the slaveholder and Buchanan accepted. Dan Guzy, a retired local historian from Mercersburg, recently discovered that Buchanan himself wrote on the back of the slaves manumission papers that Ann Cook died in the summer of 1835 and Daphne ran away shortly thereafter. This was several months after Buchanan arranged for the release of the Cooks. Therefore, Pinsker said he believes the pair had moved to Lancaster to become servants in Buchanan's pre-Wheatland home. Pinsker wondered if Daphne Cook understood that she and her daughter had choices once they arrived in Pennsylvania. If she had found an antislavery attorney, she might have challenged the indenture in Pennsylvania court. Perhaps she ran away, he said, because she believed Pennsylvania was no safer for Blacks than Virginia and Buchanan was no better than any other slaveholder. So what kind of servant-master was James Buchanan? Pinsker asked. The answer, he said, hinges on the distinction between slavery and servitude. Graduate students who have recently completed dissertations on the subject of indentured servitude under Pennsylvania's complex system are leaning toward a different way to consider indentures, Pinsker explained. One dissertation calls indentured servitude term slavery.' If Buchanan treated the Cooks as house servants working to pay off their indenture, that would suggest one thing, Pinsker said. But Ann Cook died and her mother ran away, suggesting they may have believed something else about their treatment in Buchanans house. If we could find the actual indenture, it may tell us more, Pinsker said. Also, information about what eventually happened to Daphne Cook could help explain the relationship of master and servant. Calling Buchanan a servant holder, not a slave owner, Pinsker concluded, doesnt diminish the problem of servant holders. Buying the time, not the body, of a person was important to Buchanans contemporaries, he said, but is it an important distinction to us? Pinsker discussed at some length the Gradual Abolition Act of 1780 the first emancipation legislation in the nation and how not only Buchanan but all Pennsylvanians handled the transition from slavery to freedom. Pinsker said that whatever relationship Buchanan had with the Cooks in no way alters the fact that Buchanan was a friend of slaveholders. He was almost as pro-slavery,' Pinsker said, as a politician could be. Pinskers talk has been recorded. It will be available on YouTube.com by typing in LancasterHistory or directly at YouTube videos on the LancasterHistory.org website. Jack Brubaker, retired from the LNP staff, writes The Scribbler'' column every Sunday. He welcomes comments and contributions at scribblerlnp@gmail.com. We struggle to get everyone vaccinated, and then we allow thousands of immigrants to come into this country. To me, this is stupid and wrong. Before we allow more people in this country, we need to take care of our own. Steve Vogel Oxford I am completely supportive of the initiatives contained in the Democrats' original $3.5 trillion spending proposal. In particular, I support the provisions for universal pre-K, child care, free community college and paid employee leave for child care. I raised no children. I could not afford to take off work, pay my mortgage and pay for child care at the same time. I did not want to have my birth control fail, so I was fortunate to have health insurance that afforded me to have a tubal ligation. Prior to that, if I had become pregnant, I would have had an abortion. Paid employee leave of 12 weeks per year would not have been viewed as an additional paid vacation. It would have meant that an unplanned baby and I could eat and keep the mortgage paid. The writer of the Oct. 4 letter Doesn't want to spend $3.5 trillion asks what employee wouldn't take advantage of that paid leave every year? Are you kidding me? Get real. Women can have pregnancy complications and are at risk of dying during childbirth. Regarding possible business disruption that 12 weeks of paid leave could cause, an employer could encourage a more stable workforce by providing on-site child care. The impacts of these proposals falling on those couples and individuals who have chosen not to have children include a society of people who work together to provide for the greater community good and a quality life. We should all recognize that the choices of others and the decision of the federal government to reward those choices benefits society as a whole. Karen Overly Smith Upper Allen Township Cumberland County Environmental activists say protecting native people and their right to ancestral lands is critical to saving the rainforest in Brazil. The activists argue that the Amazon natives are its best guardians. The activists spoke Monday at a Reuters Impact conference about the future of the Amazon rainforest. They said the government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is weakening the rights of natives. "What we are seeing is an attack on indigenous people, on their rights, their lives and territories," said Leila Salazar-Lopez. She is the head of Amazon Watch, an environmental group based in Oakland, California. Ginger Cassady is director of the Rainforest Action Network based in San Francisco. She said the actions of the Bolsonaro government have continued to increase deforestation. She said the government is decreasing environmental protections although it has promised to protect the forest. Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon area has risen sharply since Bolsonaro took office in 2019. Early data show forest clearing decreased by 1.2 percent from January to August. But destruction remains at a level not seen in Brazil since 2008. Bolsonaro spoke at the United Nations General Assembly last month. In his speech, he promised to increase resources for environmental enforcement by 100 percent. The environment minister said last month that hundreds of enforcement agents would be added to the fight against illegal deforestation. But critics say the government has reduced spending on environmental efforts for years. Both Salazar-Lopez and Cassady have urged banks and other investors to respect indigenous land rights. They want financial interests to get the permission of native communities before they start projects that influence their lands. The activists called on private industry to stop the expansion of oil concessions in the Amazon. The rainforest around the Amazon River in South America is the worlds largest. It is also considered very important to fight climate change. Salazar-Lopez said forests were being cut down on purpose to clear land for cattle and soybean farms. She said the government's indigenous affairs agency, called Funai, has decreased under Bolsonaro. This has left indigenous areas unprotected and in danger of illegal operations to cut down trees and to mine gold. "Indigenous people are the best protectors of the Amazon forest and of biodiversity around our planet...because they have intrinsic spiritual and cultural connections to the land," Salazar-Lopez said. "They have the most to lose and so they will do anything to protect the land, which is everything to them," she said. Indigenous territories make up about 30 percent of the Amazon, which are among the best protected lands in the area. Another 20 percent are protected areas under the care of the federal government. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Anthony Boadle reported this story for Reuters. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ___________________________________________________ Words in This Story indigenous adj. living naturally in a particular place or area concession n. the right to sell something or do business on property that belongs to the government or to another company or person biodiversity n. the existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment intrinsic adj. belonging to the very basic nature of a thing; happening as a natural part of something We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. A Chinese scientist has shared some details about moon rock samples the country brought to Earth late last year. The samples were collected by Chinas unmanned Change 5 spacecraft, which launched to the moon on November 23, 2020. It returned to Earth 24 days later, bringing back about 2 kilograms of moon rocks and dust. The material was collected from an area known as Oceanus Procellarum, or Ocean of Storms, on the western edge of the near side of the moon. The area is believed to have had intense volcanic activity in ancient times. Some of the samples were collected from the surface, while others came from a drilling operation that reached about 2 meters deep. The mission made China only the third nation to collect lunar samples, following the United States and the Soviet Union. The last such mission happened in 1976, when an unmanned Soviet spacecraft collected 170 grams of moon material. Americas Apollo program - which first put humans on the moon - landed 12 astronauts over six flights from 1969 to 1972. Those missions resulted in astronauts collecting 382 kilograms of rocks and soil. Scientists from Chinas Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center have been examining the new samples. They are seeking to find out how old the material is and what compounds it contains. The team hopes the information can help answer questions about the moons past volcanic history. It may also provide information about when the moon might have lost its magnetic field. Some of the samples were sent to China University of Geosciences, where doctoral student Yugi Qian took part in the examinations. Qian recently provided information on the material during a presentation at the Europlanet Science Congress. Qian described the moon samples as very diverse, saying they included several different kinds of rock material and minerals. About 90 percent of the material was considered local, meaning it came from the landing site or its immediate surroundings. Qian said the local samples were mostly made up of mare basalts. These dark gray rocks are believed to be the result of ancient volcanic activity that took place over much of the near side of the moon. This finding was expected because of what we already know about the moons history. But the scientists noted that the other 10 percent of the material is considered exotic. These samples contain very different chemical substances than the local materials, the team reported. Qian said among these are distant impact materials that could have landed in the area as a result of space objects hitting other areas. The team identified other exotic parts of the sample as volcanic beads. A statement by the Europlanet Society on Qians findings suggests this material might be linked to areas already identified as volcanic eruption sites. One of the sites could have been up to 230 kilometers away from where the Chinese spacecraft landed, the team reported. The statement said the samples may help scientists better understand records of other parts of the lunar surface, as well as hints of the types of space rocks that have impacted the moons surface. The exotic pieces may also provide more information on the age of the area around the Change 5 landing site, it added. All of the local and exotic materials among the returned samples of Change-5 can be used to answer a number of further scientific questions, Qian said. He added that with the rocks and dust, we shall deepen our understanding of the Moons history and help prepare for further lunar exploration. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story, based on reports from the Europlanet Society, Reuters, The Associated Press, NASA and a presentation by Yuqi Qian at the Europlanet Science Congress meeting. Susan Shand was the editor. Quiz - First Details about First Moon Rocks Brought to Earth Since 1970s Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz __________________________________________________ Words in This Story sample n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from drill v. to use a tool or machine to make holes in a hard substance mission n. an important project or trip, especially involving space travel lunar adj. of or relating to the moon diverse adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other exotic adj. very different, strange, or unusual impact n. the force or action of one object hitting another bead n. a small, round piece of glassy material eruption n. the bursting out of material from a volcano hint v. to suggest something, but not in a direct way Indonesian officials are seeking to protect a small environment on Java island that is home to an endangered population of gibbons. Also known as the silvery gibbon, the primate is only found on Java, Indonesias most populous island. The animals help keep forest areas healthy by spreading seeds around the area. But conservation groups say the gibbons habitat is increasingly under threat because of climate change and human activities. The local group SwaraOwa says it observes a population of about 400 gibbons living in a 73-kilometer protected area in the Petungkriyono Forest in central Java. Researcher Arif Setiawan said as many as 70 groups are often seen in the forest, compared to about 50 in 2012. But he warned that their habitat is still under threat. "The real threat now is the integrity of the forest itself because of the increasing number of human activities," he said. The American-based group Conservation International estimates there are around 4,000 Javan gibbons left. They are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List of Threatened Species. SwaraOwa and the government hold meetings with members of the local community each month in an effort to raise awareness of the issue. They have also posted signs in the area stating that hunting and logging are not permitted in the forest. In one project, officials work with local village chiefs to produce shade-grown coffee as a business. This kind of growing can be done without harming forest land. SwaraOwa also operates nature tours, including overnight visits, for visitors coming to the area. Those efforts aim to provide a way for locals to earn income without harming the environment. The more difficult issue to deal with is climate change. It is still raining when it is supposed to be the dry season and that will eventually impact the vegetation," said local forestry official Untoro Tri Kurniawan. "Instead of fruiting season, leaves grow," he said. "So, the flower that is supposed to become fruit would fall and eventually impact the animals in Petungkriyono," he added. Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ___________________________________________ Words in This Story primate n. a member of the group of animals that includes monkeys and people habitat n. the natural environment of a plant or animal conservation n. the act of keeping something safe from harm or from being damaged or destroyed integrity n. the state of being whole and undivided tour n. a visit to and around a place, area or country impact n. the effect a person, even or situation has on someone or something vegetation n. plants and trees that grow in a given area Diggers in Lviv, Ukraine, have uncovered new underground hiding places where Jews fled from Nazi German forces during World War II. Under Lvivs stone streets are the sewers where some Jews hid. Historians say the Nazis killed 100,000 Jews in Lviv at that time. That was about one-third of the citys population. A few were able to survive, including father and daughter Ignacy and Krystyna Chiger. They escaped from the Jewish ghetto by digging an underground passageway to the city's sewers. They later wrote books about their experiences. Historian Hanna Tychka and local diggers said they recently found the exact area where Chiger's family lived in 1943 to 1944, using the books as a guide. Chiger dug a seven-meter-long tunnel to the sewer from his ghetto bedroom. He had to break a solid wall, which was 90 centimeters thick, Tychka said. They had to work quietly so that Nazis would not find out that digging activity was happening in the barrack(s) basement. The Jews used a hammer wrapped in a duster," Tychka told Reuters. In September and October Ukraine is marking the 80th anniversary of the shooting of nearly 34,000 Jews. The shooting happened at Babyn Yar in the capital of Kyiv. It is one of the biggest killings of Jews during the Holocaust, the genocide against the Jews during World War II. In Lyiv, Tychka and her team discovered in July a small underground area. They believe it is where Jews fleeing the ghetto would stay their first night before moving to a larger shelter in the sewers. In the larger shelter, the team found objects they believe the hiding families used. They found an old plate, a toy sheep and pieces of light. They also discovered pieces of glass placed in between bricks in the wall, which were used to prevent rats from stealing food. During a visit to the site, Tychka also pointed out a pipe from where she believed the families could take drinking water. Chiger's family was part of a larger group that also included Halina Wind Preston, then in her early twenties. Of the group of 21, only 10 including the Chigers and Halina survived, said her son David Lee Preston. A baby was born to one of the women in the group. The baby was suffocated for fear that its crying would give away the groups hiding place, Preston said. Preston worked as a reporter for many years in Philadelphia. He has written several reports about his mother and his fathers experience as a prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald death camps. He said many could not accept the conditions inside the sewer and left. They were always in danger of being discovered. Preston has written that two sewer workers helped his mother and her group during the time they lived in the hiding place. They left their hiding place when the Soviet army took Lviv back from the Nazis in July 1944. Preston was thankful to Tychka and the team who made the discovery. He said that, as the number of Holocaust survivors decrease, it is important for younger generations to tell their stories. The work to find the group's hiding place showed "a great desire by many young Ukrainians to set straight the history and prevent it from being corrupted," Preston said. Im Dan Novak. Sergiy Karazy and Lewis Macdonald reported this story for Reuters. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. _________________________________________ Words in This Story sewer n. an underground pipe that carries away water and waste ghetto n. a part of a city where the poor of a particular race or ethnic group live barracks n. a building or buildings in which soldiers live suffocate v. to kill someone by not letting them breathe Columbus Day has been a political lightning rod for states, cities and municipalities around the US for years now. Some have decided to do something about it. A number of states have moved to officially observe Indigenous Peoples' Day, or some version of it, instead -- a holiday to recognize the native populations that were displaced and decimated after Christopher Columbus and other European explorers reached the continent. Most prominently, President Joe Biden became the first US president to issue a proclamation commemorating Indigenous Peoples' Day, writing that Monday was a day on which the country "celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, recognizes their inherent sovereignty, and commits to honoring the Federal Government's trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations." A Colorado kidney transplant candidate who was bumped to inactive status for failing to get a covid-19 vaccine has become the most public example of an argument roiling the nations more than 250 organ transplant centers. Across the country, growing numbers of transplant programs have chosen to either bar patients who refuse to take the widely available covid vaccines from receiving transplants, or give them lower priority on crowded organ waitlists. Other programs, however, say they plan no such restrictions for now. At issue is whether transplant patients who refuse the shots are not only putting themselves at greater risk for serious illness and death from a covid infection, but also squandering scarce organs that could benefit others. The argument echoes the demands that smokers quit cigarettes for six months before receiving lung transplants or that addicts refrain from alcohol and drugs before receiving new livers. It is a matter of active debate, said Dr. Deepali Kumar, an expert in transplant infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and president-elect of the American Society of Transplantation. Its really an individual program decision. In many programs, its in flux. Leilani Lutali, 56, a late-stage kidney disease patient from Colorado Springs, Colorado, learned in a Sept. 28 letter from UCHealth in Denver that if she didnt begin a covid vaccine series within 30 days, she would lose her spot on the transplant waiting list. Both she and her living donor, Jaimee Fougner, 45, of Peyton, Colorado, refused to get vaccinated, citing religious objections and uncertainty about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. I have too many questions that remain unanswered at this point. I feel like Im being coerced into not being able to wait and see and that I have to take the shot if I want this lifesaving transplant, Lutali said. She said she offered to be tested for covid before the surgery or to sign a waiver absolving the hospital of legal risk for her refusal of the vaccine. At what point do you no longer become a partner in your own care regardless of your own concerns? she said. Lutali now hopes to take her transplant quest to Texas, where several hospitals, including Houston Methodist and Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, said they dont require covid vaccinations to approve active candidates for the national waiting list. The difference between policies in Denver and Dallas and elsewhere underscore a tense national divide. As of late April, fewer than 7% of transplant programs nationwide reported inactivating patients who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against covid, according to research by Dr. Krista Lentine, a nephrologist at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. But that was just a snapshot in late spring, and like all covid-related practices, its rapidly changing, Lentine said. UCHealth in Denver began requiring covid vaccinations for transplant patients in late August, citing the American Society of Transplantations August recommendation that all solid organ transplant recipients should be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Patients who undergo transplant surgery have their immune systems artificially suppressed during recovery, to keep their bodies from rejecting the new organ. That leaves unvaccinated transplant patients at extreme risk of severe illness if they are infected by covid, with mortality rates estimated at 20% to 30%, depending on the study, Dan Weaver, a spokesperson for UCHealth said. For the same reason, transplant patients who receive covid vaccines after surgery may fail to mount a strong immune response, research shows. UW Medicine in Seattle began mandating covid vaccines this summer, said Dr. Ajit Limaye, director of the solid organ transplant infectious diseases program. Patients were already required to meet other stringent criteria to be considered for transplantation, including receiving inoculations against several illnesses, such as hepatitis B and influenza. For anyone who does not have a medical contraindication, basically, were requiring it, he said. Theres a very strong sense to make it a requirement, like all the other hoops, straight up. By contrast, Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, where doctors performed the first double-lung transplant on a covid patient in June 2020, is encouraging but not requiring vaccination against the pandemic disease. We dont decline care of transplant based on vaccine status, said Jenny Nowatzke, Northwesterns manager of national media relations. The patient also doesnt get any lower scores. The lack of consistent practice across programs sends a mixed message to the public, said Dr. Kapilkumar Patel, director of the lung transplant program at Tampa General Hospital in Florida, where covid vaccines are not required. We mandate hepatitis and influenza vaccines, and nobody has an issue with that, he said. And now we have this one vaccination that can save lives and make an impact on the post-transplant recovery phase. And we have this huge uproar from the public. Nearly 107,000 candidates are waiting for organs in the U.S.; dozens die each day still waiting. Transplant centers evaluate which patients are allowed to be placed on the national list, taking into account medical criteria and other factors like financial means and social support to ensure that donor organs wont fail. We really make all kinds of selective value judgments, said Dr. David Weill, former director of Stanford University Medical Centers lung and heart-lung transplant program who now works as a consultant. When were selecting in the committee room, I hear the most subjective, value-based judgments about peoples lives. This is just another thing. The centers can choose to place candidates on inactive status for a variety of reasons, including medical noncompliance, according to data from the United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees transplants. As of Sept. 30, that category accounted for 738 of more than 47,000 registrants waiting in inactive status, though its not clear how many are tied to vaccination status. A particularly thorny question involves unvaccinated people who need transplants specifically because covid infections destroyed their organs. As of late September, more than 200 lungs, as well as at least six hearts and two heart-lung combinations, had been transplanted for covid-related reasons in the U.S., according to UNOS data. Many of those organs were transplanted earlier in the pandemic, before any covid vaccine was widely available. Thats no longer the case, Weill said. If youre just now getting vaccinated, youve done it at gunpoint, actually, he said. Its not just a personal choice; theyre making some kind of a statement. Such patients are usually younger and healthier than other transplant candidates, aside from the covid-related damage, and theyre often acutely ill enough to go to the top of any transplant list. The sick covid patient might go ahead of the stable cystic fibrosis patient, Weill said. Tampa Generals Patel said he performed a lung transplant on a patient who was transferred to Florida after being delisted at another center because he wasnt vaccinated for covid. I mandated with him basically on a handshake that he will get his vaccine post-transplant, Patel said. But his family? They havent agreed. Eventually, Patel said, he thinks nearly all transplant programs will mandate covid vaccination, largely because transplant centers are evaluated on the longer-term survival of their patients. I think its going to spread like wildfire across the country, he said. If you start losing patients in a year due to covid, it will be mandated sooner rather than later. If you look at the number of Democrats who are in the primary, you would have to say theyve concluded that Sen. Johnson is quite vulnerable, Balz said, noting that he is the only incumbent senator projected to be in a toss-up race by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. But the most interesting question, as I've talked to people out here over the last few months, is whether the Republicans are better off if Johnson runs for a third term, which would break the pledge that he made that he would only serve two. Or would they be better off if he decides not to run and then you get a fresh candidate? Balz added. Balz noted that Democrats have twice underestimated Johnsons appeal to Wisconsin voters, and believes theyre in danger of doing that again. The U.S. Senate race is just one of several high-profile showdowns slated for 2022. Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, will face a fierce challenge, likely from former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Lang said shes monitoring to see what accomplishments Evers is going to run on. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. After eight years leading the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chancellor Rebecca Blank is saying goodbye. The university announced Monday morning that Blank will become the next president of Northwestern University starting in summer 2022, where she will make history as the institutions first woman president. She will replace long-time president Morton Schapiro, who assumed leadership in 2009 and announced his departure from Northwestern in March. In Blanks near-decade of tenure at UW-Madison, she has accelerated the universitys research programs, achieved record-high graduation rates and developed scholarship programs catering to low-income students within the state. Her work has expanded the number of faculty and students, as well as put the campus finances back on track after the pandemic brought losses in revenue. A unanimous pick from Northwesterns board of trustees While the announcement came as a surprise to Badgers, Blank has deep ties to the campus in Evanston, Illinois. Her daughter was born there and later attended Northwestern as a student. Before becoming chancellor of UW-Madison in 2013, Blank served as the first tenured woman in Northwesterns economics department from 1989 to 1999, and also directed its Joint Center for Poverty Research. Her exit is another big change for public higher education in Wisconsin, as the UW System continues its search to replace interim president Tommy Thompson, the former Republican governor. Leading UWMadison and serving the people of Wisconsin has been an honor and a privilege, Blank said in a press release. It was always my goal to leave this university stronger than when I came and I believe that together we have achieved that. Now its time to let someone else step into leadership. According to a news release from Northwestern, a 34-person search committee, which included directors, faculty, students, staff and alumni, unanimously recommended Blank to the board of trustees. The committee solicited input through listening sessions and open forums and interviewed a diverse slate of candidates, said Peter Barris, chair of the committee and a vice chair of Northwesterns board of trustees. The committee found Chancellor Blank to be unparalleled and impressive in her power to articulate a comprehensive and unifying vision across Northwesterns constituencies and inspire as a proven collaborative and bold leader, he said. The UW System Board of Regents, which consists of 18 members all but two of whom are appointed by the state governor has yet to announce its plans to search for the next UW-Madison chancellor. The board, alongside the System president and a committee of university members, will decide who is named successor. Leading through political change and a pandemic Gov. Tony Evers noted in a statement that Blank has been with the university through budget cuts and political strife. He suggested the next chancellor should be a strong voice for investing in our kids, continuing UW-Madisons legacy as a top-tier research institution, and the pursuit of the Wisconsin Idea, the philosophy that encourages people to take their education beyond the boundaries of the classroom. As we work to ensure our states continued economic recovery, supporting higher education and our UW System including our campus in Madison must be a top priority, he said. During her time on campus, Blank who previously served as an economics expert in three presidential administrations, including the elder Bush, Clinton and Obama presidencies has prioritized community outreach and economic development, maintaining close relationships with city and state officials. The city of Madison considers the university a key partner in all that goes on in Madison, and we look forward to working closely with Chancellor Blanks replacement, said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway in a press release. In 2013, Blank arrived on campus just two years into then-Gov. Scott Walkers tenure, seeing the university through millions of dollars in UW System budget cuts, including the largest state funding slash in the Systems history. Despite the effects of the pandemic, Blank told the Faculty Senate on Oct. 4 that the university is in strong health and improving by almost every measure. This university was in some real financial trouble when I arrived, and I worked very hard to put it on a stable financial grounding, Blank told reporters in a media conference Monday afternoon, referencing that state funding for the institution hasnt increased in her eight years on campus. Instead, we've been entrepreneurial and done a number of things to increase investment income, which we in turn have put into making sure that we provide access to students, to deepen our program, to strengthen quality and reputation of faculty all the things that keep this university first-rate. Reflecting on her time as chancellor, Blank said the last six months of the 2020-2021 academic year were among some of the most challenging due to the pandemic. She said her third year on campus, when the state abolished its tenure statutes, was also tough. It caused an enormous amount of upset, she recalled. It was more of an existential threat to this university and its quality and functioning than the pandemic was. The pandemic was a big threat and took a lot more time to navigate because we suddenly had to turn into a public health institution, but I think we all knew we'd get through it. The tenure debate was just a little bit harder, more fundamental, Blank said. Growth and setbacks throughout tenure At Mondays press conference, she said the universitys tuition promise programs are some of the initiatives shes most proud of heading. Nearly 800 of the 3,859 in-state freshmen this year are taking advantage of Buckys Tuition Promise, which provides free tuition to Wisconsin residents with household incomes less than $60,000. The four-year graduation rate for students at UW-Madison is at its highest ever, and the graduation gap between white and historically underrepresented students has narrowed by half in the last decade. The number of freshmen of color at UW-Madison has also increased by nearly 25% since the last academic year. Those identifying as African American rose by 7%, while the university saw larger increases among biracial, Hispanic and Asian students. Still, Blank has received backlash from students over issues of race, equity and inclusion throughout the years, including from UW-Madisons BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Coalition. When you step into a new job a move from a big public to a medium-sized private therell be a learning curve, Blank said. I tried very hard here to do a shared leadership model. The faculty, staff and students are quite involved, they have strong opinions. They let us know about it, and I have tried to work through it and whenever possible with them, as we tried to move the university forward. I would hope to bring that to Northwestern as well. Whats next for Northwestern and UW? At Northwestern University, president Schapiro has faced criticism from students, especially in regard to his handling of student activism and the hiring of Mike Polisky as athletic director. Just nine days after Northwestern announced his promotion in May, Polisky a named defendant in a federal sexual harassment lawsuit filed in February by a Northwestern cheerleader resigned from his post amid an outcry of disapproval from students, faculty and staff. I haven't been on campus at Northwestern so I cannot address specific issues there and I certainly can't address the decisions that President Schapiro has been making, Blank said to reporters, regarding how shell approach Northwestern students who may distrust the universitys leadership. I would hope I'd come to campus and talk to students, talk to faculty, talk to staff, to figure out what the issues are and what are some of the things that we can do to move forward. The incoming UW-Madison chancellor will need to continue finding ways to generate revenue to make up for nonexistent state funding, Blank said. She described UW-Madison as one of the most regulated institutions of any state university in the country, saying there is a lack of moral authority and flexibility on a variety of issues that the next leader will need to address. Diversity and equity, she said, should also remain a top priority. In such a predominantly white state and a predominantly white community, the challenges of diversity in this community continue to be very real, she said, and that's just something that whoever is next in leadership, and across campus, people are going to have to keep working on that issue in a very steady and concentrated, focused way. Last Saturday, Blank and her husband Hanns Kuttner went to lunch at the Memorial Union Terrace, one of the spots she said shell miss most on campus. Peering out at Lake Mendota, Kuttner said to Blank, Evanston is a lovely place and Lake Michigan is lovely, but there really isn't another place anywhere on a college campus in the world that is quite as nice as the Terrace. I think thats true. Ill miss that, Ill miss game days, she told reporters. Therell be other things that I discover in Evanston that I love but this is a great university. Blank said she has enjoyed watching the city grow and expand throughout the years, becoming an incredibly lively place thats more diverse and stronger than when she arrived. I think that's going to continue, she said. A lot of that is due to the presence of the university in this community and the young people in the state, who start businesses here and go to work here. I'm very bullish on the future of Madison. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Gableman has said he plans to look into advice the bipartisan state Elections Commission gave to clerks, and donations the Facebook-funded nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life gave to Wisconsin communities, to help run the 2020 election. On Saturday, Gableman said the alternative to his investigation would be to look the other way while millions of dollars in private funds may have been used in the public management of elections to achieve a preferred outcome at the expense of election integrity. If indeed this occurred would be the true definition of a boondoggle, and it would also mark the beginning of tyranny and the end of the American experiment in democracy, Gableman said. Sham review Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a statement the video further underscores that Gableman has predetermined the results of this sham review. This video only further underscores the governors comments that this is a $700,000 boondoggle on taxpayer dime to confirm what independent reviews have already proven: Wisconsin had a free, fair and secure election, and President Biden won, Cudaback said. Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on October 7, 2021. The Idaho State Department of Education finalized a work plan last week aimed at helping schools meet students mental and behavioral health needs. In a statewide survey last year, more than 90% of school leaders said they see the value in providing behavioral health services for students, but only 60% had some sort of plans in place to try and address those needs. Eric Studebaker, the SDEs director of student safety and engagement, convened a statewide group of health professionals, educators and state officials following the survey to guide the SDEs efforts to help expand behavioral health resources. The new work plan addresses 10 of 11 recommendations put forward by that group, including improving state data and educator access to mental health resources. The plan will guide the SDEs efforts for the next 18-24 months, Studebaker said. View this document on ScribdKey components of the plan include: Gathering educators working on mental health into a professional learning community where they can share resources and ideas. Improving state data tools to help districts track and evaluate student well-being through indicators like behavior, attendance and bullying. Getting an accurate count of how many school counselors, psychologists and other pupil-services staff are currently working in Idahos schools. (The states current ratio, Studebaker said, is skewed because part-time workers are counted as full-time). Completing a request for proposals for a statewide student assistance program where students could quickly access mental health services. This request for proposals is a first step toward potentially developing a statewide mental health resource similar to programs in Cassia County and Twin Falls, where students could get immediate access to crisis help, or a local mental health provider. The RFP responses will help set the stage for what the service might cost and whether it is even a reality, Studebaker said. If we could do this it could be a huge breakthrough in connecting families with services, he said. The work plan is missing one of the recommendations from the state group: Adopting a common framework for discussing social-emotional learning in Idahos classrooms. The SDE leadership team decided not to pursue that recommendation in light of a national poll suggesting the term social-emotional learning is unpopular with parents, and the divisive political rhetoric around the term, Studebaker said. Social-emotional learning (SEL) has been drawn into partisan debates around whether schools are teaching critical race theory, or trying to indoctrinate youth with liberal ideology. The state is evaluating whether it will continue to use the term social-emotional learning, Studebaker said. The commitment to the components is still all there, SDE spokeswoman Kris Rodine said. Its just the terminology that is the flashpoint. Idaho lacks a statewide rubric for how schools should provide behavioral health supports to students. Whether a student has access to mental health services in school depends on where they live, and whether administrators have the funds or the interest in providing those services. This new work plan does not cement any new requirements for school districts to address mental health. However, the federal government did ask school districts to evaluate student well-being in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe how they will use millions in federal relief funds to support students social and emotional health. Studebaker is optimistic that federal COVID-19 relief funds helped districts pay for new behavioral health projects, and that the state plan will provide more resources for those projects to succeed. He acknowledges that some communities, and educators, are on the fence about whether schools should be involved in addressing youth mental health. Time, he thinks, might convince them. Everything that Im hearing, that Im witnessing, is that our kids have been hit hard by this pandemic, Studebaker said. Unfortunately I think were going to see instances of bullying, suicide ideation, depression, all of those things are going to increase. I think thats whats going to bring the schools involved. Studebaker will present his work plan in more detail at the SDEs upcoming student safety symposium on Oct. 21. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Idahoans from across the state will get one more chance to share their thoughts with the states bipartisan redistricting commission before commissioners shift their focus to redrawing the states political boundaries. Redistricting commissioners will accept remote testimony virtually online and via telephone during a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Statehouse. Anyone wishing to testify remotely should sign up in advance to do so via the redistricting commissions website. Over the past five weeks, commissioners have staged public hearings in 16 different Idaho cities and towns. Tuesdays virtual hearing marks a chance for anyone who wasnt able to attend one of the regional hearings to share their thoughts. Redistricting is the process of using new 2020 census data to update Idahos two congressional districts and 35 legislative districts. The process takes place every year and is intended to ensure political representation is as equal as possible. Idaho experienced significant growth over the past 10 years, and was the second-fastest growing state in the country behind Utah, according to the census. However, that growth was divided and uneven across the state, which is why the old boundaries need to be tossed out and redrawn. Thus far, commissions have been interested in hearing from Idahoans about how their local communities should be represented. You learn a lot about the different areas, commissioner Eric Redman said in a Sept. 30 interview. I know my area in the far north and so I like to hear from the other areas. Im a little frustrated about the county split thing, I dont think that actually helps out our communities of interest. For instance, Meridian Mayor Robert Simison told commissioners during a hearing last month that Meridians growth justifies having two legislative districts that are central to Meridian and really represent the community. Since convening Sept. 1, commissioners have produced three proposed rough draft type maps. Commissioners proposed two congressional maps and one legislative map. Commission co-chairman Dan Schmidt said commissioners will use input from the public hearings to improve upon the rough maps they already proposed. However, he has warned the complicated nature of the process makes it so not everyone will be happy with the finished redistricting plan. In the end, it takes a minimum of four votes from the six-member commission to approve a map. The commission is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans. One of the proposed congressional maps splits Ada County, the states most populated county, between the two congressional districts. The other proposed congressional map would place Ada County and the entire Treasure Valley in the first congressional district. For the past 10 years, Ada County has been split between the two districts. Each of the maps commissioners have proposed, as well as more than 75 maps created by the public, are available to view under the maps tab on the redistricting commissions website, legislature.idaho.gov/redistricting/2021. By law, commissioners have until Nov. 30 to submit their finalized maps and redistricting plan to the state. The new maps will determine which congressional and legislative districts Idahoans live in and whom they can vote for in the 2022 elections. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Over the course of three decades of teaching in rural southern Idaho, Jan Kidd dealt with her fair share of change and challenges, and she had always been able to handle whatever came her way. Shes not an idle person she likes to stay busy teaching kids about graphic design, accounting and business mathematics. But when the school district told Kidd and her colleagues at Declo High School in spring 2020 that they had 24 hours to be ready to start online learning, she was thrust into chaos. We were not prepared. We were not prepared one bit, Kidd said. Kidd, 57, was one of the most technologically savvy people in the high school, which made her a go-to resource for anyone who needed help. Cassia County School District had little infrastructure for online learning, she said, and had to send a bus equipped with wifi to one of the rural areas so students could park and use the wifi connection. In 33 years, it was the hardest thing Ive ever done, Kidd said. That first week I ended up at the doctor and they had to put me on anxiety medication because I wasnt going to make it. So at least a year earlier than planned, Kidd decided she was done and retired. I may have still been going without the pandemic, she said. Ive got students that have done such fabulous things, and I would love them to know their potential, but I just couldnt do it anymore. Shes one of millions of baby boomers those who were born between 1946 and 1964 who retired in 2020. According to Pew Research, about 28.6 million boomers retired between July and September last year, which is 3.2 million more than retirements in the same quarter of 2019 and twice as many as economists had predicted. Its one factor behind the strange situation of near-historic low unemployment rates in Idaho coupled with labor shortages in certain industries across the state, according to Idaho Department of Labor Research Supervisor Craig Shaul. People are saving more money because they dont have much to do, and theyre just retiring early, Shaul said. Retirements in K-12 education in Idaho were up in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019, according to records from the Idaho State Board of Education. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, 668 educators retired, compared to 511 in 2019 and 428 in 2018. But overall, school districts reported high teacher retention rates through the pandemic, according to Idaho Education News. Many factors behind Idahos low unemployment rate, high job availability Earlier this month, the Idaho Department of Labor reported Idahos seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had dropped another one-tenth of a percent to 2.9%, the lowest it has been since March 2020. Federal benefits that increased unemployment payments to claimants ended in mid-June, and only about 3,200 out of more than 26,000 unemployed people across the state are still collecting benefits. The reason the rate went down, Shaul said, is that Idaho had its largest labor force growth in 18 months between July and August, and all of the workers who joined were already employed. Whats happening here and why youre seeing Help Wanted signs still is theres a nationwide challenge for employers to fill positions right now, and Idaho is experiencing that because its economy has been performing better than the nation over the past year and a half, Shaul said. (And the retiring) portion of the population is still consuming goods and services and fueling economic demand. Retirements are one reason the states overall labor participation rate, which reflects the available working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking employment, has declined from 64.1% in 2019 to 62.5% in 2021. Thats a bigger drop than expected. It didnt come back with (COVID-19) vaccinations. In fact, it seems to be continuing downward, he said. At the other end of the spectrum, Shaul said there is a lower rate of participation among young people who are more often going to school full time or otherwise choosing not to seek employment. COVID accelerated existing trends in Idaho employment, researcher says Another big factor is that many people are able to live in an Idaho city but work remotely for a company out of state, according to Shaul. On an anecdotal level, people can live in a city like Pocatello and earn twice as much with a remote position based in California. That siphons off another portion of the available workforce. What the pandemic kind of did was accelerate trends that were there before, Shaul said. Younger age participation rates had already been declining, and retirements were expected to be an issue with the aging baby boomer population. For people like Claudia Krone of Moscow, retirement came about five years earlier than shed planned because she didnt feel safe teaching voice lessons anymore at the University of Idaho after 25 years. Krone, 66, decided before school started in the fall semester of 2020 that her tiny studio wasnt a good environment to be in with singers and theater students who laugh, sing and talk loudly when the COVID virus is mostly spread via airborne water droplets. It was a difficult decision, she said, but with three grandchildren in Boise, she wanted to make sure she was safe to be around them too. My husband and I went back and forth all summer, and (my son) too was saying, You shouldnt do it, you dont really have to, Krone said. It just isnt worth the risk. Shes still teaching a few students privately for free because she believes in their talents, but it hasnt been easy to stop teaching full time. Its hard, Krone said. I miss my students and theyre very important to me. To me, it was more than a job. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 0 Supreme Court justices appeared to agree on Wednesday that its time for the longest-held U.S. detainee at Guantanamo Bay to tell his story in court. The prisoner, Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, better known as Abu Zubaydah, was waterboarded more than 60 times after being captured in a Pakistani military raid in March 2002. U.S. intelligence and FBI agents wrongly believed he was a top-level al-Qaida operative and subjected him to months of merciless torture. Nineteen years later, Abu Zubaydahs case has finally reached the Supreme Court, a testament to the ongoing reluctance of the U.S. justice system to engage on the touchy subject of the rights of suspects linked, rightly or wrongly, to the 9/11 attacks. What should be an open-and-shut case of egregious human rights violations shockingly remains a subject of sterile courtroom debate, years after the focal point of Wednesdays discussion Abu Zubaydah was rendered a broken and irreparably maimed man because of his barbaric treatment. In addition to being waterboarded, the Palestinian was stuffed inside a coffinlike box for 11 days. His captors infested the box with insects to torment him. Already gravely injured from gunshot wounds during his capture, Abu Zubaydah also lost an eye during his CIA captivity. Whether his torture actually yielded useful intelligence is still under debate, which is surprising considering that investigators concluded long ago he was not even a member of al-Qaida. He is mentioned 1,343 times in a 2014 Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report. The committee concluded he was not a member of al-Qaida, much less a leader, and his own interrogators concluded by August 2002 that it was highly unlikely he possessed the information they were seeking. Wednesdays Supreme Court hearing focused on whether the government may continue to hide behind protecting intelligence sources and methods to block testimony from the two interrogators who tortured Abu Zubaydah. Remarkably, no one not even the government denies any longer that he was tortured. Considering that the CIA denied this fact for years underscores how far the nation has come. Perhaps more remarkable was the concurrence among conservative and liberal justices that, even if the government still wont allow the torturers to testify, Abu Zubaydah should be allowed to speak in court. Justice Neil Gorsuch asked: What is the governments objection to the witness testifying to his own treatment? Considering the number of innocents killed because of badly flawed U.S. intelligence including 10 in a drone strike in the final days of the Afghanistan withdrawal Americans need to hear the story of someone left permanently scarred, physically and mentally, in the pursuit of intelligence he was incapable of providing. The other alternative is to keep waiting for him to die in silence, so he can be carried out of Guantanamo in a box just like the one he was tortured in. Reprinted from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch distributed by creators.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 There has been a lot of talk about the Constitution the past few years. Most often people refer to it without explanation to support either a conservative or a liberal cause, as if the document had explicit language supporting their position. It usually doesnt. For example, one prominent Republican governor swore that the Constitution doesnt allow vaccine mandates. I suppose a lot of people hearing his announcement immediately believed the governor. He is supposed to be smart and wants to run for President. The Constitution is everybodys ace in the hole. Mention it is like mentioning scripture, or settled science. But today we understand what is in the Constitution about as well as church-goers understand scripture and anti-vaxxers understand science, which is pretty badly. Sure, we have an actual written Constitution that anyone and everyone can read, but how many folks actually know whats in it? Even our judges and our so-called constitutional lawyers dont pay that much attention to the historical meaning of its wording. The reason they arent much interested in its original intent is that professional legal people base their constitutional judgments and arguments on the most recent precedents (cooked-up meanings) placed into the law. Precedents are the legal maneuvers that corporations, lobbyists, and politicians in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches get away with while the people are sound asleep. If we look at the law itself, we find that the chief aim of the Constitution is to specify who makes the laws, and how and when they are to be made. It says the people of the states make the great majority of the laws, and Congress makes a few of them, all through elected representatives. The governors and the President are limited to implementing or executing the laws, and not allowed to dream them up on a bad hair bay and force them on the people. Unfortunately, the President has usurped (taken over) much of the legislative power to make laws, raise money, and initiate war. And judges like to act like legislators too. Judges are not supposed to make policies either, just tweak them a very little bit. Also, there is a lot of background that must be read between the lines of the Constitution that the Founders understood very well and assumed would always inform the law at one level of government or another. These are democratic priorities and democratic valuesthe way in which a democratic people go about their business. Democratic priorities and values are not just communicated in the law, but also in churches, school houses, homes, and businesses. History teaches that democratic constitutions and peoples pass out land to families, establish independent judiciaries, focus heavily on public health, establish broad voting rights, criminalize any abuse of equal justice for all, use impeachment to rein-in would-be dictators, and require citizen oversight of government. Sound like the United States you know today? We have gotten away from a lot of this. History also teaches that democracies must hold free elections; nurture a highly ethical mixed religious/secular culture; find candidates for office who are not interested in profit or power, and even then, limit their terms of office; rein in the wealthy class by means of progressive taxation and debt relief; abolish primogeniture (only first sons get rich); prohibit a hereditary nobility (where only the rich sit in Congress); and keep the police power (social and economic regulatory power) largely on the local level. We have done some of this, but have slipped badly in most areas. Robert Kimball Shinkoskey is a retired state government worker who writes about current events from a historical perspective. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Democrats in Congress have not settled on the time and money frames somewhere between $1.5 and $3.5 trillion. Yet you hear that moderates and progressives in the House are locked in combat, preventing a vote on either bill. The real gap right now is between the House and the Senate Democrats, two in particular. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona are playing singles instead of joining with the other 48 Democrats to play on their team to deliver a major win. The culture of the lordly Senate plantation gives them tacit permission to hold up a new president of their own party. The truth is, there are only a handful of moderates in the House, compared to about 90 in the progressive faction. The press is overstating the power of moderates like Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who does himself no favors with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., by scolding for a vote on the bipartisan bill, passed by the Senate. The progressives are a solid front, much to the amazement of the media. Pelosis hardheaded strategy is to pass both bills at once, not orphaning either. When Biden came to call on House Democrats, he made the same pitch: together, together. The high number would have to come down, he said, to the $2 trillion range. Its important to understand that everything Trump has done is straight out of the autocrats playbook: 1. Create an Us vs. Them mentality by stigmatizing the Other, which can include Mexicans, Muslims, immigrants, or any other scapegoat deemed useful. 2. Undermine faith in the press, while spreading lies, conspiracy theories and propaganda. Social media has made this much easier. 3. Undermine faith in elections. 4. Ignore law and custom in order to grab and hold on to power. However, Trump is not a master magician who can hypnotize a nation into giving up on democracy. He has had abettors at every stage, important people who have signed on, believing it was in their own best interest: corrupt foreign leaders, avaricious businessmen without moral compass, and a radicalized Republican Party. Jan. 6 really happened, and it was exactly what it appeared to be a coup attempt intended to thwart a legal election and establish Trump as Americas permanent leader. One hundred and forty-seven Republicans voted to overturn election results. This was insurrection in every sense and has gone unpunished except for a number of terrorists who breached the Capitol at Trumps instigation. And many of these have received ridiculously light sentences. Credit: California State Polytechnic University A new study that analyzes the interplay or of race, poverty, politics and age distribution on COVID-19 vaccination rates in each county across the United States has found that the impact of each factor is not universal across geographies. Carsten Lange, professor of economics and an expert in data science, was a coauthor of the project which used machine learning algorithms and Artificial Intelligence Explanations (AIX) to quantify each factor contributing to the level of vaccination hesitancy. "What's particularly interesting is how the effect of one variable is not universal across geographies," said Carsten Lange. "For example, the impact of political affiliation (measured as percentage of Republican votes in the last election) might be lower in a county with a large percentage of elderly population and higher when a county's percentage of elderly residents is low." In California, voters in both Orange and Merced counties are 45 percent Republican. However, the impact of political affiliation on vaccination rates has a different impact when considering all variables simultaneously. The larger Asian population in Orange County (20 percent) drives the political impact on the vaccination rate higher. In Merced County, a lower Asian population (7 percent) reduces the impact of political affiliation. While the model reveals that a county with a larger percentage of Asians, tends to have a higher vaccination rate, their impact can be modified by other differences within the community. Credit: California State Polytechnic University Marin County in Northern California has an Asian population of 5.8 percent, while nearby San Joaquin County's Asian population is 15 percent. However, due to other disparities within the two Asian communities, the Asian population influence is higher on the vaccination rate in Marin County than in San Joaquin County, according to the study. Variations between counties with a large percentage of African American residents are also more visible with a multivariant analysis. Both Prince George County (Maryland) and Kemper County (Mississippi) are about 62 percent African American. In Kemper County, the variable has a negative impact of 4.6 percent on the vaccination rate. In contrast, in Prince George County, the impact is 3.4 percent positive. Because Prince George County borders Washington, D.C., it's possible that residents have a very different exposure and understanding of current affairs than the residents in Kemper County. By highlighting the variable impact of different factors in each county, this research could be a helpful tool for local health officials and others working to improve vaccination rates in individual communities, said co-author Jian Lange, a principal product manager at Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) with a focus on spatial analysis. "Traditional regression analysis is built on the assumption of constant impact factors over the entire study area, but in reality, variables have different impacts in different counties," he said. "By implementing a state-of-the-art AI explainability algorithm, we are able to solve the black box problem with machine learning models and provide answers to the "how much" question for each measured impact factor in every county." The study's interactive online dashboard is available to the general public. More information: The study is available online: The study is available online: www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards 43ce8f931009c15c8c9c Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Latvia has declared a three-month state of emergency starting from Monday following a surge in COVID-19 infections to record levels, as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU. The number of daily infections is now well over 1,000 in the Baltic country of 1.9 million people, overtaking the peak infection rate seen during the pandemic earlier this year. Under the new rules, masks are now obligatory in all buildings accessible by the general public and anyone employed in government must have a vaccine by November 15 at the latest. Unvaccinated people will only be allowed to shop for food and other essential items in designated stores and only shops considered essential will be allowed to open at weekends. All Latvians are being encouraged to work from home where possible. "I urge you not to gather, not to visit and to reduce your contacts," Latvian Prime Minister Krisjans Karins said on Twitter. Latvian hospitals are already overcrowded with COVID patients. "We have to turn away other patients with non-life-threatening diagnoses. Emergency medical teams cannot even respond to all calls," Karlis Racenis, head of the Latvian Junior Doctors' Association, said at a press conference. Only 48 percent of Latvians are fully vaccinatedthe fourth-worst vaccination rate in the European Union after Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. A government scientific advisory group on Monday said it would no longer work for the government after it said its advice during the summer to avoid the current fourth wave of infections was ignored. "There must be demand from the government for academic expertise but our current experience shows that there is no such demand from the cabinet at all," the scientists said in a statement. 2021 AFP There was wide public acceptance of workplace vaccine requirements, according to a U.S. survey by researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions. Deep divisions, however, exist between Democrats and Republicans. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University A solid 60 percent of U.S. residents support government-mandated COVID-19 workplace vaccinations, but there was a wide gap between Democrats and Republicans, according to a poll taken after President Biden ordered businesses with at least 100 employees to require vaccination or undergo weekly testing. The U.S. study by the COVID States Project, a collaborative effort by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers, found support for workplace immunizations among men and women as well as people of different races, ethnicities, and age groups. But the study found a partisan chasm of 46 percentage points between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats overwhelmingly in favor of backing vaccination requirements for businesses81 percent to 35 percent for Republicans. Independents came in in the middle at 53 percent. The findings of the August-September survey of 7,000 U.S. residents may tick a few points up or down once the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency that oversees workplace safety, issues a more detailed rule later this year, says David Lazer, university distinguished professor of political science and computer sciences at Northeastern. "There will be positive or negative reactions accordingly," adds Lazer, one of the researchers who conducted the study. "It'll be interesting to see how the OSHA rule manifests." Currently, one in four companies have instituted a vaccination requirement and an additional 13 percent of companies plan to put one in place, according to a White House report issued on Oct. 7. Large companies, each with tens of thousands of employees, such as AT&T, Bank of America, CVS, and others, already have a mandate. The report added that almost 2,500 hospitals, representing 40 percent of all U.S. hospitals, have announced vaccination requirements for their workforce. "Businesses have more power than ever before to change the arc of this pandemic and save lives," Biden said at a vaccine event in Chicago. But the Northeastern-led survey found that 27 percent of respondents opposed workplace vaccine requirements, which may complicate efforts. Still, researchers found that, outside of the workplace, public support for vaccine mandates overall remains high, increasing slightly in September compared to the summer. They found similar levels of support when they asked respondents if people should be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight, go to school, or attend a university. However, there remained a sharp political divide between Democrats and Republicans on those questions, just as there was on the topic of company vaccine requirements. Vaccine-hesitant workers at companies impacted by the president's order could, in theory, bypass the requirement by landing a job at an employer with fewer than 100 employees. "Given the current state of the labor market, it may well be that people can find positions," Lazer says. It will become harder, though, if there is a broad-based mandate, he adds. There will still be some employers who are exempt from it. Or, in the case of vaccine-opposed workers in the healthcare industry, they could avoid getting their shots by doing in-home care. A related Northeastern survey that focused specifically on healthcare workers found that vaccination rates increased 4 percentage points to 77 percent between June and September of 2021, while those resistant to vaccines decreased only 1 percentage point to 11 percent. In that same four-month span, an additional 4 percent of healthcare workers were immunized, according to the survey. All in all, though, attitudes toward getting the vaccine among the 23 percent of unvaccinated healthcare workers remained mostly unchanged. The larger takeaway is that even though some healthcare employers are mandating vaccines, "it's not had a big impact yet," Lazer says. Still, newspaper headlines in recent weeks have documented the terminations or resignations of nurses and other healthcare industry employees who refused to get their shots. But Lazer says those numbers can seem misleadingly large when read in a headline or a tweet, when in reality it's fewer than 1 percent of employees. "The big lesson here is that the mandates seem to be working, and that there's a lot less turnover, employee-wise, than some of the headlines suggest," he says. University of Utah mechanical engineering assistant professor Tommaso Lenzi (left), helps Alec McMorris put on an experimental exoskeleton that Lenzi has developed for lower-limb amputees. The lightweight powered exoskeleton allows users to walk with much less effort thanks to a series of motors, microprocessors and advanced algorithms. Credit: Dan Hixson/University of Utah College of Engineering Stan Schaar, who lost his left leg in an accident while helping a neighbor, never thought he would again feel the sensation of effortlessly walking with two healthy legs. Then he slipped on a new experimental exoskeleton developed by mechanical engineers at the University of Utah's Bionic Engineering Lab. "It just felt like a big wind was behind me, pushing me down the road," the 74-year-old Salt Lake County, Utah, man says about using the new device. Schaar was one of a half-dozen lower-limb amputees who tested the new exoskeleton designed by a team of University of Utah researchers led by mechanical engineering assistant professor Tommaso Lenzi. The exoskeleton, which wraps around the wearer's waist and leg, uses battery-powered electric motors and embedded microprocessors enabling an amputee to walk with much less effort. The group's research was documented in a new paper published in the journal Nature Medicine. In addition to Lenzi, the paper's co-authors include U mechanical engineering graduate students Marshall K. Ishmael and Dante A. Archangeli. Reduced quality of life Above-knee amputation severely reduces the mobility and quality of life of millions of individuals, in large part because much of the leg's muscles are removed during surgery. "The consequence of this, even though you have the ability to move your hip, is your abilities in walking are quite impaired," Lenzi says. "There is a lack of strength and range of motion." A standard prosthetic leg for amputees cannot fully replicate the biomechanical functions of a human leg. Consequently, above-knee amputees work harder while walking by overexerting their residual-limb and intact-limb muscles to compensate for the lack of energy from the prosthesis. The goal of Lenzi's exoskeleton is to provide that extra energy so walking feels natural again. The device features a lightweight, efficient electromechanical actuator connected to the user's thigh above the amputation. A harness around the waist contains custom electronic systems, microcontrollers, and sensors running advanced control algorithms. "The exoskeleton's AI understands how the person moves and assists how the person moves," Archangeli says. The actuator can be swapped between the right and left side of the main harness to accommodate either leg. University of Utah mechanical engineering researchers have developed a lightweight powered exoskeleton that helps lower-limb amputees walk with much less effort. The device uses motors, microprocessors and advanced algorithms to aid users in walking, much like an e-bike helps riders pedal uphill. Credit: University of Utah College of Engineering Like an electric bike Unlike the powered suit that gives the Marvel superhero, Iron Man, added strength or other exoskeleton suits that aid workers with lifting heavy loads, Lenzi's exoskeleton gives the user just enough extra power for walking. The professor likens it to an electric bike with a motor that gives the rider assistance in pedaling the bike uphill. The team of researchers conducted a study in which six people with above-knee amputations tested the exoskeleton while their metabolic rate was recorded. The patients walked on a treadmill with and without the device on while their oxygen intake and carbon dioxide levels were measured. All of those who tested the exoskeleton improved their metabolic ratein other words, reduced their energy consumptionan average of 15.6% with it on, Lenzi says. "It's equivalent to taking off a 26-pound backpack. That is a really big improvement," he says. "We're very close to what an average person would expend at the same speed. The metabolic consumption is almost indistinguishable from that of an able-bodied person, depending on the fitness level." Another key factor is that this device is uniquely lightweight, Lenzi says. The frame is made of a carbon-fiber material, while other parts are constructed of plastic composites and aluminum. All told, the exoskeleton only weighs 5.4 pounds. "Walk for miles" For Schaar, the experience of using the exoskeleton was as close to his human leg as anything, he says. "The first time I used it, it was like my muscles were totally fused with this exoskeleton, and it was helping them move faster," says the retired computer administrator. "It helped my leg to relax and just move forward and walk. I could probably walk for miles with this thing on because it was helping my muscles move." Seven years ago, Schaar was helping his friend jump-start two pickups when one of the vehicles accidentally lurched forward, crushing Schaar's leg. In the ensuing amputation surgery, as well as during a follow-up surgery, doctors had to remove much of his leg muscles. "I'm a person who doesn't have a lot of muscle left in my residual limb," he says. "This device makes up for a lot of what they had to take away. There's nothing that will ever replace a flesh-and-bone leg, but this comes pretty close. I hope they get this thing on the market soon." Lenzi said that moment could happen quickly. He believes the exoskeleton could become available in as early as a couple of years. Explore further Engineers develop computerized bionic leg to help amputees walk faster, easier and with better balance More information: Tommaso Lenzi, Powered hip exoskeleton improves walking economy in individuals with above-knee amputation, Nature Medicine (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01515-2 Journal information: Nature Medicine Tommaso Lenzi, Powered hip exoskeleton improves walking economy in individuals with above-knee amputation,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01515-2 Cancer Histopathologic image of colonic carcinoid. Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0 Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which unleash the immune response against tumor cells, have revolutionized cancer treatment; however, the medications aren't effective in a large number of patients, including those with colorectal cancer. New research published in PNAS that was led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) provides insights on why some types of colorectal cancer don't respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors and offers a strategy to overcome their resistance. "Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and worldwide," says senior and cocorresponding author Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D., director of the E.L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology at MGH and the Andrew Werk Cook Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School (HMS). "A major cause of mortality in patients with colorectal cancer is the development of liver metastases, which is the spread of cancer to the liver." Jain explains that most colorectal cancers that spread to the liver do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. When the team injected these colorectal cancer cells under the skin in the hind flank of mice (the most commonly used method for studying cancer in these animals), the cells responded well to immune checkpoint inhibitors, unlike what happens in patients. To address this discrepancy, the investigators decided to take an approach that is referred to as orthotopic (meaning "the normal place in the body") by injecting the cancer cells in the relevant anatomical sitesfor example, the colon, where primary colorectal cancer cells grow, and the liver, where these cells metastasize. "We found that these colorectal cancer mouse models were profoundly resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors, similar to what is seen in patients," says co-corresponding author Dai Fukumura, MD, Ph.D., deputy director of the E.L. Steele Laboratories at MGH and associate professor of radiation oncology at HMS. "Our results highlight how the environment in which cancer cells grow can influence the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Also, and most important, they indicate that these orthotopic cancer models should be used to study resistance to immune checkpoint blockade as observed in patients with colorectal cancer." To determine how liver metastases are resistant to immune checkpoint blockade, Jain and his colleagues investigated the composition of immune cells present in liver metastases in mice and compared it with that of colorectal cancer cells injected under the skin. "We found that liver metastases lacked certain immune cellscalled dendritic cellsthat are required for the activation of other immune cells known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which can kill cancer cells," says lead author William W. Ho, Ph.D., a research fellow at MGH. "We saw a similar situation in patientstheir liver metastases showed a lack of dendritic cells and activated T lymphocytes." When the team augmented the number of dendritic cells within liver metastases (by giving mice a growth factor called Flt3L), the treatment led to an increase in cytotoxic T lymphocytes within the tumors and caused the tumors to become sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors. "Our study highlights the importance of orthotopic tumor models in immunotherapy studies and underscores the relevance of dendritic cells for effective immune checkpoint blockade," says cocorresponding author Mikael J. Pittet, Ph.D., professor of Immunology at UNIGE. "It also points to the possibility of developing new therapies that could be effective in controlling resistant colorectal cancer. For example, the combination of Flt3L and immune checkpoint inhibitors is an interesting therapeutic option that is worth evaluating in clinical trials." Explore further Immunotherapy may be effective for a subgroup of metastatic colorectal cancer patients, study finds More information: Dendritic cell paucity in mismatch repair-proficient colorectal cancer liver metastases limits immune checkpoint blockade efficacy, PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Dendritic cell paucity in mismatch repair-proficient colorectal cancer liver metastases limits immune checkpoint blockade efficacy,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105323118 Credit: mohamad hajizade/Unsplash Perth researchers have found toxic and harmful chemicals in several dozen e-cigarette liquids readily available in Australia. The study, which is the most comprehensive Australian study of its kind, was published in the Medical Journal of Australia today. Researchers examined the ingredients of more than 60 of Australia's most popular over-the-counter, "nicotine-free" liquids used for electronic cigarettes (in their original and aged forms) and found the majority of e-liquids contained substances that are known to cause respiratory issues and lung damage when inhaled. Equally concerning, nicotine was present in nine percent of the liquids tested despite them being marketed as nicotine free. Nicotyrine, which is an oxidized version of nicotine indicating the e-liquid previously contained nicotine, was found in 10 percent of fresh e-liquids tested and almost 14 percent of aged. The research, funded by the Minderoo Foundation, Lung Foundation Australia and Cancer Council of WA, was co-led by Associate Professor Alexander Larcombe, of Curtin University and the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centrea powerhouse partnership between Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and Perth Children's Hospitalwith Professor Ben Mullins and Dr. Sebastien Allard, also of Curtin University. "The amount of nasty chemicals found in these e-liquids is concerning. Many of the flavoring ingredients we found are known toxins and irritants, which when inhaled can damage our airways and lungs," Associate Professor Larcombe said. He said none of the e-liquids tested were labeled with a comprehensive ingredient list, so it would be impossible for users to know what chemicals they were inhaling. Concerningly, there is very little existing research on the health impacts of several of the ingredients detected in the e-liquids. Professor Ben Mullins said while some of these chemicals may be safe and approved food additives, there was a vast difference between a chemical that is safe to ingest and one which is safe to inhale long term. "The health effects of heating these chemicals and breathing them in are largely unknown, but it is likely that they will have negative impacts compared with breathing clean air," he said. With vaping and e-cigarettes becoming more popular with young people, Associate Professor Alexander Larcombe agreed it was important to understand the short and long-term effects of breathing in these harmful chemicals. The team found 42 of the 65 e-liquids studied contained benzyl alcohol which is a solvent and flavor enhancer that had been known to cause severe skin and allergic reactions. "Another alarming ingredient we found was benzaldehyde, used for its almond-like flavor, which was found in almost all of the e-liquids we testedand in some at dangerously high levels," Associate Professor Larcombe said. "Benzaldehyde can increase exposure to nicotine and the concentration of nicotine in the blood. The chemical is known to be an irritant to people's airways, and it also reduces the body's ability to remove inhaled pathogens," he said. "Finding benzaldehyde in a lot of these products is concerning. It means that a majority of vapers are breathing in a chemical that is classified by the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals as "Harmful if inhaled." As a result of its known negative health impacts, benzaldehyde is one chemical that is also included on the Therapeutic Goods Administration's list of prohibited e-liquid ingredients (TGO 110) meaning that it is now banned in Australian e-liquids." Minderoo Foundation's Collaborate Against Cancer Initiative CEO Dr. Steve Burnell said it was critically important that Federal and State Governments act now to prevent a new generation of Australian kids becoming addicted. "We know that e-cigarettes increase the chances of a non-smoker taking up cigarettes and that they are being deliberately targeted to appeal to young people. "We now have the evidence to support consistent Tobacco licensing in all states, restrictions on non-nicotine vaping products, changes to the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act and much stricter monitoring and complianceall are required to protect our young people from these toxic products," Dr. Burnell said. The Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said a nationwide ban on the use of e-cigarettes was vital to protect Australians, especially young people, from the known and unknown risks of vaping. "With the unregulated, untested and unknown nature of the vape industry, we knew the research into the chemicals and toxicity of e-liquids would uncover strong findings, but we never expected such alarming results," he said. The research team also found many of the e-liquids tested contained other chemicals used for flavoring, such as menthol which enhances the addictive properties of nicotine and alters how nicotine metabolizes; as well as trans-cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon flavor), which impairs people's immune response. "Breathing in the cinnamon-flavoring chemical has been known to reduce the way your body responds to lung infections, which means your body's chance to fight off infection is restricted," Associate Professor Larcombe said. "This chemical is also banned in Australian e-liquids." This study built on previous results published in 2019 that examined 10 "nicotine-free" e-liquids, which found the majority did contain nicotine and some with relatively high levels. In this study, the team found nicotine in six of the 65 e-liquids tested. In addition, they found nicotyrine in seven fresh (two of which also had nicotine) and nine aged e-liquids. More information: Alexander Larcombe et al, Chemical analysis of fresh and aged Australian ecigarette liquids, Medical Journal of Australia (2021). Journal information: Medical Journal of Australia Alexander Larcombe et al, Chemical analysis of fresh and aged Australian ecigarette liquids,(2021). DOI: 10.5694/mja2.51280 Provided by Curtain University Ambassador of Belarus A.Konyuk meets the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia On October 11, 2021, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Armenia Alexander Konyuk met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the results of the Belarusian-Armenia political consultations held in Minsk, as well as the issues of enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The parties outlined specific steps to implement the planned activities. print version COMPANIES NOW have the right not to employ workers who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the Department of Labor and Employme... Missoula has submitted grant applications to the state's department of commerce for federal money on two projects one that would help a group of manufactured home owners buy the land their houses sit on, and another for upgrades to Lions Park. The federal Community Development Block Grants are a response to the COVID pandemic. Montana has received three allocations for these grants, totaling $10,174,175, all of which comes from the American Rescue Plan Act. According to the city, Missoula, Great Falls and Billings all Metropolitan Statistical Areas, a designation that was recently threatened are eligible for about $6.235 million because of their MSA status. The first request is in partnership with NeighborWorks' Resident Owned Communities (ROC) program and asks for $1.3 million. The project would "support acquisition and preservation of at least 20 homes in Missoula through the ROC program," a city resolution stated. The grant would help people living in manufactured home parks who own their residences purchase the land as part of a cooperative effort. "Manufactured home communities are at significant risk in Missoula, especially now (due to) redevelopment," Montana James, Missoula's deputy director for community development, told Missoula City Council's administration and finance committee on Sept. 15. "ROC program residents purchase and operate their communities and that helps create stable and affordable places for those residents to call home." NeighborWorks is a national organization with an arm in Montana. There are 14 ROCs in the state and the program has helped 577 families buy their manufactured homes. There are two ROCs in Missoula Buena Vista and River Acres. In those two community co-ops, there are 67 manufactured homes owned by the people who dwell in them. "We've been doing this program for over a decade and it's well established nationally," Kaia Peterson, executive director of NeighborWorks Montana, told the city council on Sept. 27. "It's a really fantastic way to support preservation of this really important source of naturally occurring affordable housing." There were 4,506 mobile homes in the county in 2019, a decrease of nearly 300 since 2011. Bob Oaks, the director of the North Missoula Community Development Corporation, told the Missoulian at the time that the homes replacing them go for $300,000. That was before the pandemic. Housing costs have skyrocketed over the last year and a half. Missoula's median home sale price in February of this year was $438,500. City Council has directed city staff to prioritize the NeighborWorks mobile home project. "I think we have to be strategic with this source of funding and I think we have all learned how incredibly difficult it is to fund affordable housing," said councilor Mirtha Becerra on Oct. 4. "If this provides us that opportunity, I would advocate that we do that." Lions Park upgrades The upgrades to Lions Park would serve a Westside neighborhood where about 30% of residents live in poverty in one of Missoula's most diverse neighborhoods, a city presentation stated. The project would cost around $1.3 million, of which $1 million would come from the aforementioned grant. There are potential partners for the project, including All Nations Health Center, Garden City Harvest and the Missoula Redevelopment Agency. A community garden, playground and new shelter are in early concepts for the space. There would also be increased trail lighting, as well as the potential for more river access and perhaps a surfing wave. "What we want to do is take this relatively vacant lot that is surrounded by Missoula Youth Homes, is very close to the Poverello Center and some of our other services next to West Broadway Island ... and essentially activate the park with an emphasis on local tribes and a partnership with Native Americans Against Drugs and Alcohol," Missoula parks director Donna Gaukler told committee on Sept. 15. The projects are within guidelines set by the state for the grants, as well as federal guidelines, Missoula's American Recovery Plan Act grants administrator Tracy Pohndorf told council on Sept. 27. The state asked for grant applications for projects that benefit public facilities, public services, housing and homelessness assistance. Jordan Hansen covers news and local government for the Missoulian. Shout at him on Twitter @jordyhansen or send him an email at Jordan.Hansen@Missoulian.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 4 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Missoula man made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court last week for allegedly possessing and intending to sell meth and fentanyl. Carlos Guatimea Aguirre, 35, of Fresno, California, and Missoula, appeared Thursday in federal court on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. He is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. After conducting surveillance, authorities served a search warrant on Aguirre's residence last Wednesday on Russell Park West in Missoula, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court. Officials recovered about 6.8 pounds of suspected meth, suspected fentanyl pills, assorted ammunition and about 21 firearms. The amount of suspected meth and fentanyl recovered, along with the packaging, indicated to officials that the substances were intended for distribution, court documents say. The suspected meth was packaged for sale. Aguirre has a 2011 felony conviction for possession of an assault weapon out of Los Angeles County. If convicted of the most serious crime, Aguirre faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. He was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missoula Police Department investigated the case. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood shortage that has caused the blood supply to drop to the lowest post-summer level in at least six years. With less than a days supply of certain blood types in recent weeks, the Red Cross asks donors of all blood types especially type O to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible to ensure patients can receive the lifesaving transfusions they rely on. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). A few weeks ago, a young mother in Bozeman called me deeply concerned about the decision of her childs school to mandate mask wearing for children. As she explained to me, what troubled her most wasnt the mask requirement but her realization about how few options parents really have in Montana when looking for an education thats the right fit for their kid. This Bozeman mom is certainly not alone in her frustrations about the current state of education. Our schools have become battlegrounds for pandemic culture wars. School mask mandates have sparked massive protests in Billings and lawsuits in Missoula. On the other hand, an emergency rule from Gov. Greg Gianforte urging schools to consider parental concerns when adopting mask mandates sparked a sharp rebuke from the left. All the while, Montana kids have been caught in the crossfire. The public-school educators I know have been heroic throughout this pandemic, attempting to make the best of the very worst circumstances. But for the last year it seems like every decision made by a public school simultaneously pleases one side while infuriating the other: masking or no masking, critical race theory or no critical race theory. Its time to recognize the fundamental problem driving these conflicts is the states insistence that we force one answer for education on everyone. The fact is, one school system can never serve everyones diverse needs. Freedom in education is the obvious solution: Let educators choose how to teach and parents choose the best education for their kids. For parents who want their school to require masks, allow them to choose schools that embrace such policies. And give other parents concerned about the effects of masking their kids the same choice. The problem for most Montana kids is the available education is still determined by their ZIP code. While some privileged parents can afford tuition to private schools and others can homeschool, most working families in Montana have one option in the local public school system funded by their hard-earned tax dollars. Its understandable why parents might feel so passionately about how that school system educates their children. With public schools simply not able to satisfy everyone amid pandemic politics, support is growing among Democrats and Republicans for more freedom in education. A recent national poll showed 76% of Democrats supported allowing parents to take their childs state-funded education dollars elsewhere to a private or home school if their public school system does not mandate masks. This spring, polling closer to home showed 65% of Montana parents agree they should be able to choose the type of school best for their child. Policymakers in states like Florida have responded by allowing parents concerned about their schools mask mandate to use state-funded education dollars to transfer their child to another public school or a private school that serves them better. West Virginia went even further this spring by authorizing a program to allow state education funding to follow all students, allowing families to pay for education expenses of their choice, whether thats private or public school tuition, curriculum, special needs therapy or transportation. As political battles in our public schools continue, its unlikely the pressure from parents for a greater choice in their childs education will decline. Hopefully, lawmakers in the next legislative session will listen to parents and adopt measures to bring more freedom in education to Montana. Kendall Cotton is president and CEO of the Frontier Institute, a think tank dedicated to breaking down government barriers so all Montanans can thrive. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Plagued by a mounting number of very serious problems in Montana, what did Gov. Greg Gianforte opt to do? No, he did not put his shoulder to the wheel and get to work addressing those issues which would be doing the job he was elected and paid by taxpayers to do. Nope, he jumped on a plane and flew down to Texas to tour the southern border with a handful of other GOP red state governors and take a float trip down the Rio Grande. As the old saying goes, you can run, but you cant hide, and boy oh boy does that apply to Gianforte right now. When it comes to the long list of problems Gianforte just ran away from, might as well start with the most lethal the one thats actually killing the Montanans our government is supposed to be protecting. Once again, for the second week in a row, Montana is #2 in the nation for per capita COVID infections. With more than 2,000 of our fellow Montanans dead from COVID, our Trump-addled governor decided to release a new emergency rule in an attempt to dissuade the use of masks in schools. Why anyone would want to needlessly endanger our children is a good question, but when twisted political ideology takes precedence over hard science, defenseless children wind up as victims and pay the price. So, with hospitals overloaded and overworked thanks to his own leadership failures, what did our governor do? He called out the National Guard and split for Texas. Some might wonder why he would run down to Texas which is a long ways from Montana. Perhaps, facing more lawsuits against the last legislative sessions unconstitutional abortion bills and a Montana judges decision to temporarily suspend the law, he was seeking some advice from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is trying to defend the most restrictive abortion law in the nation. Its worth noting, however, that Abbotts quickly falling approval is now underwater with those who think Abbott does not deserve re-election significantly outnumbering those who approve of him. Or maybe Gianforte is looking for answers, since the vast majority of Montana is now in severe, extreme, and exceptional drought. The drought-level effects are already past the impacts to recreational fishing and now include crops are destroyed or not harvestable, water quality is toxic, and agriculture and local business face economic loss. And the governors plan is what ask for more of the federal money he refused to vote for while in Congress? In truth, governorship doesnt seem to be a great fit for Gianforte. While he was a successful businessman, governance is not running a business its taking care of the people and the state regardless of political affiliation. Unfortunately for Montanans, Gianforte is doing neither. Montanas governor would not be the first successful businessman to fail at governance, however. Theres the former guy for instance who left us sick, broke, and divided. Following in his footsteps, however, might just wind up with the same result a one-term administration reviled for its failures. And from failure, well, you can run, but you cant hide. George Ochenski writes from Helena. His column appears each Monday on the Missoulian's Opinion page. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 32 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 I met a fine, young fellow who visited Missoula, who said he was slated for a 3-month term in Grangeville jail and the reason for this draconian punishment was at a peaceful legal distance from the protest zone, had been provoked by an officious forest ranger who repeatedly drove to the camp until he was an extreme annoyance and the young man rather rashly drained the oil from the Forest Service pickup truck. This fellow, Erik, and 11 of his do-gooder comrades got convicted by a very biased judge and fined $100,000 each. All this to ruin a beautiful stand of pristine magnificent big lodge pole pines, wasted as "mill fodder" in Elk City, a remote "company town," to sate the greed of the owners and make wage slave jobs for locals refusing to move. VALDESE A man on probation received a drug charge after a search of his home last week. Homer Lee Cook, 31, of 1520 U.S. 70 West in Valdese, was charged with felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance on Oct. 5, according to a release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office. The charge came after BCSO deputies and the N.C. Probation and Parole officers searched his home. They made contact with multiple people at the home, including Cook, and found methamphetamine in the area where Cook was found, the release said. A records check on the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website showed that Cook was on probation for two counts of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, one count from Watauga County and the other from Burke County. He also has previous convictions of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possessing stolen goods. Cook previously made headlines two years ago when he was injured during an arrest. Surveillance footage from neighbors showed Cook being chased around a home by a deputy attempting to serve an outstanding warrant. China is smiling at the idea that it funded Pakistan so Pakistan could support the Taliban in defeating NATO. Mr. Howk explains, America never understood what we faced in Afghanistan. The public line was that we were fighting terrorists. Many were led to believe there was some kind of civil war going on between the Afghan forward-looking population and the Talibans repressive militia or if there were some Tajik versus Pushtun battle that we would never solve. Some believe it was a series of tribal grudge matches we would never understand. The truth was there all along and not one president was willing to face it. Pakistan our sometimes ally and most of the time enemy created the Taliban in the 1990s to divide the Afghan people and gain control of the country, to allow Pakistan to keep India out of its backyard, and to train terrorists to fight India mainly in the Kashmir region. Pakistan is heavily invested in creating religious zealots who use violence to advance its foreign policy. Afghanistan was just one more battleground for Pakistan and we would not accept that fact. The truth that no American leader wanted to accept was obvious. Afghans told us from 2001 onward that no amount of effort in Afghanistan would bring stability if we didnt address the Pakistan policy of interference. So you want to start exercising more after a lifetime of cubicle-dwelling and have settled on the sport of millions: running. Congrats it is great exercise, and it can be very rewarding. But please if youre over 50-something, or even younger and truly out of shape do not simply lace up an old pair of sneakers and charge out the front door. First, run the idea past your primary-care doctor. A physical exam may identify cardiac issues or other limitations that warrant trying a different form of exercise instead. And even after obtaining a clean bill of health, there are practical considerations to keep in mind. We spoke to Joseph Daigneau, owner of Persevere Physical Therapy in Philadelphia, and Dave Welsh, owner of South Jersey Running Company, for tips on how to stay safe, avoid frustration, and above all, have fun. Where to run One of runnings appeals is that no special facilities are required. Still, it is wise to choose a location carefully, especially as you get on in years. Among the pitfalls: Older folks may not pick up their feet as high as younger people, Daigneau says. If you run on the sidewalk, beware of cracks and uneven pavement that can send you sprawling. Same goes for running on grass. The forgiving surface may be more appealing than concrete. But for those who are less able to react quickly, hidden dips and depressions can result in a fall or sprained ankle. A better choice may be a good paved trail in a park. Welsh recommends a high school track, changing directions periodically or staying in the outside lanes in case the tight turns cause muscle strain. Yet another option is to run in the street but in that case, be aware of point No. 2: Seeing and hearing In many states, traffic laws dictate that if sidewalks are available, runners and other pedestrians must stay out of the road. If you must run in the street, stay on the left side, facing traffic. That way, you can see oncoming motorists and get out the way, if necessary. Above all, dont assume that drivers can see you. Its no secret that some people glance at their phones while behind the wheel, or even send a text, despite laws that prohibit it. If running after dark, wear reflective gear. Many running shoes have shiny logos that reflect vehicle headlights, but that isnt enough. Consider wearing a vest or light jacket with reflective material. And resist the urge to wear headphones, lest you fail to hear traffic. That goes double for older people, many of whom have a hearing loss. Consider running with a partner so you can look out for each other, or even a group affiliated with a running store. Start slow If you have not exercised in a while, the joints are going to be a bit creaky. Start slow. If running seems daunting at first, feel free to walk instead. Daigneau tells novice runners to start by making sure they can walk for 30 minutes with no pain. Then they can graduate to a combination approach: repeated cycles of six minutes of walking followed by four minutes of running at a moderate pace. If you complete five of those repetitions (50 minutes worth), that amounts to 20 minutes of running a respectable goal. Even after building up strength and endurance needed for sustained running, there always will be aches and pains. That is true at any age. The key is to distinguish between regular soreness and the type of pain that suggests you are overdoing it. Daigneau says that if soreness persists beyond two or three days, its time to dial it back. Sudden, sharp pain also is a red flag. When in doubt, stop. What to wear At any age, a runners most important purchase is a good pair of shoes. The topic merits an entire article, but at a minimum, keep these tips in mind: Running shoes generally should be at least a half-size larger than other footwear, Welsh says. Thats because a runners feet and toes swell during the course of a run, and they also spread out each time the shoe hits the ground. A bit of extra space is essential. Older runners may like a shoe with more cushioning, but the most important attribute is a good fit. The shoes can be pricey, sometimes running more than $100. If thats too steep, ask if the store has older models at clearance prices. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Im glad that President Biden broke with precedent and withdrew American troops from Afghanistan, ending, on 31 August, 2021, nearly twenty years of combat in one of the most isolated countries in the world, more than a decade after the death of 9/11-architect Osama bin Laden. Strategically, the withdrawal made sense. First, while estimates vary, America had spent on average $300 million per day over twenty years in Afghanistan, resulting in more than $2 trillion of expenditure. Second, with China rattling its saber in the Western Pacific region, threatening Taiwan and others, America needs to be focused on its main strategic rivals. Third, similarly, with Russia always a threat, especially to Eastern Europe, Americas military doesnt need to be spread thin. Fourth, given the tensions over the Iran Nuclear Deal, or lack thereof, it makes little sense to have American troops on the ground within missile range of Iran. (Iran shares a long border with Afghanistan.) Fifth, transnational terrorists, from Al Qaida to ISIS, are not just in Afghanistan. They are in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast and Central Asia, and, of course, the Middle East. Centralizing troops in Afghanistan distracts from disrupting terrorist planning, generally. That said, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was botched. Not only was the durability of the Afghan Army which folded to the undermanned Taliban  overestimated, but thousands of American citizens, Permanent Residents, and Special Immigrant Visa holders those who fought alongside U.S. Forces were left behind. Thus far, these mistakes have managed to be contained at the tactical not higher, strategic level. However, the potential for tactical mistakes related to the Afghanistan withdrawal to metamorphose into a strategic problem is growing by the day. That is, America is developing a reputation as a superpower that has no loyalty to its closest allies. It matters thusly: if America finds itself in war with China or any other powerful nation, it will need allies. Those allies will need to believe that America, ultimately, wont abandon them. Without steadfast allies, America could either lose such a war or be helpless to defend smaller countries being targeted (ie. Taiwan, Ukraine, Estonia). Moreover, even if war were not to break out, U.S. special operating forces are constantly working with groups around the world opposing the likes of Boko Haram, Abu Sayyaf, ISIS, Al Qaida, and other terrorist organizations. If those groups believe that America may end up treating them as it has our Afghan allies, our counter-terrorism capacity could be weakened, making our nation increasingly vulnerable to another 9/11-style attack. Americas growing reputation as one who will abandon its allies has politically bipartisan roots. In addition to President Bidens abandonment of Afghan allies, former President Trump abandoned our Kurdish allies in northern Syria in 2019, leading to many Kurdish deaths at the hands of ISIS and Turkish and Russian forces. Given that the Kurds had already lost 11,000 lives fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria alongside U.S. Forces, their abandonment affected Americas military veteran community deeply, perhaps contributing, in part, to President Trumps narrow defeat in 2020. President Biden has an opportunity to right this (for now) tactical-level mistake. A newfound, concerted effort to fund evacuation flights and resettle our closest Afghan allies must occur. As one of several Montana military veterans joining other veterans from across the country who has helped evacuate such Afghans over the last two months, $1 million in funding fully allocated to evacuation flights saves approximately 200 lives. Therefore, a commitment of only one days worth of legacy funding in Afghanistan could save 60,000 vulnerable persons. Montanas congressional delegation, among others, should legislatively support the evacuation effort. Its not just about reclaiming the moral high ground. Its also about restoring Americas reputation as a trusted partner and, in turn, deterring war, winning potential, future wars, disrupting terrorist networks, and growing American influence. John Mues, a former U.S. Senate candidate in Montana, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a Navy veteran. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Montana has a wildfire problem. It has become increasingly clear that no part of the state is safe from the ever-worsening scourge of wildfires. From ranchland to farmland, suburbs to national parks, ski resorts to state forests Montana is burning. Its not hyperbole; ask the residents of Red Lodge, whose entire town was nearly reduced to ash in June. Meanwhile, Lewistown families are anticipating evacuation notices in October, potentially leaving their homes and personal belongings behind. No one should have to live in constant fear of fire, which is why Montana must take the responsibility of fighting it into our own hands. We can no longer wait on the federal government to be our first line of defense in fighting wildfires across our state. While the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Interior are responsible for most of the wildland fire management in our state, these same agencies oversee fire management across the entire country. Their system is designed to incrementally manage fire incidents over a period of weeks or months, and every fire must be prioritized through a national matrix of incidents from Florida to Alaska that compete for a finite pool of assets. Its not designed, however, to coordinate aggressive initial attack missions to protect at-risk communities. When it comes to fighting fires, attacking them quickly is paramount to safeguarding lives, property and habitats. Unfortunately, federal bureaucratic processes delay expedient and efficient fire suppression. Status quo contract and dispatch protocols are so burdensome and complex that it can take hours or even several days for federally contracted aircraft to arrive, even if aircraft are available just miles from the fire. It is time for the Montana Department of Natural Resources to establish an aggressive initial attack strategy. It is imperative that we put our state on a war footing during the incessant wildfire season, to rapidly deploy overwhelming airpower capable of quelling fires when they are small. Naysayers contend that maintaining a state-based aerial firefighting operation is too expensive. The truth is that the adverse, compounding impacts of letting fires rage out of control are nearly endless. Ranchers can lose property passed from generation to generation, tracts of forest with fully-fleshed out ecosystems can be wiped out in one fell swoop, homes containing irreplaceable belongings and memories can evaporate into flames, and peoples health can be irreparably altered by deadly blazes and smoke. In reality, the investment required to fully prepare for proliferating wildfires pales in comparison to the alternative. We can no longer stand on the sidelines and expect an already strained national fire infrastructure to allocate resources to our large and sparsely populated state. When the South Moccasin Fire near Lewistown started, there were dozens of aerial assets that could have launched and dropped millions of gallons within the first 12 hours, likely slowing or suppressing it before needed evacuations. Instead, little was done for the first day, and the fire rapidly swelled to over 7,000 acres. This didnt have to happen. Response measures towards the Robertson Draw Fire, Haystack and the fire on Finley point mirror this dysfunction. In all of these instances, a plethora of aerial assets were nearby and readily available for immediate dispatch. Due to federal priorities elsewhere, it took days to commit meaningful resources. The Deep Creek Canyon incident was the most notable. It featured a MT DNRC helicopter tragically crashing, and as a result we nearly lost 5 firefighters. That fire was in the foothills near Canyon Ferry Lake and Super Scoopers were fueled and ready to launch out of Bozeman. If deployed, these Super Scoopers could have dropped 1 million gallons on that fire in the first 12 hours. Sadly, they were never called. We cant afford to deal with the devastation left in the wake of wildfires, but we can afford to invest in protecting at-risk communities, precious land, vital resources and critical infrastructure from the pernicious wildfire threat. By establishing a robust Montana Aerial Firefighting Task Force, we can dispatch initial attacks on new fires that spark anywhere in our borders within minutes and help neighboring states as needed. Fortunately, Montana has some of the biggest and most capable aerial firefighting fleets right here in our state, and we pilots would proudly put our lives on the line to safeguard fellow Montanans if called to serve. Tim Sheehy is pilot and CEO at Bridger Aerospace, an aerial firefighting service based in Belgrade. He is also a former Navy SEAL and recipient of the Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 During Monday's testimony, jurors heard about the morning Serrano was taken into custody. Since the trial began Wednesday, jurors had heard from 25 witnesses for the prosecution, including 17 partygoers who described what they had seen as Serrano got into fights, first with Austin Hubler and then with Stevens. In a taped interview with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Serrano told investigators he was "jumped" by several people at a party in rural Cedar County. He told the agent he didn't know Stevens, and didn't know he had died until agents told him. Several times Serrano asked why he had been brought into the sheriff's office when he was the one who was jumped. He also said if anyone was hurt, it didn't have anything to do with him. Muscatine County Sheriff's deputy Matt Bowers testified he had spoken with Serrano after his interview with DCI. During the discussion, Serrano admitted that he had pulled out a knife as he was being jumped by several people. The discussion was recorded and the video of the discussion was played for the jury. "Mother f---ers jumped me so I pulled out a f---ing knife," Serrano was shown on video saying to Bowers. "I started just swinging that b----." Donald said that the opportunity to be a school nurse came while she was interviewing with Muscatine County Public Health, which had a school nurse position open at the time. I felt that providing medical care in a non-medical setting primarily consisting of the pediatric and adolescent population would be challenging and definitely unique, but I was ready for a new chapter in my career, she said. Donald finds it rewarding to work with students who have chronic health issues and watch them take control of their own care and thrive as young adults. (Donald) is a recognized leader in school health care, and routinely consults and collaborates with health care professionals across the nation to help schools better understand processes and protocols designed to endure the safety of staff, students and the school community at large, Spies said. I want to thank Wendy for her continued service and dedication to her profession and to our district. We are truly fortunate to have Wendys expertise and guidance here at MCSD. The Trump International Hotel is seen in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 28, 2020. The South African Post Office (SAPO) is in complete disarray after years of corruption, mismanagement, and strikes that gutted the organisation. Its financial situation is so dire that it is not paying its employees taxes and medical aid, many landlords are not getting their rent, and suppliers are out of pocket. The SAPO has asked the government for R8.16 billion to save the company and continue to deliver postal and other services. According to the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, the Post Office would need a minimum of R1.8 billion to continue as a going concern. Many stakeholders are concerned about the demise of the Post Office, especially those who rely on the institution for their livelihood. Solidaritys Anton van der Bijl highlighted that innocent employees are now suffering due to the mismanagement and corruption at the Post Office. Not everyone is equally sympathetic, however. John Freeman, who started the SA Turf Directory 37 years ago, says he has little sympathy for the Post Office employees. Freeman is a well-known name in the racehorse fraternity, having been in business in this industry for nearly five decades. He started his business 48 years ago, insuring racehorses and running horse auctions. Thirty-seven years ago, he added the very popular SA Turf Directory to his business portfolio. The publication served the horse racing and breeding community with essential information. As horse racing attracts the captains of industry and their families, it attracted the interest of companies who wanted to reach this influential audience. Because the pocket-sized book of 380 pages contained the personal details of many high-profile people with their consent it was never made available publicly. The SA Turf Directory was only sold to people in the industry, and it was sent to them via the Post Office. Freeman said the Post Office wasnt fantastic, but for the most part, it worked, and the books were delivered as expected. The 2016 Post Office strike, however, hit them hard. From 2017 onwards, our order forms were returned, usually a year later. They were typically marked left or box closed, he said. The Post Office box that we had opened in Sea Point 30 years ago also closed because that whole branch closed. In fact, there was no post office in our area for a few years. The problems at the SA Post Office forced them to send the 2017 SA Turf Directory edition to subscribers via courier, but there were challenges. Many subscribers provided postal addresses, and it was a big challenge to get their physical addresses for deliveries. Despite a huge effort to SMS and email subscribers and people listed, the SA Turf Directory lost 3,000 listings in 2017. Our sales dropped, and eventually, what was once a powerful little offshoot of our main business was no longer worth printing, said Freeman. The SA Turf Directory went online, but the transition saw the business lose hundreds of advertisers. The Post Office strike had a severe impact on the SA Turf Directory and thousands of other businesses that rely on postal services. It is not surprising that Freeman, like many others, does not sympathise with the Post Office employees. When they went on an extended strike, they not only crippled the Post Office, their employer, as a business but stuck many of their clients out of business, like the SA Turf Directory, he said. Now they wonder how it all happened. The pain lingers on. Every week I open my mailbox to find items returned from that strike in 2016 undelivered. Now read: SA Post Office wants R8 billion from government The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) reported that between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, toll roads in South Africa made a R529 million loss. Revenues from its Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), better known as E-tolls, also declined by 31.5% during South Africas first two waves of the Covid19 pandemic. [GFIP] is the only Sanral toll route that receives a government grant to offset the discounts on tariffs instituted in response to public opposition to tolling on Gauteng freeways, Sanral CEO Skhumbuzo Macozoma said in the agencys annual report. Road users ongoing refusal to pay e-toll fees on the GFIP continues to have a negative financial impact on SANRAL, Macozoma stated. Cabinet has yet to decide on the matter and we await direction in this regard. Sanral said in its annual report that the inability to resolve the e-tolls debacle places significant pressure on its balance sheet. This compromises the agencys ability to source funding and exacerbates uncertainty regarding the future of road funding. While toll roads made a massive loss for Sanral, it posted a total annual profit of R380,782. Sanral summarised its primary sources of revenue as per the table below. Sanral main sources of revenue Current year (2020/21) Prior year (2019/20) Government grants: Non-toll R6.18 billion R6.55 billion GFIP grant: Toll R2.72 billion R2.67 billion Toll income R3.71 billion R4.37 billion Investments R1.42 billion R1.48 billion Other income (sundry, concession and rental) R1.58 billion R1.07 billion Macozoma said that the R2.72 billion e-toll grant include R2.3 billion that the Minister of Transportas Sanrals sole shareholderapproved as a transfer from non-toll to toll operations to reduce the expected shortfall in collection of revenue. Sanrals annual report stated that revenue collection was also worsened by the impact of lockdown, but said it could not quantify this impact. It said the net loss it earned on toll roads was due to the declined revenue flow for toll roads and the overall cost reduction in operating them. Financing costs make up the bulk of Sanrals expenditure on toll roads. Sanral reported that nearly 45% of toll expenses go towards financing debt, as indicated in the chart below. Just over a quarter (25%) of expenditure is for road maintenance, while less than a tenth (10%) of its spend on toll roads went towards investing in new infrastructure (capital expenditure). The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said there are very few options to consider for the future of e-tolls. The only alternative to e-tolls is for the GFIP bonds to be financed via National Treasury, the civil action group stated. It advocated for the GFIP to be financed from the national fiscus, using regular tax revenue. Treasury has already allocated Sanral R10.8 billion for GFIP around 51% of the freeway bonds for the overpriced upgrade, it said This is on top of a grant of R70 billion between 2016 and 2010a yearly average of R14 billion per annumfor non-tolled roads. This has been the solution being practised for the past number of years and should continue to remain, as the entire country benefits from Gautengs freeway upgrade, said Outa. Googles next flagship Pixel smartphones will get security updates for five years and feature powerful new camera capabilities. That is according to leaked promotional product pages for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro from Carphone Warehouse, which was spotted by renowned smartphone leaker Evan Blass. The now-deleted pages confirmed some specifications and features that have been rumoured for the past few weeks. To start with, Google punts its own custom-built Tensor SoC in the Pixel 6 series, saying that it provides up to 80% faster performance presumably over previous Pixel devices. The Tensor SoC offers security through its Titan M2 chip, which Google said will receive at least five years of security updates. Typically, security updates on Android smartphones run for one year after feature updates stop, which means you should be able to get up to four major Android feature updates in addition to the longer-lasting software protections. Samsung currently offers a minimum of four years of security updates on over 130 smartphone and tablet models, including those in its budget A series. The other in-depth details covered in the promotional pages focused on the new Pixels camera systems. The Pixel 6 Pros rear camera system consists of a 50MP primary camera, 12MP ultrawide sensor, and 48MP telephoto lens. Google claims the camera can capture 150% more light than the Pixel 5, which should improve night mode shooting significantly. New camera features include Magic Eraser, which allows you to delete subjects or objects spoiling an image. There is also a Face Unblur feature that will presumably let you bring subjects into focus that the camera mistakenly blurred as part of the background. Finally, the pages also stated the Pixel 6 series would offer up to 48 hours of battery life in an Extreme Battery Saver mode. The Pixel 6 Pros battery will charge 50% in half an hour using the Google 30W USB-C charger. Its 120Hz display can be set to 10Hz to maximise battery life. Google will officially announce the Pixel 6 on 19 October, with reports suggesting pricing will start at 649 (R11,195) in Europe. To date, Pixel smartphones have not been officially sold in South Africa but can be imported or bought from a specialist importer shop. Now read: How much it costs to make the iPhone 13 Pro More than a year and a half after the coronavirus pandemic led local governments to close meeting halls for safety reasons, elected councils and boards across Napa County are taking faster or slower paths toward carrying out their business before in-person audiences. Meanwhile, recently passed state legislation will allow governments to continue meeting remotely at least through the end of 2023 although elected officials must vote monthly to continue doing so. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 6 months! Emergency orders passed by California in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic relaxed the states Ralph M. Brown Act governing open access at public meetings, allowing counties, cities and boards to meet by teleconference as social distancing requirements took hold. But a state Assembly bill passed last month prods agencies to regularly renew their emergency declarations in order to continue meeting and taking public comments virtually. Assembly Bill 361, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Sept. 16, took effect Oct. 1 and requires local governments to revisit its public meeting rules every 30 days in order to continue meeting by teleconference. The bill would remain in effect through Jan. 1, 2024. Continuing to meet by videoconference would require a state of emergency such as Californias original March 2020, which has not been rescinded to be in effect. During a declared emergency, or when state or local officials require or encourage social distancing, AB 361 requires elected agencies to vote every 30 days on whether in-person sessions remain a public health risk, thus justifying the continuation of online meetings. The bill also requires governing bodies to provide a way for observers to comment during virtual meetings in real time, whether within video conferencing software such as the raise hand button within Zoom or by phone. Agencies cannot require comments to be filed in advance, although they may allow pre-meeting emails as an option alongside live comments. If a meetings transmission or its ability for viewers to comment in real time is disrupted, an elected body cannot take further action on its agenda items until service is restored. St. Helena sticking with Zoom for city meetings After using Zoom for the last year and a half, the St. Helena City Council still isnt ready to click Leave Meeting. While some local agencies including the county Board of Supervisors and the Napa City Council continued to meet in person during the COVID-19 emergency sometimes with dividers added or desks spaced farther apart only this year have citizens again been able to observe some elected officials and address them face to face. Spectators have been able to observe the Board of Supervisors in downtown Napa since March, and Napas City Council welcomed visitors back to its downtown council chamber in July. Elsewhere, however, the closest residents can get to their elected officials remains a computer or a television, broadcasting council members debates on Zoom, YouTube or public-access cable, following a summer surge in COVID-19 cases that peaked in mid-August. Municipal meetings remain online-only in American Canyon, St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville, as well as for the boards of the Napa Valley Unified School District and Napa Valley College. NVUSD, which earlier contemplated a return to in-person sessions in August, announced on its website it would stick with virtual meetings until further notice in light of the new state bill. The laws requirement that governments provide a form of real-time public comment even during teleconferences proved a challenge in Yountville, the smallest of Napa Countys five municipalities, which moved a planned in-person session in August to a teleconference as the virus' more contagious Delta variant drove another surge of infections. COVID-19 spread leads Yountville to delay return to in-person Town Council meetings Officials have switched the council's Tuesday meeting to a videoconference amid rising numbers of new COVID-19 cases, town officials said. Though adding a virtual hand-raising option on Zoom might seem a simple addition to a home computer user, Yountville officials last month told the Town Council even that single addition one way of complying with the states real-time commenting requirement likely would require another computer and more wiring at Town Hall. Such demands briefly caused the council to consider reopening its meeting chamber for at least one October meeting, despite misgivings about the health risks of an indoor gathering. This virus is in charge, the mask mandate is still in Napa County, and were going to need several weeks of low numbers before face-covering requirements could be relaxed, said Councilmember Margie Mohler. We have that challenge, too, that we cant ignore. Ultimately, Yountville, which had taken public comments by email, was able to add live commenting on Zoom and assembled virtually at its most recent meeting Tuesday afternoon. In St. Helena, the City Council also agreed last month to keep government meetings on Zoom for the time being. Council members agreed that returning to in-person meetings would pose yet another logistical challenge to a city staff thats preparing to move City Hall into the Napa Valley College Upper Valley Campus. Changing the way our meetings are run would raise another hurdle for staff, at a time of a very challenging transition, said Councilmember Lester Hardy. Before the pandemic, the Planning Commission and City Council met in the St. Helena Unified School Districts boardroom at Vintage Hall. The school board has already resumed in-person meetings there, but the school district requires the use of face coverings in the room at all times. Many St. Helena city employees are still working remotely, and City Manager Mark Prestwich told the St. Helena Star there are no immediate plans to bring them back to City Hall, in anticipation of another large wave of COVID-19 cases this winter. Calistogas City Council and Planning Commission also have met remotely throughout the COVID-19, and the council on Tuesday voted to continue meeting via Zoom. However, the Calistoga school board resumed in-person meetings Aug. 9. With reports from St. Helena Star reporter Jesse Duarte and Weekly Calistogan editor Cynthia Sweeney. You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. It was breezy across the San Francisco Bay Area Monday morning, and the northerly offshore winds are expected to peak, reaching top speeds, at two separate times today, the National Weather Service reported. "They'll peak this morning at some point from now through 11 a.m.," said Anna Schneider, a forecaster with the weather service, who added that after 11 a.m. winds will calm. "And then we're getting another peak around 5 p.m." The breezy conditions are heightening the wildfire risk across the Bay Area and the weather service has a red flag warning for the North Bay Mountains and East Bay hills and valleys in effect through 5 p.m. Tuesday with sustained winds up to 30 mph and isolated gusts up to 60 mph in the forecast. A wind advisory is also in effect for the entire region through 9 p.m. Monday. Winds could be especially strong over bridges such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge, officials warned. As of 6 a.m. Monday, the weather service recorded top wind speeds of 42 mph atop Mount St. Helena, 41 mph at the Santa Rosa Airport and 49 mph on Mount Diablo. Cal Fire said three vehicles were destroyed and a home damaged overnight due to fallen trees in the community of El Granada on the San Mateo Coast. The winds are the result of a weather system known as an inside slider that dropped down from the Pacific Northwest into California Sunday night and was moving into Nevada this morning. "Unlike systems that come in from the ocean, this system will come in from the interior," said weather service forecaster Geri Diaz, noting that the systems coming off the Pacific Ocean usually carry high amounts of moisture that reduce fire risk. "This air is drier and comes from farther north, traveling over land rather than traveling over water. It's a classic setup for this time of the year." Weather service forecaster Cindy Palmer added that this will be the strongest offshore wind event the San Francisco Bay Area has seen since the start of the year, though winds don't look as if they'll be quite as extreme as they were during some of the recent destructive North Bay fires, including the 2017 fires in Sonoma and Napa Counties, the 2019 Kincade Fire and the 2020 Glass Fire. That said, Palmer added, "This is a respectable wind event. It's nothing to blink at. We are looking at frequent guests of 40 to 50 mph, locally we could see gusts of 60 mph. It wouldn't surprise me if Mount Diablo and Mount St. Helena pushed 70 mph." Offshore winds, also known as Diablo winds, are common across California in October. These winds blow hot air from inland areas toward the coast and are known for drying out the landscape and sucking the moisture out of the vegetation and leaving it highly flammable. This year, the fire risk is especially dry as the vegetation is parched after two, consecutive dry winters. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 6 months! "Any fire starts would likely see rapid spread due to dry fuels, low humidity and gusty winds," the weather service warned. "Outdoor burning is not recommended." Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. It is heart-warming to read about donations to our local hospital, Queen of the Valley such as the generous donation by the Winiarski family to create a stroke and diagnostics center. However, I have been flummoxed as to why the Queen is not able to support its staff. I use the Queens lab facilities often and I appreciate the staff support, clean facility and timely appointments. Several times when Ive had blood drawn, the women helping me have been visibly uncomfortable at their desks while word processing my information. Winiarski Family gives $5.1 million to the Queen of the Valley Foundation At the Queen of the Valley Foundations 8th annual Generous Heart event, on Sept. 25, 175 vaccinated guests gathered to honor vintner Beth Nickel. Ive asked about this and was told several times of back and neck problems because of sitting at a desk so much. Ive noticed that these desks are old wooden ones with lots of chips. I mentioned that stand-up desks that are ergonomically developed would be a good improvement for them, but have been told there is no funding for upgrades to the desks in the facility. Come on Queen, support your staff. Sharon Macklin Napa Editor's Note: The Register asked Queen of the Valley about the issues raised by the author and Human Resources Manager Victoria Keliihoomalu sent the following response: "We are pleased to hear about the readers positive experience at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center lab. We agree with the reader that donations, like the recent $5.1 million gift we received from the Winiarski family, are heartwarming and we are grateful for their role in further advancing medicine in the Napa Valley. "Our hospital is committed to ensuring we are an exceptional place to both give and receive care and we appreciate the reader taking the time to voice their concerns. As a health care provider, and one of the largest employers in Napa County, we are committed to providing an optimal work environment to our caregivers that supports their overall physical, mental and spiritual wellness. "It is our policy to offer injury prevention and ergonomic assessments when requested and we always encourage our employees to share with their leaders their comments or suggestions for how the hospital can improve. This includes how we can make their workspace more comfortable, so accommodations can be made such as stand-up desks. "As the reader mentions, research has linked sitting for long periods of time with health concerns, illustrating the importance of sitting less and moving more. Additionally, we offer discounts to our caregivers at Synergy Health Club, located conveniently on our hospitals campus, and encourage employees to participate in our Choose Well program, which provides financial incentives for taking care of their physical and mental well-being. From 'step' challenges to collecting points for exercise and more, this is one of many ways we encourage our caregivers to take care of themselves so they, in turn, can care for our community." TikTok is an app that started in 2016 but it did not get popular until 2018. On this app, people watch comedy videos, dancing videos, cooking videos, anything they want. But recently there has been a TikTok trend where you do a TikTok challenge every month. These are challenges that you do at school. Viral Devious Licks challenge incites vandalism at St. Helena schools St. Helena educators are hoping an uptick in vandalism doesnt escalate into something more serious as a viral craze challenges kids to cause mayhem at school. The challenges are very inappropriate and they include: vandalize school bathrooms, jab a breast, deck the halls with graffiti and trash, spray a neighbors fence, smack a staff member, make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria, and mess up school signs. This month is vandalize school bathrooms and at my school, Robert Louis Stevenson, the boys bathroom has had to be locked and they have had to use the offices bathroom instead. The vandalism has included removing the soap dispenser from the walls and drawing on things in the bathroom. All around the world, this is happening at schools and some of those people at the other schools are doing way bigger things like stealing the teachers supplies. For example, people have been stealing their teachers projectors and computers. It is really unfortunate that this is happening around the world. If you ever see this happening at our school or another school please tell a teacher or your guardian. This will help keep our schools clean and safe. Frances Harvey 6th Grade Journalism Class RLS Middle School St. Helena The Philippine Navy (PN) on October 10 said the Mistral 3 surface-to-air-missiles (SAMs) of the country's two guided-missile frigates were finally delivered at the Subic Bay International Airport in Bataan last Oct. 8. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) is the lead ship of her class of guided missile frigates of the Philippine Navy.(Picture source: Philippine Navy) In a statement, Navy spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza said the surface-to-air missiles of the two Jose Rizal-class (JRC) frigates of the PN will provide the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) anti-air capabilities or the ability to shoot down aerial threats. Procurement and delivery of the Mistral 3 SAMs is part of the PN Frigate Acquisition Project Lot 2B which was awarded to MBDA Missile Systems based in France. "Surface-to-air missiles are among the primary weapons of FF-150 and FF-151 that bolsters the PNs anti-air warfare capability. The arrival of these missiles will greatly capacitate our JRC frigates in the conduct of their maritime operations," Negranza said. Meanwhile, PN Frigate Acquisition Lot 2A or for the JRC's surface-to-surface missiles is scheduled for deliveries in March 2022. South Korean defense manufacturer LIG Nex 1 is the company that would deliver C-Star missiles which is considered the main surface-to-surface weapon of the JRCs. The C-Star is described as a "sea-skimming surface-to-surface anti-ship cruise missile". The BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna are modern warships capable of surface, sub-surface, air, and electronic warfare using state-of-the-art electronic sensors, long-range missiles, acoustic guided torpedoes, and an embarked anti-submarine helicopter. The BRP Jose Rizal was delivered to the Philippines in May 2020 and commissioned July of the same year while the BRP Antonio Luna was commissioned March 19, 2021. The contract for the two ships was placed at PHP16 billion with another PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions. Opposition MP: Granting corridor to Azerbaijan through Syunik Province will be gravest crime against Armenia US Department of State representative says why Azerbaijan is not invited to Summit for Democracy Armenian human rights activists to submit letters to ECHR regarding soldiers captured and considered missing Armenia FM stresses importance of addressable response to Azerbaijan's actions during talk with Greek counterpart Ex-ruling party official: Armenia authorities found reason for MOD's resignation after his visit to Karabakh Republican Party of Armenia spokesperson: Nikol Pashinyan gave a confessional testimony in parliament yesterday Armenia President talks about states' collective responsibility at Bloomberg New Economy Forum Turkish website reports poisoning of Fetullah Gulen Armenia FM holds phone talks with Cypriot counterpart, presents situation created after Azerbaijani attack Mirzoyan, Zas discuss CSTO's possible actions to stabilize situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border, if necessary Mothers of deceased servicemen demand Armenia PM's resignation Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire at tractor in Armenia's Verin Shorzha village Putin: Events unfolding on Armenia-Azerbaijan border attest to fact that situation has not calmed down in the region Lithuania supports Armenia's territorial integrity NEWS.am daily digest: 18.11.21 Ex-ruling party official: Incumbent authorities created deliberately organized chaos in Armenia Armenia Prosecutor General's Office to examine news about 6 Azeri servicemen captured and then secretly returned Dollar goes up in Armenia Armenia MOD planning training camps for reservists Sergey Lavrov, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to discuss assistance to resolve situation in Karabakh High-tech industry minister receives Chinese recipient of Armenia State Prize for global contributions to IT sector Eurasian Intergovernmental Council's narrow-format session kicks off in Yerevan Pashinyan views Eurasian integration as one of Armenia's priorities Two Armenian citizens found in Afghanistan Armenian health ministry gets $ 2.5 million to fight COVID-19 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office has telephone conversation with Jeyhun Bayramov Deceased Armenian soldier Taron Sahakyan's brother refutes news that he was captured and tortured to death Armenia seeks to develop cooperation in food safety within EEU Armenia Ombudsman, UNICEF Representative discuss problems with right of children of borderline villages to education Armenia allocates AMD 462 mln for 4 subvention programs ahead of local self-government elections Major incidents not recorded in Armenia's border zones as of 2 p.m., operative situation is under army's control Armenia parliament approves several legislative amendments PMs discuss prospects for development of Armenia-Kyrgyzstan collaboration Turkish Nationalist Movement Party gifts Erdogan a map of Turkic World, with a part of Russia 'seized' Man, 49, found dead inside truck near Armenia village sand mine Armenia emergency ministry uses off-road vehicles to provide for needs of Syunik Province border villages, says minister There is investment activeness in Syunik Province, says Armenia economy minister Russia PM arrives in Yerevan Minister on Armenia economic growth: We are from optimistic realist to optimist Armenia President, Singapore deputy PM discuss avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation Ombudsman: Armenophobia, propaganda of enmity have reached extremist fascism in Azerbaijan (VIDEO) Russia peacekeepers carry out round-the-clock monitoring of ceasefire in Karabakh 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Artsakh Armenia premier: There is no Syunik Province settlement that is under blockade Office of Armenia commissioner for diaspora, SADA Global Delivery Center sign memorandum of cooperation Armenia government approves 2021-2026 action plan Armenia PM: Russia MOD made proposals on preparatory phase of border delimitation with Azerbaijan 1,019 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Senator calls for end to US military aid to Azerbaijan Armenia is elected to UNESCO Executive Board Whose body is brought from Baku to Yerevan by Russian Southern Military District deputy commander? Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan opened random fire at some directions of Tavush Province late Wednesday evening World oil prices still dropping Newspaper: Armenia has set task to change its foreign policy vector, Russia analysts say Newspaper: Coronavirus death statistics in Armenia are incomplete Armenian immigrant couple in California sentenced to prison for $20M fraud EEU countries PMs to arrive in Yerevan for intergovernmental council meeting Armenian army commander: Azerbaijan wants corridor, leader of Armenia gave consent to that, but refused later Armenia FM holds phone conversations with Russian counterpart, Karen Donfried and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office MTS launches inspection of its 'daughter' operations in Armenia upon request of U.S. Armenia MOD: Defense minister receives Rustam Muradov, who brought body of deceased Armenian soldier to Yerevan Taliban call on US Congress to ease sanctions and unfreeze Afghanistan's assets Armenia PM: The meaning of being captured and the circumstances of captivity need to be investigated Moscow, Ankara agree to not release details about joint manufacturing of S-400s OSCE Chairperson-in-Office welcomes ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan after Russian mediation Armenia Ombudsman discusses Armenian captives' issue with acting Head of ICRC Delegation Armenia PM refutes possibility of giving order 'to not open fire' when it comes to homeland defense Armenian PM tries to clarify situation regarding use of names "Eyvazli" and "Chayzami" IAEA Director General to visit Iran Armenia PM: Our goal is to sign a peace treaty Rustam Muradov brings body of one Armenian serviceman Reuters: UAE's high-ranking delegation to visit Tehran soon James Langevin: Azerbaijani government again unleashed a volley of unprovoked violence against Armenia Ambassador to the Holy See: Armenia calls on its international partners to condemn Azerbaijan's actions Armenia President provides Singapore PM with information about Azerbaijan's aggressive actions Armenia PM: Trilateral task force's work is not interrupted Armenia Police's Educational Complex has new head Jackie Speier: We're witnessing Aliyev's attempted land grab in real time Mass media: Rustam Muradov bringing bodies of Armenian soldiers to Yerevan Yerevan to host subsequent session of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Earthquake hits Turkey Zakharova on possibility of enforcing Armenia-Russia Treaty, says consultations are being held NEWS.am 17.11.21 digest: Latest on Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation European People's Party issues statement on recent hostilities on Armenian-Azerbaijani border Opposition 'Armenia' Alliance MP: Resistance movement will help get rid of this catastrophe, namely authorities soon Armenia PM explains why he appointed new defense minister Opposition MPs remind Armenia PM about treason, get into dispute with ruling party deputies Armenian PM: There are territories of Soviet Azerbaijan that are under Armenia's control Armenia ruling party MP Andranik Kocharyan continues to talk about creation of professional army Armenia and Russia Security Councils' Secretaries discuss regional security issues Armenia Security Council Secretary: Azerbaijan fails to maintain ceasefire and isn't implementing reached agreements Cavusoglu blames Armenia 'for terrorist attack against Azerbaijan' Opposition 'Armenia' Alliance: Authorities' goal is to stay in power through ongoing concessions Armenia PM: Our proposals are in effect, including proposal for start of delimitation and demarcation Resident of Armenia's Shaki village panic when they hear the Azerbaijanis' gunshots Armenia ruling party MP: Enemy can't achieve any success in Syunik Province Armenia PM and ministers answering MPs' questions (LIVE) Ambassador: Armenia Security Council Secretary will probably have separate meeting with Nikolai Patrushev Armenia health minister: Kapan and Goris will have additional SUVs for paramedics Armen Sarkissian presents situation on Armenia's borders at Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore The State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan has responded to statements of Commander of Iranian Border Guards, Major General Ali Goudarzi, press service of the SBS told APA. The respective SBS statement reads: The Commander of Border Guards of Islamic Republic of Iran Major General Ali Goudarzi has recently made statements in his interview published in mass media outlets of Iran which do not reflect the truth. State Border Service officially says that there have never been forces of any third country on the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan, there are not now and will not be from now on too. Claims on the activity of takfiris [i.e., Muslims who accuse other Muslims of apostasy] coming from foreign countries, as well as the use of Azerbaijani territory by third countries for intelligence purposes against Iran, are false and do not reflect reality. Forces of any foreign state, specialists do not exist in the state borders, in border guards of the Republic of Azerbaijan, State Border Service which has the most contemporary opportunities for reliable protection and security of the state borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan, does not need the support of foreign forces. Applying border and customs control in the part of the Gorus-Gafan [i.e., Armenias Goris-Kapan] road passing through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the state border with Armenia is a sovereign right of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Although working meetings at various levels have been held and information exchange has been conducted regularly between Azerbaijani and Iranian border guards, generally no information about what was said in the interview has been given and no fact has been presented to the Azerbaijani side. Currently, operation conditions in the state border with the Islamic Republic of Iran are stable and are under the control of the Azerbaijan border protection bodies. Any provocations directed at the state interests of the Republic of Azerbaijani in the state border will be resolutely prevented also from now. Taking into consideration what has been mentioned, we recommend to the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran to be more responsible, and avoid to spread false and defamatory information." To note, the commander of Iranian Border Guards, Major General Ali Goudarzi, had made a statement about Israel's military presence on the Azerbaijan-Iran border. YEREVAN. At around 1:20pm on October 9, Aram Tepnants (born in 1966) a resident of Martakert, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), was wounded in the chest and died on the spot while operating a tractor on the arable land of the cityand from a shot fired from an Azerbaijani military position located approximately one kilometer away. Prior to the start of this agricultural workand in consideration of this area being near the border with Azerbaijan, Russian peacekeepers had arrived at the site to ensure the safety of the agricultural work, the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. According to preliminary information, Tepnants initially did not want to operate this tractor. But a Russian peacekeeper offered to sit with him in person in the cabin as an additional guarantee of safety. According to eyewitnesses, they made several rounds that way. On the same day, a criminal case was filed under the Artsakh Criminal Code article on "Murder committed by the motives of national, racial or religious hatred or religious fanaticism." An investigation is underway. After the incident, the agricultural work was stopped not only in that, but also in other border areas. The information on the killing of an Artsakh civilian by the Azerbaijani armed forcesand with a gross violation of the ceasefirehas been passed on to the representatives of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office representatives in Artsakh. The Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia will be consistent in the investigation of the murder of this Artsakh resident and Azerbaijans gross violation of the ceasefire. For a year, Azerbaijan has been occupying the entire Hadrut region of the Republic of Artsakh, one of the most important settlements with a permanent Armenian population, which has been inhabited by Armenians for centuries, as documented in many historical sources and materials. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) human rights ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan has noted this in a statement. The latter continues as follows: The settlements of the Hadrut region of the Republic of Artsakh during the Soviet years constituted the Hadrut Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, where more than 90% of the 15.000 population, according to the 1979 census, were Armenians. As a result of the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression against the population of Artsakh on September 27, 2020, the Armenian population of the town of Hadrut and the homonymous region was completely subjected to ethnic cleansing. From the very first day of the aggression, the civilian population, civilian infrastructures, and structures of the humanitarian significance of Hadrut were deliberately and indiscriminately targeted by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. 32 civilians from the Hadrut Region were killed as a result of the missile attacks, torture, and torment by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, including 73-year-old Benik Hakobyan and 25-year-old Yuri Adamyan, who were demonstratively killed in Hadrut Square after being captured by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Due to the ongoing occupation, 14000 residents of the region are displaced from their homes, they lost their movable and immovable property, work, and the whole stuff. 48 Armenian settlements have been ethnically cleansed of the Armenian presence and the houses and property belonging to the Armenians have been vandalized and looted. Before the Azerbaijani occupation, there were 6 kindergartens and 26 schools in the region with 2030 students now deprived of their right to education as a result of displacement. Due to the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Hadrut, tangible and intangible cultural values created by the Armenians are endangered. More than 500 significant historical and cultural monuments churches, monasteries, khachkars [i.e., cross-stones], sanctuaries, are under immediate threat of extinction. Azerbaijani authorities are desecrating the spiritual and cultural values created by the indigenous Armenian population of the region at the highest level, as evidenced by the video widely spread on social networks in which the president of Azerbaijan demonstratively commands to remove the Armenian inscriptions from the church in Tsakuri village. Research by Armenian and international organizations for the protection of cultural values prove that all the Armenian cemeteries in all settlements of Hadrut are being demolished and destroyed and the gravestones are used as a building material for roads. Due to the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population, community life and traditions have been disrupted in all settlements of the region, and as a result of the dispersal of the displaced population, the Hadrut dialect, which is unique among the Armenian dialects is endangered. Unfortunately, even a year after the occupation, the reports and numerous calls on large-scale violations of the rights of the Armenian population of Hadrut and other occupied communities of Artsakh, have not yet received proper attention and assessment by the international structures, individual states, and human rights organizations. The international community has a direct obligation and responsibility to ensure the protection of the rights of the Armenian population and guarantee their return to their native lands. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who is on an official visit to the Vatican, met with Secretary of State of the Vatican Cardinal Pietro Parolin. As reported the Staff of the President of Armenia, the head of state emphasized once again the ongoing development of the interstate relations between Armenia and the Holy See and attached importance to the significant contribution of the Secretary of State to the development of those relations. We highly appreciate the calls that Pope Francis made during and after the war that befell the Armenian people last year, as well as the humanitarian assistance provided to the hospital in Ashotsk, President Sarkissian stated. The President reaffirmed Armenias interest and commitment to further deepen the interstate relations which have always stood out with high-level political dialogue and welcomed the Pontiffs decision to establish an Apostolic Nunciature in Yerevan, which will officially open soon. President Sarkissian and Cardinal Parolin also talked about cultural cooperation and underscored the fraternal and strong relations between the Roman Catholic Church, the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church and the Armenian Catholic Church. The Union of Journalists of Armenia has issued a statement condemning the decision of the Constitutional Court declaring the amendment to the law on insults and defamation (adopted by the National Assembly) constitutional. On October 5, 2021, the Constitutional Court of Armenia declared constitutional the law on making amendments to the Civil Code of Armenia which was adopted by the National Assembly on March 24, 2021 and under which the previous maximum threshold for insult will be raised from AMD 1,000,000 to up to AMD 3,000,000, and the previous maximum threshold for defamation will be raised from AMD 2,000,000 to up to AMD 6,000,000. It is important to note that the Constitutional Court decided to examine the constitutionality of this extremely important law through a written procedure in order to avoid public discourse. This infamous law was authored by incumbent Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan when he was holding the office of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament. However, in reality, this law is an expression of the collective stance of the incumbent authorities, not an individual deputy, and the consistent policy against free speech and the media lie at the core of the stance. This law clearly restricts the right to freedom of speech, which is one of the major pillars of democracy and one of the main conditions for advancement of that right and the self-expression of every person. This right is guaranteed and protected by Articles 42 and 51 of the Constitution, as well as Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. According to Resolution 1577 (2007) Towards Decriminalisation of Defamation of 4 October 2007, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had proposed to set reasonable and proportionate maxima for awards for damages and interest in defamation cases so that the viability of a defendant media organ is not placed at risk, which has been grossly violated by this decision of the Constitutional Court. Back in 2011, by touching upon the maximum amounts of the sum for compensation for damage under cases of defamation and insult with its Decision SDO-997, the Constitutional Court had proposed to the legislature to revisit the maximum limit for compensation with a tendency to decrease so that, in practice, it rules out the disproportionate restriction on the right to freedom of expression. When assessing the proportionality of amounts of compensation in case of insult or defamation, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) considers, inter alia, the consequences of the amount of damage to the economic situation of the applicant, as well as economic indicators such as, for instance, the amount of the current minimum salary in the country, which, in the conditions in Armenia, in essence, was not taken into consideration. The Union of Journalists of Armenia has several times touched upon the pernicious consequences of this law for mass media outlets and the dangers that the authorities, by taking advantage of the existing uncertainties in the law and the wide opportunities for arbitrariness, may, through courts, settle a political score by rendering verdicts that will cause severe damages to the financial situation of the media. Unfortunately, our alerts about these dangers and risks and the calls of local and international human rights organizations remained unanswered, and the Constitutional Court, in essence, guided by the principles of political expediency and not legal expediency, declared this disputed law constitutional. It is extremely important to state that opposing this law shall in no way be identified with encouraging insult and defamation. Quite the opposite, all the participants of the public governance system, including and first and foremost civil society representatives and the media need to lead a struggle in order to rule out insult and defamation from public speech and the public agenda. However, at the same time, this major goal should not become a tool to fight against media outlets that are not proprietary in order to deprive them of their already scarce resources. The Union of Journalists of Armenia also strictly condemns the formal legitimization of this disputed law through the Constitutional Court and calls on all local and international organizations concerned about freedom of speech and freedom of the press to be consistent so that this bill does not serve the exclusively political goals that lie at the core of the bill. Let us recall that certain international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House had responded to this bill with harsh criticism. The Union of Journalists of Armenia will follow to make sure this law does not serve as a tool against media outlets, and in certain cases the Union of Journalists of Armenia will provide necessary professional assistance and legal aid, the statement reads. The preliminary investigation body has at its disposal evidence that is sufficient to identify the person who murdered 55-year-old resident of Martakert Aram Tepnants due to a gunshot fired by the Azerbaijani side and the tool used to commit the crime. This is stated in the press release issued by the Prosecutor Generals Office of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). On October 9, 2021, 55-year-old resident of Martakert city Aram Tepnants was injured in the chest area from a gunshot fired by the Azerbaijani side while he was farming in the administrative territory of Martakert and died on the spot. The Investigative Committee of Artsakh has launched a criminal case under the elements of a crime provided for by a particular article of the Criminal Code (murder committed with the motive of ethnic, racial or religious hatred or religious fanaticism), designated expert examinations and is performing urgent investigative and other procedural actions. The preliminary investigation body has at its disposal evidence that is sufficient to identify the person who murdered 55-year-old resident of Martakert Aram Tepnants due to a gunshot fired by the Azerbaijani side and the tool used to commit the crime. The Azerbaijani side has yet to issue an official statement on launching a criminal case regarding the incident. The law-enforcement authorities of Artsakh are willing to submit to the Russian peacekeeping forces the evidence that show that the Armed Forces of Azerbaijani committed a criminal harassment against a citizen of Artsakh. As a member state to the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Azerbaijan has assumed the obligation to respect the right to life. By not fulfilling its obligations under the Convention, the Azerbaijani side is once again allowing us to conclude (the Armenians of Artsakh have been convinced of this for a long time now) that such criminal acts are organized and guided and are not merely an act against mankind, meaning they are acts that are terrorist acts and are aimed at terrorizing, the press release reads. Following the well-established tradition, the collaboration of Golden Apricot & ARARAT legendary Armenian Brandies opened a new facet. The creative team of the Yerevan Brandy Company in cooperation with the Golden Apricot Film Festival came to the conclusion to hold the closing Ceremony in a brand new manner, by putting a huge emphasis on reinventing traditions and their combination with an innovative approach. Thus, Golden Apricot XVIII Yerevan International Film Festival was celebrated with redesigned Closing Ceremony which was hosted in a new location and enriched with the shades of the Legendary Armenian Brandy. The Awards Ceremony was held in ARARAT Museum, which allowed the guests to reveal the heritage of Armenian brandy, as well as to discover the modern facets of ARARAT. The Awards Ceremony was opened with the film Under One Sky staged by ARARAT and directed by Alexander Khant. Additionally, within the framework of the Golden Apricot XVIII Yerevan International Film Festival, ARARAT brandy announced a special prize for the "Apricot Stone" short film nomination. Mastery, sincerity and passion towards the work. These are the words that represent the values of ARARAT brandy, which, I believe, are the creative secret of a great film. In this sense, our cooperation with the Golden Apricot Film Festival, first and foremost, is anchored on mutual values. I am more than sure, that this format will serve as a base for another wonderful tradition. says Serge Khachatryan, the Chief Operating Officer of Yerevan Brandy Company. Cinema rediscovers its meaning by first interacting with people. In that sense, brandy is similar to it. By becoming a part of our sincere interactions, it unlocks human connections and revives the treasury of traditions. Hence, cinema and brandy aspire to reach a priority, to become a medium for transferring ideas and concepts. By having a strong & inspiring value system, both ARARAT and the Golden Apricot, strive for not only contributing to the development of the Armenian culture but also for reaching its international recognition. says Karen Avetisyan, the Artistic Director of the Golden Apricot XVIII Yerevan International Film Festival. The focus of ARARAT on cinema in different years is reflected both on the brands various projects (from the partnership of Odesa Film Festival to the filming of a picture with an original concept), and on welcoming famous filmmakers, such as George Clooney, Nastassja Kinski, John Malkovich, Ornella Muti, Emir Kusturica, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Alexei German Jr. and others. Before this past summer, Hannah Shernisky had never been to Utah. Nor was she aware of quite how many geological wonders the area contained. But in July, Shernisky and 11 other geology and marine geoscience majors spent four weeks traversing Utah and Wyoming on a geology field course, where they learned about the transformation of North Americas landscape revealed through the many lakes, cliffs, mountains, and volcanoes around them. You can literally see the succession of rock and go back in time and history to learn different things about the past, said Shernisky, a senior marine sciences and geology major. I had always wanted to go to Utah, and I wasnt disappointed. During the trip, the students spent each day hiking through mountains, valleys, deserts, and around rivers and lakes with James Klaus, associate professor of marine geosciences who created the new course with the help of the Universitys Study Abroad office. Since a field experience is required for all geology majors in the United States, the program usually travels to Canada every other summer. But with travel limited to domestic locations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Klaus, who also directs the Universitys undergraduate geological sciences program, had to find a new location. After talking with colleaguesincluding marine geosciences professors Sam Purkis, Gregor Eberli, and biology lecturer Terri Hood, who visited and guest-lectured during the tripKlaus decided to craft a new course based in the American West and chose Utah as its base camp. Utah sits at the boundary of several interesting regionsto the east are the Rocky Mountains, to the west are the basin and range provinces of California and Nevada, further south is the Colorado Plateau, and up north is a hot spot trace leading into a volcanic caldera near Yellowstone National Park, he said. The West is spectacular because it has a full range of geological settings and problems for the students to look at. Along the way, students learned how to map and identify different types of rocks and minerals and saw how to determine their place in history while hiking in some of the nations most varied and majestic landscapes. They also gained knowledge on how to classify different sedimentary layers, uncovered marine fossils from more than 50 million years ago, and left with a tangible understanding of how studying geology can help explain the earths past, present, and sometimes, its future. It was like walking through time, said Iva Tomchovska, a senior majoring in geology and biology. That part of the country is so heavily tectonic. And theres a large history of mountain building and rifting events, so thats why you get a lot of changes. We saw rocks that were billions of years old, as well as the more recent Morrison formations that are famous for holding dinosaur bones on the Colorado Plateau. Klaus did not waste any time. Starting at 8 a.m. each day, the students boarded the van with a waterproof field notebook and clipboard, a geologic hammer, hand lens, safety glasses, and water. Klaus brought University-provided compasses, fossil identification books, and maps. They started by exploring the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater body in the western hemisphere, where students studied shoreline geology, along with modern sediments and microbialites, which are rock-like structures formed out of microbes and mud. The Great Salt Lake is a remnant of a prehistoric freshwater lake that was much larger, called Lake Bonneville. Next, the group headed southeast toward the Colorado Plateau, which also contain the Book Cliffs. This was one of Tomchovskas favorite stops because the cliffs formed the basis for an area of geology called sequence stratigraphy, or the concept of using each layer of rock to determine how landscapes evolved through time. This is an area that Eberli specializes in, so he joined the group for that section. That whole area is like a layer cake of sediments. And we drove through deposits of each layer, and looked and identified the differences in formations, Tomchovska said. Lots of geologists have spent their entire careers there, so it was unique to see where the whole idea of sequence stratigraphy came from. The Book Cliffs are also important because they offer evidence of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway (also known as the Western Interior Seaway), a shallow waterway that cut through the middle of North America more than 100 million years ago. This was a concept that Shernisky was introduced to in some of her geology courses. It was cool to see remnants of that seaway, Shernisky said. After the Book Cliffs, the group headed north to Wyoming and visited Yellowstone National Park, where they learned about plate tectonics in a place where magma can be found just a few miles under the ground. Yellowstone volcano is not a traditional volcano, because it is more visible in geysers and hot springs. But all of those things are byproducts of the heat from that magma close to the surface, which produces things like mud volcanoes, that look like bubbling pots of mud, Shernisky said. Also in Wyoming, the group visited Fossil Butte National Monument, as well as a quarry nearby with rocks from an ancient body of water called Fossil Lake. There they spent a few hours hunting for fossils. We were handed a hammer and chisel and once the rocks split open, you could find perfectly intact fossils. And we got to keep them too, Tomchovska declared, adding that she found at least five fish with their scales intact. These were from the Eocene age, so they were 50 million years old. Another feat of geology the students enjoyed firsthand was a trip to Arches National Park in southern Utah, where they discovered how the delicate formations developed in sandstone rock (largely through erosion). They also learned about the Moab fault, which runs through the park. Overall, students said the class helped them truly understand how to determine the importance and function of certain geological features, as well as to gain authentic experience as budding geologists. The hands-on experience of making interpretations in a real-life setting, when youre just looking at a rock in the middle of nowhere, gave me a new level of experience and ability to make these connections. So, I feel much more confident as a geologist now, Shernisky said. Klaus said that is precisely what he hopes students accomplish. When they start this course, most students have very little perspective of what it means to be a geologist and look at rocks to unravel the history of the earth, he said. But at the end of the course, they really emerge as geologists. And you could take most of our students to any area of the world and they could explain what the rocks are telling us about the earth, as well as the natural hazards and economic resources there. (Adds detail from state media broadcasts) By Josh Smith SEOUL, Oct 11 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged officials to focus on improving citizens' lives in the face of a "grim" economic situation, state media reported on Monday, as he marked the anniversary of the country's ruling party. Art performances, galas, and a fireworks show were held in Pyongyang to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea on Sunday, but no large military parade, which are sometimes held on such occasions, was reported. North Korea's economy has been battered by years of sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programmes, and heavy rains and floods have also taken a toll. The country's most vulnerable risk starvation after it slipped deeper into self-imposed isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the worsening humanitarian situation could turn into a crisis, a U.N. rights investigator said in report seen by Reuters last week. The country faces "huge tasks for adjusting and developing the state economy" and accomplishing the economic goals established in recent party and government meetings, Kim said in a speech, according to state news agency KCNA. "The only way for dynamically pushing forward the unprecedented crucial work despite grim situation is for the entire Party to get united," he added, making no mention of the political standoff over its nuclear weapons. Officials should not wish for privilege and preferential treatment, and "should always consider whether their work infringe upon the interests of the people or cause trouble to the people," Kim said. State media showed Kim addressing a room full of darkly dressed officials, with no major social distancing, masks, or other anti-COVID-19 measures apparent. The country has not reported a single case of the virus, but has imposed strict border lockdowns, movement restrictions, and other measures. Story continues State television broadcasts showed young people attending the gala, and other people laying flowers at statues of the country's previous leaders. The U.S. State Department on Thursday accused Kim's government of being primarily responsible for the humanitarian situation in the country. The regime continues to exploit its own citizens, to violate their human rights, to divert resources from the countrys people to build up its unlawful (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missiles programme, spokesperson Ned Price told a briefing in Washington, while noting the United States supports efforts to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea. (Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Broner pleaded guilty to the assault but has not paid the judgment set by the judge Boxer Adrien Broner found himself stuck in jail on Sunday after being picked up by police in Kentucky, TMZ reported. Broner was booked at the Kenton County Jail in Kentucky around 1 a.m., the report noted. According to jail records, Broner was booked on being a fugitive in Ohio. A warrant was issued for his arrest, making his capture easier on Sunday, though the details of how he was caught by the police remain unclear. Adrien Broner back in jail with no bond chile pic.twitter.com/UqyFo1o57N Mob Radio (@Milagro_Gramz) October 10, 2021 Its also unclear exactly what case the fugitive warrant stems from, though it could stem from the fact that Broner failed to enter a court-mandated treatment program. TMZ noted that the warrant originated in Cuyahoga County which is near Cleveland, Ohio. The report also noted that the warrant could be in relation to a lawsuit Broner lost a year ago after a woman accused him of assaulting her in a nightclub. That assault case had been lingering since the woman first made the accusation in 2018. The woman, under the alias Katherine Larson, filed charges alleging she was sitting on a couch in the club when Broner smothered her and shoved his tongue down her throat. She also claimed he continued the assault until his friend pulled him off her. Broner pleaded guilty to assault and unlawful restraint of Ms. Larson and a judge ordered him to cough up $800k. Broner got into even more trouble with the law when he was sent to jail in late 2020 after the judge found him to be in contempt of court for failing to pay the aforementioned $800k judgment. Broner claimed he did not pay the large sum because he was broke. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA JANUARY 19: Adrien Broner reacts during the WBA welterweight championship against Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Broner remains in jail as theres no current bond amount set for him. He will probably remain in the cell until he is extradited back to Cleveland, according to TMZ. He has not made any public comments about the ordeal. Story continues Have you subscribed to theGrios new podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today! The post Adrien Broner arrested in Kentucky after Ohio assault accusation appeared first on TheGrio. DOHA (Reuters) - The new Taliban government in Afghanistan is able to control the threat from Islamic State militants who have launched a series of deadly attacks in recent weeks, acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Monday. Speaking at an event in Doha, he said instability in Afghanistan was not in anyone's interests and he called for cooperation from the world community, saying Afghanistan would not be a base for attacks on other countries. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Andrew Mills, James Mackenzie; Editing by Hugh Lawson) With excellent sound, solid ANC and good battery life, Apple's AirPods Max headphones have a lot going for them. If you've been eyeing a pair but find the $549 price hard to swallow, take note. Amazon is now selling the AirPods Max in all colors for $100 off at $449, the cheapest price we've seen on the site. Buy AirPods Max at Amazon - $449 The AirPods Max made our latest list of favorite headphones, thanks to their high sound quality, effective noise-cancellation and reliable controls. They have an eye-catching design, and despite being slightly heavier than Sonys WH-1000XM4 cans, they're comfortable to wear thanks to the breathable mesh fabric and large ear cups. They have a rotating crown to control sound that's easy to use, once you get the hang of it. They have more natural sound than other headphones we've tried, with bass that's prominent but not overpowering. The ANC on Sony's WH-1000XM4 model is slightly more effective, but the AirPods Max are close, blocking out most environmental noise. Like other AirPods models, the Transparency Mode lets you quickly disable ANC and join conversations. One of the main drawbacks is a lack of lossless audio support, but they do work with with Dolby Atmos spatial audio on most Apple devices. In fact, the AirPods Max really shine if you're in the Apple ecosystem. With its H1 chip, it'll quickly pair with and switch between an iPhone and a Mac, for example letting you quickly go from taking a call to editing video. The regular price of $549 is a lot to pay for that convenience, however, so Amazon's $100 discount presents a good opportunity to pick up a pair. Alexander-Schallenberg-Austrian-Chancellor VIENNA, AUSTRIA - OCTOBER 11: Alexander Schallenberg, previously Austrian foreign minister, is seen during his swearing-in ceremony as the new Austrian chancellor and the new Austrian foreign minister on October 11, 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Schallenberg is taking over following the sudden resignation of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz over the weekend as a consequence of a police investigation into possible illegal activities by Kurz and his campaign team in 2016. Credit - Thomas KronsteinerGetty Images Austrias new Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg vowed to work closely with his predecessor and future party whip, Sebastian Kurz, who was reduced to a parliamentary role by a corruption scandal. The new premier, almost two decades older than Kurz, said hell continue to work along the lines of a coalition program signed with the Green Party in 2020. That includes a wide-ranging tax overhaul that puts a price on carbon-dioxide pollution, he said after his inauguration on Monday. Schallenberg, who has been serving as foreign minister, will need to pick up the pieces from the Kurz era and answer questions over whether it is really over. In his first comments after his appointment, the chancellor didnt totally dispel the notion that the wily 35-year-old political survivor will be allowed to keep pulling the strings from the sidelines. I will of course work work very closely with Sebastian Kurz as head of the Peoples Party parliamentary group, Schallenberg said after his appointment. Anything else in a democracy would be absurd. Kurz pledged an orderly handover of power before his swearing in as lawmaker, scheduled for Thursday. One thing is clear: I am not a shadow chancellor, Kurz said in a statement Monday. Events had caught up with Kurz by the weekend. On Friday he was resisting pressure from his junior partner, the Greens, to quit after prosecutors raided offices in the Chancellery as part of a bribery investigation. But the chorus of critics kept growing, and he was facing a vote of non-confidence Tuesday. Story continues By Saturday evening, Kurz hastily summoned the media to announce he would step aside in favor of the man he hand-picked to represent Austrias foreign policy in his second government. By departing largely on his own terms, Kurz is trying to stay a step ahead. Most of the key allies who helped his rise to the top will remain in government as he tries to clear himself of potential criminal charges in at least two separate investigations. On the surface, this is one step back, said Thomas Hofer, a political analyst and consultant in Vienna. But Schallenberg is a very close ally and would step down the very minute Kurz tells him. It was 48 hours of political turmoil in central Europe, often caught in the middle of geopolitical tensions between east and west, and complicated ties to Russia and China. In the neighboring Czech Republic, scandal-ridden Prime Minister Andrej Babis unexpectedly lost by a razor-thin margin and his protector, the president, was rushed to hospital. Read more: Jordans King, Tony Blair and Vladimir Putins Friends Benefited From Secret Accounts, Leaked Pandora Papers Reveal Kurz has shown resilience, and a deft touch, when faced with previous corruption allegations. In 2019, two years into his first government, he called snap elections after the leader of his far-right coalition partner, the Freedom Party, was caught on a leaked video tape offering favors to a woman posing as a Russian oligarchs niece. Kurz bounced back stronger than before with a carefully-choreographed campaign, and swam the ideological divide to form a coalition with the Greens. It was an early sign that the poster child of the anti-immigration populist movement in Europe was comfortable with compromise and could follow the zeitgeist. The problem this time around, is that Kurz is directly implicated. He and nine others are suspected of funneling federal funds to a newspaper publisher in return for favorable coverage that helped fuel his meteoric political rise. Kurz has denied the allegations. The legal proceedings may drag on for years, weighing on his reputation. Any public backlash may soon be visible: a slump in opinion polls for his party in left-leaning Vienna could be an early signal. In a televised speech late Sunday, President Alexander Van der Bellen said he wouldnt sweep the scandal under the carpet and called on politicians to regain peoples trust. The parliamentary math, though, is in Kurzs favor. Without his Peoples Party the Greens would have to form a messy and awkward coalition with different opposition parties including the far-right. The resignation offers Kurz a potential path back to power and to the Greens a chance to gain the upper hand and impose more ambitious climate policies such as a tax on carbon emissions and cheap train tickets. I think the chances are now good that the government will hold on until September 2024 when the next general election is scheduled, Werner Kogler, vice chancellor and leader of the Greens said Monday. The opposition Socialists blasted the Greens for squandering an opportunity to end the Kurz System. This new chapter in Austrian politics, at least for the foreseeable future, wont feature Kurz front and center. Green parliamentary whip, Sigrid Maurer, ruled out his return to power during the current legislative period ending 2024. There is also the matter of winning back the trust of influential state leaders of his party. One has projected an expulsion for Kurz if courts found him guilty. For the Peoples Party, one of two groupings that have exerted the most influence since 1945, Schallenbergs appointment is a return to more traditional style of governing which had been lacking under Kurzs polarizing leadership. The millennial chancellor often aligned himself with Europes fiscal hawks, including the Netherlands, while giving space to the likes of President Viktor Orban in neighboring Hungary to test the limits of the EUs rulebook. Kurz dropped out of college to pursue politics as a career. By contrast, Schallenberg is a chain-smoking foreign-policy expert with a background in law and a descendant of one of Austrias oldest families. With assistance from Zoe Schneeweiss. Are you interested in adding a gorgeous and unique fashion label to your wardrobe? If so, look no further than B.Yellowtail. Founded by Bethany Yellowtail, B.Yellowtail is described as a Native American-owned, Indigenous-designed fashion brand. The LA-based company is all about championing Indigenously-owned companies: with community and culture at the heart of what we do, weve set out to share authentic Indigenous design and beauty with the world, while prioritizing economic opportunities for our people. Yellowtail, the woman behind the brand, is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, and was raised in the Mighty Few District of the Crow Nation (Southeastern Montana). Beyond her clothing brand, Yellowtail also created the B.Yellowtail Collective in 2016, which is a brand initiative to support Native American, First Nations and Indigenous entrepreneurs. All items that are sold as part of the Collective are made by Indigenous People. And yes, Consignment Artists receive 70% of the profit from all retail sales. Additionally, the brand has over 179,000 followers on Instagram and has even collaborated with well-known brand Faherty on several pieces that are currently available on its website. However, B.Yellowtail also offers things besides just clothing. They sell beautiful handbags, jewelry, hair accessories, scarves and more. In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, which is today, Oct. 11, shoppers can score a free gift with purchase as well as free shipping. Keep scrolling to shop five gorgeous pieces from B.Yellowtail that are sure to elevate any wardrobe. Credit: B.YELLOWTAIL Buy Now Credit: B.YELLOWTAIL Buy Now Credit: B.YELLOWTAIL Buy Now Credit: B.YELLOWTAIL Buy Now Credit: B.YELLOWTAIL Buy Now If you liked this article, read about Ginew, the only Native American-owned denim line. Story continues More from In The Know: Meet Astala Vista, the self-proclaimed crazy cat lady of drag This cup keeps my drinks cold all day long; no ice is required These black faux leather leggings go with everything and theyre under $100 This warm and cozy teddy coat is affordable enough to buy in multiple colors The post B.Yellowtail is the gorgeous, Native American-owned fashion brand you need to know appeared first on In The Know. By Trevor Hunnicutt, Patricia Zengerle and Jarrett Renshaw WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Joe Biden was sworn in as president of the United States on Wednesday, offering a message of unity and restoration to a deeply divided country reeling from a battered economy and a raging coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 Americans. Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol two weeks after a mob of then-President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building, Biden called for a return to civic decency in an inaugural address marking the end of Trump's tempestuous four-year term. "To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity," Biden, a Democrat, said after taking the oath of office. "We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this - if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts." The themes of Biden's 21-minute speech mirrored those he had put at the center of his presidential campaign, when he portrayed himself as an empathetic alternative to the divisive Trump, a Republican. Saying there was "no time to waste," Biden signed 15 executive actions shortly after entering the White House on Wednesday afternoon to set a new course and overturn some of Trump's most controversial policies. The orders included mandating masks on federal property, halting the withdrawal from the World Health Organization, rejoining the Paris climate accord and ending a travel ban on some Muslim-majority countries. Biden told reporters in the Oval Office that Trump had left him "a very generous letter," but he would not disclose its contents. The inauguration itself, one unlike any other in U.S. history, served as a stark reminder of both the tumult that defined the Trump era as well as the pandemic that still threatens the country. Story continues Amid warnings of possible renewed violence, thousands of armed National Guard troops circled the Capitol in an unprecedented show of force. The National Mall, typically packed with throngs of supporters, instead was filled with nearly 200,000 U.S. flags. Attending dignitaries - including former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton - wore masks and sat several feet apart. Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, became the first Black person, first woman and first Asian American to serve as vice president after she was sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court's first Latina member. The president spoke forcefully about the Jan. 6 Capitol siege when Trump backers breached the building, sending lawmakers fleeing for safety and leaving five dead, including a police officer. But Biden never mentioned his predecessor by name. The violence prompted the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Trump last week for an unprecedented second time, accusing him of incitement after he exhorted his backers to march on the building to press false claims of election fraud. 'SACRED GROUND' "Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work on our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground," Biden said. "It did not happen; it will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever." The norm-defying Trump flouted one last convention on his way out of the White House when he refused to meet with Biden or attend his successor's inauguration, breaking with a political tradition seen as affirming the peaceful transfer of power. Trump, who never conceded the Nov. 3 election, did not mention Biden by name in his final remarks as president on Wednesday morning, when he touted his administration's record. He then boarded Air Force One for the last time and flew to his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. Top Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence and the party's congressional leaders, skipped Trump's send-off and attended Biden's inauguration instead. Biden takes office at a time of deep national unease, with the country facing what his advisers have described as four compounding crises: the pandemic, the economic downturn, climate change and racial inequality. After a bitter campaign marked by Trump's baseless allegations of election fraud, Biden's speech struck a conciliatory tone rarely heard from Trump. He asked Americans who did not vote for him to give him a chance. "I pledge this to you: I will be a president for all Americans," he said. "And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did." Although his remarks were directed primarily at domestic problems, Biden also delivered a message to the rest of the world. He promised to repair alliances frayed by Trump and act as a strong partner for peace, progress and security. He made no specific mention of high-stakes disputes with North Korea, Iran and China. World leaders issued congratulatory statements, with several U.S. allies expressing relief at Biden's inauguration after Trump's unpredictable tenure that was focused on an "America First" agenda. BACK TO WHITE HOUSE Biden took the presidential oath, administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, with his left hand resting atop a 5-inch heirloom Bible that has been in his family for a century. Later in the day, Biden attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, accompanied by Obama, Bush and Clinton. Afterward, his motorcade joined an abbreviated parade on his way to the White House. Biden and his family left their limousines on Pennsylvania Avenue to walk the final few hundred yards to their new home. "It feels like I'm going home," Biden said when asked about returning to the White House. In her first briefing for reporters, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden's first telephone conversation with a foreign leader would be with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. They will discuss Biden's decision to revoke the permit needed to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline and other bilateral issues, she said. Biden's inauguration as the 46th president was the zenith of a five-decade career in public service that included more than three decades in the U.S. Senate and two terms as vice president under Obama. At 78, he is the oldest U.S. president in history. He faces calamities that would challenge even the most experienced politician. The pandemic reached a pair of grim milestones on Trump's final full day in office on Tuesday, reaching 400,000 U.S. deaths and 24 million infections - the highest of any country. Millions of Americans are out of work because of pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions. Biden's top priority is a $1.9 trillion plan that would enhance jobless benefits and provide direct cash payments to households to alleviate the financial pain from coronavirus. But it will require approval from a divided Congress, where Democrats hold slim advantages in both the House and Senate. The Senate on Wednesday approved Avril Haines to be director of national intelligence, the nation's top intelligence job, the first confirmation of a Biden nominee. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Patricia Zengerle and Jarrett Renshaw in Washington; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu, Makini Brice, Alexandra Alper, Diane Bartz, Tim Ahmann and James Oliphant; Writing by Joseph Ax and John Whiteside; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell and Peter Cooney) President Joe Biden President Joe Biden released a statement recognizing National Coming Out Day on Monday, criticizing states that have attempted to pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Biden stated that his administration is dedicated to protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, whether they are out or not. My Administration is committed to ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can live openly, proudly, and freely in every corner of our nation, he said. Biden warned, however, that state legislatures continue to target LGBTQ+ people. Despite the extraordinary progress our nation has made, our work to ensure the full promise of equality is not yet done. Anti-LGBTQ+ bills still proliferate in state legislatures, he said. He continued: Bullying and harassment particularly of young transgender Americans and LGBTQ+ people of color still abounds, diminishing our national character. This year alone nearly 20 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been signed into law in conservative states, the most in a single year. Many of them directly target transgender youth, barring them from playing on the school sports teams comporting with their gender identity seven states have adopted such laws this year, and more, including Texas, are considering them and one, in Arkansas, denies gender-affirming health care to trans minors. The Arkansas law is being challenged in court. In the statement, Biden also repeated his support for LGBTQ+ rights, both domestically and internationally. From acting on Day One to prevent and combat discrimination to enabling all qualified Americans including transgender Americans to serve their country in uniform, to defending the human rights of LGBTQ+ people around the world, my administration has been clear that we will continue to champion the dignity, equality, and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community, he said. The president also referenced the out LGBTQ+ officials in his administration who are serving the U.S. openly those officials include Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine, and Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, among others. Story continues From defeating discriminatory bills to passing the Equality Act, Biden said, we have more work to do to ensure that every American can live free of fear, harassment, and discrimination because of who they are or whom they love. Since taking office, Biden has recognized other LGBTQ-related commemorative days such as Transgender Day of Visibility as well as Pride Month. A significant change from the former administration of President Donald Trump. To LGBTQ+ people across the country, and especially those who are contemplating coming out: know that you are loved for who you are, you are admired for your courage, and you will have a community and a nation to welcome you, Biden said. My Administration will always have your back, and we will continue fighting for the full measure of equality, dignity, and respect you deserve. President Joe Biden says his sweeping Covid-19 vaccination and testing mandate will boost the economy and save lives, but as businesses prepare for the new requirement, theyre wondering not only what will be in the regulation, but how it will be enforced. The mandate, which will apply to organizations with at least 100 employees and cover an estimated 80 million workers, has already drawn threats of lawsuits from two dozen Republican attorneys general and prompted some people to vow to quit their jobs. But a greater challenge for the administration could lie within the agency tasked with ensuring compliance. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was already handling a broad mission prior to the new rule, which it is expected to issue in a matter of weeks. To stretch its resources, the agency typically prioritizes high-risk industries and targets repeat offenders, and it offers help, in addition to issuing fines, to businesses that are out of compliance. But OSHA had only about 862 inspectors in early 2020, according to a Freedom of Information Act response from the agency obtained by NBC News, to carry out all of its regulatory enforcement duties and that number has trended downward over the last several years. This year, despite new hires, the agency lost another 65 inspectors, according to data obtained from OSHA. Experts say the agencys small size relative to its responsibilities means it cant enforce the rule by deploying a large number of inspectors. While OSHA is now hiring, training takes time. David Michaels, who ran OSHA for seven years, said he doesnt think those new inspectors will be out in the field anytime soon. OSHAs legacy as a strained agency means there wont be an army of inspectors knocking on doors, former OSHA senior policy adviser Debbie Berkowitz said. It would take 160 years for OSHA to get into every workplace just once, she estimated. Its an understaffed, under-resourced agency to begin with. Story continues Michaels, who is familiar with the internal deliberations on the rule, expects most companies to comply without the government intervening. It isnt a vaccine mandate specifically, he noted, but rather a requirement to take measures to keep the workplace safe from the hazard of infectious workers. OSHA is going to tell employers they have to make sure that potentially infectious workers dont enter the workplace, and they can do that a number of different ways, Michaels said. That includes regular testing and close tracking of worker compliance by businesses, or even work-from-home requirements, he said. In the last week, Ive spoken with hundreds of business leaders, and the question they ask me is not how will OSHA enforce this. The question is, what do I need to do to comply? Michaels said. Naming and shaming If businesses dont abide by the regulation, OSHA will have a lot of levers, Michaels said. They can impose heavy fines, publicize to workers that they can complain if their employer is not complying, and they can do spot inspections. If a business is making a good-faith effort, Berkowitz said she expects OSHA will not force the issue with a fine. But a key aspect of enforcing this requirement, differentiating it from some other OSHA regulations, will be the reaction of employees at risk of catching Covid in the workplace, who will serve as a force multiplier, experts say. The vast majority of employees want everybody to be vaccinated, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health at Johns Hopkins University. Its only a small but vocal minority who dont. What you have to do is capture the attention of the silent majority and have them blow the whistle on any employer. Encouraging whistleblowing is an extraordinarily important part of it, he said, adding that OSHA doesnt have to set foot inside most employers. For the minority of businesses that dont comply, OSHA could publicize the consequences. Theyll send out inspectors, and they may find workplaces where they havent done that, Gostin said, referring to compliance with the vaccination and testing requirement. And theyll issue big fines, and theyll issue press releases perhaps, which will embarrass some employers while sending a message to others. The upcoming rule is also different from others in that its so politically polarized, said Matthew Johnson, a labor economist at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. Its pretty likely many companies will comply without having to do anything. Johnson said his research shows the negative publicity companies receive when OSHA publicizes that theyre not complying with health and safety regulations is pretty effective. Still, in parts of the country where Covid-related restrictions are unpopular, the vaccination rule could be met with resistance from government officials, businesses and the public, he said. More than 20 states have workplace safety agencies that cover both the public and private sectors, and some of those agencies occasionally balk at federal rules, Berkowitz noted. Whats more, relying on whistleblowers in those areas could be problematic. Many workers dont know how to file OSHA complaints and could fear retaliation for doing so, Johnson said. Those dynamics make it likely that the agency will prioritize industries with low vaccination rates, such as meatpacking or construction, and possibly certain regions, he said. Business concerns Once OSHA releases the draft rule, a brief public comment period is likely to follow, allowing businesses to express their skepticism and suggest changes, Michaels said. One issue for companies could be the cost of weekly testing and record-keeping for workers who refuse to be vaccinated, which Gostin said might drive businesses to simply mandate vaccinations by default. Lex Taylor, who runs a group of companies based in Louisville, Mississippi, that make heavy industrial equipment like forklifts and generators, called the new rule a toughie, saying its unclear how often hell have to test those of his 1,300 workers who refuse the vaccination. Even after offering an extra vacation day to get vaccinated, just 30 percent of his workforce has gotten the shot so far, he said. Given labor shortages, Taylor said he is not in a position to mandate the vaccination and risk losing employees. That's just impossible, he said, emphasizing the hole in his workforce that would create given the number of his workers who still arent vaccinated. Logic dictates that's irresponsible. That's crazy. That means he'll have to devise a testing protocol. But the limited supply of at-home Covid tests could make it hard to purchase them in bulk and cheaply, he said, adding, If we have to have a negative test result before the employee can show up to work, it's really going to be an administrative nightmare. In response to the shortages, the White House has pledged to ramp up the purchase of the tests for distribution to the public. Scott Waller, president of the Mississippi Economic Council, said his organization has promoted vaccinations, but member businesses are confused about how to prepare for the vaccine-rule rollout. The idea sounds great, but what are some of the unintended consequences? Waller asked. For instance, the rule is likely to apply even to chains with a total of 100 employees at their various stores, according to Michaels. That makes it much more difficult, Waller said, noting it would be more challenging for management to keep track of compliance at multiple locations. While businesses largely support getting employees vaccinated, they worry a requirement could cause employees to quit at a time when many companies are facing shortages of workers, Waller said. In Michigan, Henry Ford Health System announced Tuesday that 400 employees had quit over the systems vaccine mandate. Still, that's only about 1 percent of the health systems workforce. White House push The White House says the evidence supports the effectiveness of mandates. It released a report Thursday asserting that vaccination requirements in many organizations have helped push their employee vaccination rates to more than 90 percent a substantially higher rate than the 63 percent of the working-age population who are fully vaccinated. Biden implored companies not to wait for the requirement to go into effect. "My message is, require your employees to get vaccinated, he said in remarks Thursday. With vaccinations, we're going to beat this pandemic finally. Without them, we face endless months of chaos in our hospitals, damage to our economy and anxiety in our schools and empty restaurants and much less commerce." While as many as half of unvaccinated workers have said in polls that they would leave their jobs rather than be forced to get vaccinated, anecdotal evidence suggests the number who do quit could be much smaller. Meanwhile, OSHA was given a boost in the Covid relief bill that Biden signed in March, which set aside $100 million for inspectors, a whistleblower program and health and safety grants, according to the Department of Labor all elements of the agencys enforcement efforts. OSHA should be emphasizing that it will rigorously enforce the law, that it will devote high resources to inspections and enforcement, and that it will be publicizing widely that employees should blow the whistle on employers who dont follow OSHA standards, Gostin said. That combination will have a strong impact, he said. BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that China has lodged stern representations with Australia over "inappropriate" comments by former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott about Taiwan. Abbott last week visited Taiwan, which is claimed by China, in a personal capacity, met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, and told a security forum that China may lash out with its economy slowing and finances "creaking". "The relevant words and actions by the Australian politician go against the One China Principle and send a seriously wrong signal," Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular media briefing. "China is firmly opposed to this. We have made stern representations to Australia." (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Writing by Ryan Woo, Edting by Timothy Heritage) Per a New York Times report, increased crime rates and public pressure from pro-police political groups have led to funding reversals for law enforcement departments nationwide Local leaders in cities across America are ramping up previously reduced funding allocations for law enforcement departments as crime rates have risen and pressure from the public has seemingly decreased, the New York Times reported. Following the murder of George Floyd and the killing of Breonna Taylor and others at the hands of law enforcement officers in 2020, a tidal wave of worldwide protests affiliated with the Black Lives Matter Movement ensued, promoting, among other things, meaningful police accountability and reform action. Many advocates of the movement have demanded that police funding be reduced in order to commit more money towards community care networks that could mitigate the systemic factors that push many towards crime in the first place. Several U.S. cities complied at least temporarily. Now, per the Times, departments whose budgets were slashed are being given the money back. The New York Police Department, for example, was allocated an additional $200 million following a budget passed in June, the Los Angeles Police Department was given a 3% funding boost in April, and the Burlington Police Department in Vermont was allocated nearly $1 million. The change of tune, according to the Times, has been in response to rising levels of crime in major cities in recent months as well as understaffed departments and pressure from political groups in favor of increasing law enforcement funding. Multiple Texas cities have undergone especially stark reversals, the Times reported. The Austin Police Department in Texas has seen its budget restored to a record high amount. In Dallas, one year after protesters helped convince Mayor Eric Johnson to defund the Dallas Police Department, he not only proposed to restore many of the budget cuts without receiving much backlash, but passed a budget worth $4.4 billion which included hiring an additional 250 officers. Story continues A Dallas Police vehicle is parked near the South Side Flats apartments in Dallas. Former Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger fatally shot Botham Jean, an unarmed black neighbor. (AP Photo/Ryan Tarinelli, File) Laura Cooper, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association told the Times: Dallas stands out for the amount of investment that the local government is putting into the department. As an African American male who came of age in the 1990s, I remember a lot of people whose lives were devastated by violence, Johnson said during an interview in Dallas City Hall. I dont want to go back there. The city has opted to mitigate rising violent crime rates including a 25% increase in homicides, reaching the highest rate in roughly 20 years using an approach called hot spot policing, based around increased policing efforts in areas of the city that contain the highest crime rates, per the Times. While this method has existed for decades and has proven to be generally successful according to the Times, it remains a polarizing subject in communities of color according to newly-appointed Chief Eddie Garcia who told the newspaper that despite its controversial nature, the method seems to be working. There were three cop cars already sitting on the block when the shooting in St. Paul, Minnesota happened this morning. Nothing was "defunded" in St. Paul. They have 700 police and a $122M budget. Police don't prevent crime they respond after crime happens. Sophia Williams (@STWilliams1980) October 10, 2021 Some Dallas residents and local police reform activists, however, feel as though the department, under Garcias leadership, has halted some of the progress it had made over the last year. Last year, there was a lot of movement, Dominique Alexander, president Dallas-based civil rights organization Next Generation Action Network told the Times. With this new police chief, that is gone. When you talk about hot spots, these are still minority communities, said 49-year-old Dallas barber Gerard Claiborne of Kingz of Cutz barbershop, located in one of the citys majority-Black neighborhoods where crime has reportedly been a problem. I cant say his plan wont work. But its a bigger fix thats needed, Claiborne told the Times, adding that increased training of officers would be a good place to start. Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com today! The post Cities across the U.S. are restoring police budgets after temporary defunding appeared first on TheGrio. Trong Nguyen / Shutterstock.com The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour for the past decade, but some major companies have taken it upon themselves to up their lowest wage earners' compensation to more than double that. Some companies, like Target and Costco, have already enacted this change, while others have made plans to gradually increase wages in the coming years. Career: Chick-fil-A and 23 More Companies With Surprisingly Great 401(k) Plans Shopping: 19 Money-Saving Secrets Target Doesnt Want You To Know Here are some major companies that have raised their minimum wage to $15 or more. Last updated: June 25, 2021 Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons Aetna Healthcare company Aetna has been paying its U.S. hourly wage workers a minimum of $16 per hour since 2015.See: Heres How Much You Need To Earn To Be Rich in Every State Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com Amazon Amazon raised its starting wage for all U.S. employees to at least $15 an hour in 2018."Weve seen the positive impact this has had on our employees, their families and their communities," the company stated on its website. "Since then, weve been lobbying Congress to increase the federal minimum wage."Find Out: The 37 Mistakes We Make When Shopping at Costco, Amazon, Target and Walmart Sharkshock / Shutterstock.com Bank of America Bank of America's minimum wage was already $17 in May 2019, and less than a year later, the financial company raised it again, the Charlotte Business Journal reported. Bank of America began paying its workers a minimum of $20 an hour as of March 2020.Options: 40 Legit Companies That Will Pay You To Work From Home Story continues ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com Ben & Jerry's Ben & Jerry's recalculates its minimum wage each year; it reached $18.13 in 2020."We're committed to paying all of our Ben & Jerry's Vermont full-time workers a livable wage enough to allow for a quality of life that includes decent housing, health care, transportation, food, recreation, savings and miscellaneous expenses," the company states on its site. "Every year, we recalculate the livable wage to make sure its keeping up with the actual cost of living in Vermont."See: High-Paying Jobs at Apple, Facebook and Google That Dont Require a Degree hafakot / Shutterstock.com Best Buy Best Buy's minimum wage rose to $15 per hour in August 2020."Todays announcement on pay reflects an ongoing evolution and investment in how we compensate [our front-line employees] for their critical work and is the result of clear and consistent feedback from field employees across the country," Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said in a press release announcing the pay increase.Check Out: Highest-Paying Work-From-Home Jobs Jeff Roberson/AP/REX Charter Communications Charter Communications established a $15 minimum wage in 2018. In April 2020, the company announced that it would permanently raise its minimum starting wage to $20 an hour in 2022, with annual increases of $1.50 an hour in 2020 and 2021. It reached its $18 minimum wage milestone in March.Read More: 5 Things To Negotiate at Your Job Other Than Salary Cj Gunther/EPA Cigna Global health service company Cigna established a minimum wage for its U.S. employees of $16 an hour in 2018.See: 45 Jobs That Can Make You a Millionaire Before Retirement slobo / Getty Images Costco On Feb. 25, Costco announced that it would be raising its minimum wage to $16 for its U.S. workers.Two years ago, we moved our starting hourly wage to $15 everywhere in the U.S. Effective next week, the starting wage will go to $16, Costco CEO Craig Jelinek said during a Senate budget committee hearing, CNBC reported.For Your Job Search: Companies That Let You Work From Anywhere spatuletail / Shutterstock.com Disney World In 2018, Walt Disney World reached an agreement with a group of unions to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour by October 2021, Money reported.Think About It: Should Employers Require Workers To Take Time Off? Lloyd Carr / Shutterstock.com Facebook Facebook raised its minimum wage for contract workers in 2015 to $15 per hour, Reuters reported. The social media giant raised its minimum wage again in 2019, to $20 per hour in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York and Washington D.C., and to $18 per hour in Seattle.If You're Looking: What Its Like To Job Hunt During a Pandemic RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images Fifth Third Bank Fifth Third Bancorp the parent company of Fifth Third Bank, which has locations in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina raised its minimum wage to $18 per hour in 2019.Tips: How To Interview For a Job When Youre Wearing a Mask Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com Google In 2019, Google began requiring that U.S. vendor and temporary workers receive a $15 minimum wage, HR Dive reported.Be Prepared: How To Protect Yourself When You Return to Your Office Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com JPMorgan Chase JPMorgan Chase has a $16.50 minimum wage for its entry-level jobs. In some areas, its minimum wage is $18 to account for a higher cost of living.Helpful: How To Interview for a Job Over Zoom nitpicker / Shutterstock.com Santander Bank Santander Bank increased its minimum hourly wage to $15 in 2018.Our people are our greatest asset, Scott Powell, then-CEO of Santander US, said in a press release at the time. We have a long-standing commitment to investing in our employees and paying them fairly and competitively. They are on the front lines every day working to build strong, lasting relationships with our customers and I am pleased to be able to reward them for their dedication and hard work.See: 50 US Cities With Plenty of Jobs and Cheap Housing Pe3k / Shutterstock.com Starbucks In an open letter to Congress, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson announced in December 2020 that the company plans to establish a minimum wage of $15 an hour over the next couple of years."More than 30% of our U.S. retail partners are currently at or above $15/hour, and we continue on our path to ensure all U.S. partners will be making at or above $15/hour within the coming two to three years," the letter stated.Find Out: Will There Be a Fourth Stimulus Check? How Much Will It Be? All Your Questions Answered jimkruger / iStock.com Target In July 2020, Target raised its starting wage for U.S. team members to $15 per hour. The retailer had set a goal in 2017 to raise its wage to $15 over the next three years from its starting wage of $11.See: Chick-fil-A and 23 More Companies With Surprisingly Great 401(k) Plans Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com Wayfair Wayfair raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour in January."Throughout the challenges of the past year, we rolled out numerous initiatives to support our team including pay premiums, bonuses and a family dinner program. Now, as we enter 2021, we are continuing to build upon our steadfast commitment to our team and their families by increasing minimum pay for all hourly employees, Niraj Shah, CEO, co-founder and co-chairman of Wayfair, said in a press release.Check Out: Fox News and 25 More Companies That Faced Public Backlash wdstock / Getty Images Wells Fargo In March 2020, Wells Fargo announced that it would raise its minimum wage to at least $15 for all employees by the end of the year. The minimum wage is now as high as $20 for employees in high-cost areas.More From GOBankingRatesWhat Money Topics Do You Want Covered: Ask the Financially Savvy Female 5 Things Most Americans Dont Know About Social Security 20 Home Renovations That Will Hurt Your Homes Value What Income Level Is Considered Middle Class in Your State? This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Costco, Amazon and 16 Other Companies That Raised Their Minimum Wage to $15 (or More) Vaccine administration. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images COVID-19 boosters have arrived and with them, of course, plenty of debate. While health and administration officials reportedly remain at odds over the proper timeline in which to roll out third doses, unvaccinated hold-outs stand steadfast in their relunctance, writes The New York Times, perhaps even hardening in their skepticism thanks to the "mixed messages" from the booster campaign. "It seems like such a short time and people are already having to get boosters," said Christopher Poe, an unvaccinated manufacturing worker who grew more skeptical about the shot due to the third-dose discourse. "And the fact that they didn't realize that earlier in the rollout shows me that there could be other questions that could be out there, like the long-term effects." A September vaccine monitor survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation seemed to echo Poe's concerns. There, 71 percent of unvaccinated respondents said they believe the need for boosters means the vaccines aren't working. Officials also fear parents with young children will feel similarly skittish regarding efficacy when the time comes to inoculate their kids. The result is "really two different types of campaigns" in the U.S., Dr. Jennifer Avegno, director of the New Orleans health department, told the Times. Physicians are encouring vaccinated the vaccinated to come in for boosters while simulataneously struggling "to defend the need for the third shot to those who have yet to get their first." Meanwhile, an FDA advisory panel will meet Thursday and Friday to debate booster doses of both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, CNBC reports. Currently, only Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine has been authorized for use. As of Saturday, over 7 million Americans had received a booster dose. Read more at The New York Times and CNBC. You may also like Madonna makes Jimmy Fallon sweat, remove coat in 'disturbed' interview Texas GOP gubernatorial candidate Allen West hospitalized with COVID-19 No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise slammed for refusing to say 2020 election wasn't stolen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Police in Copenhagen have set up four "no go" zones aimed at barring violent offenders from popular night-life areas in a bid to reduce violence in a country known for its low crime rates. Under a new law, Danish courts can exclude people convicted of violent crime from "night life zones" set up by police, effectively controlling after-dark access to whole streets popular with partygoers. "We have definitely got a new tool, a tool that affects the few, but which helps the many," Copenhagen police inspector Tommy Laursen told Reuters. In an early application of the new law, a court in Helsingor last week gave a 24-year-old Dane a five-month prison sentence for violent behaviour. In addition, he was handed a nine-months ban from visiting pubs, restaurants and places that serve alcohol between midnight and 5 a.m. as weall as being excluded from night-life zones. In Copenhagen, prosecutors will on Monday use the new law in a violent crime case against a 31-year-old man. Despite having declined in recent years, violence in bars and clubs is a major contributor to Denmark's violent crime statistics. Many of those convicted of violence in night life venues are repeat offenders, Laursen said. Violating a ban, which can last up to two years, will initially result in a fine of 10,000 Danish crowns ($1,500). A second offence means 30 days in prison, Laursen said. (Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard and Andreas Mortensen; Editing by Giles Elgood) ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (Reuters) - More than 20 years after suffering burns to her arms, neck and chest when the kettle caught fire as she was making tea, Egyptian Hend el-Banna is trying to help other burn victims avoid the stigma and rejection she has long faced. Banna grew up in Saudi Arabia and struggled to secure a job when she returned to Egypt. She was engaged four times, then rejected by each fiance's family because of her looks. Now the owner of an online accessories brand called Shahrazad, Banna models items herself while running an association called Ehtewa'a (Inclusion) from the city of Alexandria, one of several charitable groups that supports burn victims in Egypt. Volunteers and doctors provide medical care, treatment, and psychological assistance to people with burn injuries. One of around 500 people the organisation has helped over the past three years is 21-year-old university student Hanan Ashraf, who was burned after she poured gasoline onto a fire at the age of eight. "When I was younger, I couldn't look at myself," she said. "If I hadn't taken one photograph in primary school, I would have never known what I really looked like." Another is Mamdouh Mahmoud, 28, who has undergone surgery 17 times since being burned in a fire at his father's carpentry shop two decades ago. Having been rejected by many employers, he now works at a medicine-distribution warehouse where there is little interaction with outsiders as he still struggles with people's shock when they see his injuries. "Just because you're a burn victim does not mean you have to go above and beyond for people to like you," he said. "Just do whatever comes naturally to you." (Reporting by Hanaa Habieb; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Don Lee, Richard Madden and Chloe Zhao on the set of Marvel Studios' Eternals. (Photo: Disney) The theme of Marvel Cinematic Universes Phase 4 so far is "expect the unexpected." Since Avengers: Endgame wrapped up the Infinity Saga at the close of Phase 3, the MCU has given us a suburban comedy (WandaVision), gritty Euro-romp (Falcon and the Winter Soldier), espionage thriller (Black Widow), identity-twisting mind-bender (Loki) and sci-fi martial art movie (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). But when Eternals producer Nate Moore told us the next Marvel movie directed by Chloe Zhao, the Oscar-winning director of Nomadland was going to be "an epic romance" that spanned 7,000 years of human history, was partly inspired by The Notebook, and with the narrative structure of The Godfather Part II, we were still taken by surprise. We've made 25 movies now at Marvel, Moore told Yahoo and an assembled group of journalists at Pinewood Studios on the last day of shooting back in January 2020, but this is the first movie that's really built around a romance as the center of the relationship. "This, if we can do it right, is an epic romance. Richard Madden and Gemma Chan in Marvel Studios' Eternals (Photo: Disney) Eternals could be the biggest, most ambitious debut for a MCU property ever. With 10 lead heroes, its the largest introduction of new characters since 2014s Guardians of the Galaxy added Star-Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket and Groot to the already massive Marvel roster. It's a big cosmic crazy movie set on Earth over 7,000 years, adds Moore. It is our most ambitious first film. Created by Jack Kirby in 1976 and reinvigorated by a hugely popular Neil Gaiman comic arc in 2006, the Eternals brand is a deep cut for casual comic fans, but beloved by the hardcore faithful. Taking cues from the Gaiman run, but largely inspired by Kirbys original take, in the MCU the Eternals are immortal aliens from a planet called Olympia who've been asked by the Celestials to come to Earth to rid the planet of creatures called Deviants. A Deviant strikes in Marvel Studios' Eternals. (Photo: Disney) The Deviants are these parasitic aliens who go from planet to planet, explains Moore. And as they kill the apex predators on a given planet, they take the characteristics of those predators and wipe out intelligent life. Story continues The film shows the Eternals coming to Earth thousands of years ago to eradicate the Deviants in order to allow humanity to thrive. After achieving their mission, the ten Eternals fracture as a team and go their separate ways, living their lives in disguise as humans. Cut to present day. The appearance of a Deviant in London after 5,000 years of peace sends two Eternals on a globe-trotting adventure to get the gang back together. The Eternals each one powered in a different way by cosmic energy come in unofficial pairs. Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Don Lee, Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry and Barry Keoghan are the Eternals. (Photo: Disney) Ikaris (Richard Madden), a perfectionist with Superman-like laser vision and flight, and Sersi (Gemma Chan) who can change matter with a touch of her hand, are the romantic duo at the heart of the film. Gilgamesh (Don Lee) is the strongest Eternal. He uses cosmic energy to create an exoskeleton and is paired with Thena (Angelina Jolie), an incredible fighter who uses her powers to create any weapon she can think of. He acts as her protector, as for reasons that will come clear shes too dangerous to be around humans. Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo in Marvel Studios' Eternals (Photo: Disney) Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) is a formerly demure character who has made a career for himself as a Bollywood star in the present day, and his vain energy bounces nicely off the world-weary Sprite (Lia McHugh). An incredible storyteller, Sprite has the misfortunate of being stuck in the body of a 12-year-old girl. She wants to feel like she's the adult because she is, McHugh tells us. Sprite (Lia McHugh) in Marvel Studios' Eternals (Photo: Disney) Druig (Barry Keoghan) can control minds using cosmic energy, but has become disillusioned by humanity (Hes the dark one who is always overthinking everything, Salma Hayek later explains), and hes juxtaposed by Makkari (Laren Ridloff), the fastest woman alive, who spends her time on earth reading books and accumulating knowledge. Makkari (Laren Ridloff) and Druig (Barry Keoghan) in Marvel Studios' Eternals (Photo: Disney) Finally theres Ajak (Salma Hayek), the leader - gender-switched from the comics - with healing powers, who is paired up with Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) the technological whiz of the Eternals. Rounding out the core cast is Kit Harington as a character called Dane Whitman who in the comics ends up as beloved comic character the Black Knight. He has a history with Sersi that will bring him into confrontation with his former Game of Thrones sibling Richard Madden. I don't know that we'd be good filmmakers if we didn't reunite the Stark brothers! jokes Moore. Kit Harington and Gemma Chan in Marvel Studios' Eternals (Photo: Disney) Wrangling this massive cast is Chloe Zhao, whose previous film Nomadland had yet to become an awards juggernaut when we visited the set. Despite having won acclaim with The Rider, she seemed a bold choice for a behemothic Marvel movie at the time. She doesn't seem to be the kind of filmmaker who necessarily wants to tackle this giant visual effects blockbuster, conceded Moore. But a couple of things we learned when we met her [changed that]. One: she grew up reading Manga, she grew up in Beijing, China, so comic book storytelling is in her blood. Two: she's a huge MCU fan. She's seen [the] movies countless times, she loves them, she loves Captain America especially, and she blew us away with her infectious energy. Gemma Chan receives direction from Chloe Zhao on the set of Marvel Studios' Eternals. (Photo: Disney) In talking to her early on, we realized this was a true storyteller, a writer, director, who did have a very strong vision of what the movie could be. And it's been proven true. She's been writing on the script every day, she's great with actors, she pushed us, I think, as a filmmaker to make Eternals feel aesthetically different than any other Marvel movie. "She likes to shoot a lot of natural locations and natural light, so this film, actually, of any Marvel films, has shot outside exteriors more than anything else. And I think it's lent it a look that's unlike anything we've ever done. Marvel Studios' Eternals is in cinemas November 2021. (Phorot: Disney) Trailers for the film back this claim up. The footage shows a naturalistic lighting and color design unlike any other MCU film, despite the multi-colored costumes of the 10 main heroes. [Chloe Zhaos] done very naturalistic, very kind of new look lighting, production designer Eve Stewart told us as we toured the Domo, the Eternals monolithic spaceship. She hasn't done the traditional cinematic Marvel route. Its very bluey, daylighty. Quite harsh but really good looking. Echoing this naturalistic approach of the director was Frances Hannon, hair and makeup designer: "Chloe's brief was everybody had to be natural. She didn't want a superhero look. She wanted them to be accessible to every age. And everybody and nobody to feel that they could never look like that or be like that. The Eternals assemble. (Photo: Disney) Another way Eternals differs to previous MCU movies is the sheer diversity of its cast. The franchise has made great strides forward with Black Panther and Shang-Chi, but Eternals goes even further. Beyond the ethnic, gender, and age diversity among the cast, Lauren Ridloffs Makkari is the MCUs first deaf character, and Brian Tyree Henrys Phastos is openly gay and has a husband. It's beautiful because it's such a really diverse cast, said Salma Hayek. And I think in a way, when you are used to being the diverse part of something, then it's something that unifies you so it looks We're all very different, but at the same time, we were all the same, because we're used to being the diverse part of everything. Salma Hayek plays Ajak, leader of the Eternals. (Photo: Disney) I think as filmmakers, we want our audience reflected on the screen added Moore. And I think the great thing about Eternals is, it's just part of the narrative without having to talk about it, that Eternals were to some degree selected for this mission partially because they could integrate into an Earth that does have a sprawling identity and a very easy way because they do look like not everybody, but there is a nice cross-section there. So we want it to feel both like a natural extension of the storytelling, but also just a way for audience members and kids especially, to see themselves on screen maybe for the first time. Eternals opens in theaters Nov. 5. Watch the trailer: Watch: Scream (2022): Official Trailer The Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testifying to a Senate committee. Matt McClain-Pool/Getty Images Facebook's Oversight Board said it will meet with whistleblower Frances Haugen in the coming weeks. Haugen said, "Facebook has lied to the board repeatedly, and I am looking forward to sharing the truth." She has leaked thousands of pages of internal documents and testified about Facebook's policies. Facebook's independent "Supreme Court" will meet with company whistleblower Frances Haugen after she made a series of bombshell claims about the tech giant. The Facebook Oversight Board announced the meeting in a post on Monday. "In the last few weeks, new information about Facebook's approach to content moderation has come to light as a result of the actions of a former Facebook employee, Frances Haugen," the post reads. "In light of the serious claims made about Facebook by Ms. Haugen, we have extended an invitation for her to speak to the Board over the coming weeks, which she has accepted. Board members appreciate the chance to discuss Ms. Haugen's experiences and gather information that can help push for greater transparency and accountability from Facebook through our case decisions and recommendations." Haugen took to Twitter on Monday to confirm she would meet with the board members. "I have accepted the invitation to brief the Facebook Oversight Board about what I learned while working there," she said in a tweet. "Facebook has lied to the board repeatedly, and I am looking forward to sharing the truth with them." Earlier this month, Haugen revealed that she is the former Facebook employee responsible for leaking tens of thousands of pages of internal documents that formed the basis of a multi-part Wall Street Journal investigation into the company. The first story in the investigation found that Facebook has a secret system that lets 5.8 million users, such as politicians and celebrities, skirt the company's rules on content, according to the Journal. Other articles in the investigation found that Facebook's internal teams were aware that Instagram worsens body image issues for many teen girls and that the company spoke about wanting to "leverage playdates" to get children and tweens onto its platform. Last week, Haugen testified in a Senate hearing about Facebook's policies, saying the company repeatedly resolved conflicts "in favor of its own profits" and calling for regulatory oversight of the company. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg later responded to Haugen's testimony, saying many of her claims "don't make any sense" and that she is painting a "false picture of the company." Read the original article on Business Insider Criptoloja, the first crypto exchange licensed to operate in Portugal, launched its online crypto trading service last week. The crypto exchange allows users to buy 94 cryptocurrencies online with euros, CEO and co-founder Pedro Borges told CoinDesk, adding that users can also trade those cryptocurrencies for an additional 398 other cryptos. In June, the Central Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal) licensed Criptoloja as a virtual asset service provider, making it the first crypto company licensed to operate since a new law covering crypto trading platforms in Portugal took effect earlier this year. In August, the company started offering an offline trading service. We were doing the pure broker work, exchanging euros for the crypto requested and sending it to the clients wallet, Borges said, adding that the company has only 317 users so far. Small numbers, but this is just starting, he said. To start trading, customers must send euros to one of two accounts Criptoloja holds at two local banks, Totta Santander and Abanca. Customers must also provide an identity document, and ownership of the bank account and Criptolojas account must be the same, Borges said. Once users acquire some cryptocurrency, they can hold their assets on Cryptolojas platform, which has an integrated third-party custody service, Borges said. He declined to disclose the custodians name. So far, the exchange offers its service only on desktops, although it expects to launch a mobile app by the end of 2021. On the institutional side, Criptoloja plans to be the exchange partner for Portuguese companies that are already receiving payments in crypto and need to convert them to euros. And by the end of October, the company plans to start providing services in Spain from Portugal. Spanish clients will be opening the account with the Portuguese company, Borges said. For that we just have to inform Banco do Portugal that we are [offering] commercial efforts in Spain. Story continues Criptolojas license approval came after nearly nine months, as it first filed its application in September 2020, Borges told CoinDesk. Banco do Portugal also licensed Mind The Coin, an operator of bitcoin automated teller machines (ATMs), in June. According to its website, Mind The Coin owns four ATMs in the country that allow the purchase of bitcoin, litecoin and monero with euros. About 25%, or 1 in 4 units of critical infrastructure, such as police stations, airports and hospitals, are at risk of being rendered inoperable due to flooding, a comprehensive new report finds. The report points to climate change for heightening risks. Why it matters: The new national inventory of flood risk during the next thirty years, which takes into account climate change-driven increases in sea levels and heavy precipitation events, is the first of its kind. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. The report, from the First Street Foundation, a nonprofit flood research and communications group, presents a stark warning to communities of all sizes the U.S. simply isn't ready for the climate of today, let alone the extreme weather and climate events that are coming in the next few decades. Specifically, during the next 30 years as the climate continues to warm, the flood risk situation will grow more dire, the report warns. By the numbers: Consider these aggregate statistics from the "Infrastructure on the Brink" report: About 2 million miles of road are currently at risk of becoming "impassable" due to flooding. Nearly a million commercial properties, 17% of all social infrastructure facilities, and 12.4 million residential properties also have "operational risk," according to the First Street analysis. Over the next 30 years, the typical lifetime of a home mortgage, about 1.2 million residential properties, and 2,000 pieces of critical infrastructure (airports, hospitals, fire stations, hazardous waste sites and power plants) will also be at risk of becoming inoperable due to flooding from sea level rise, heavy rainfall, and in some cases a combination of the two, the report finds. Infrastructure at risk of becoming inundated due to flooding in today's climate. Courtesy: First Street Foundation Context: The report comes during a year that has already featured a record 18 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the first nine months of the year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Story continues Deadly flooding from Hurricane Ida demonstrated the vulnerability of urban areas of New York and New Jersey to flash flooding. Catastrophic flooding in the Nashville area in March is also on the billion-dollar disasters list for 2021. According to the First Street analysis, which uses an open-access flood model that incorporates coastal and inland flooding, the most at risk county in the U.S. for flood risk is tucked into the extreme southwestern corner of Louisiana. Cameron Parish is sparsely populated, with just 5,600 people as of the 2020 Census, but it's a hotbed of flood risks. Of note: In Cameron Parish, the report shows that nearly 99% of residential properties, and similarly sky high counts of commercial and critical infrastructure structures, are already at risk of flooding so severe that it would knock them out of service. Six of the seven top counties for risk are in the New Orleans area, Jeremy Porter, head of research and development at First Street, told Axios. The communities most at risk are located in Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky and West Virginia, with 17 out of the 20 most at-risk counties in the country located in those states, the analysis concluded. The city slated to see one of the biggest jumps in vulnerability between now and 2050 is Norfolk, Virginia, which is home to the world's largest naval base, among other military installations. How it works: Human-caused climate change is increasing sea levels around the world, but seas are rising especially quickly in the Mid-Atlantic region due largely to peculiarities in ocean currents. In addition, Warming ocean and air temperatures are also translating into added water vapor in the atmosphere that can fuel stronger storms with heavier downpours. The most recent report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found increasing evidence tying global warming to more extreme precipitation events. What they're saying: "Our nation's infrastructure is not built to a standard that protects against the level of flood risk we face today, let alone how those risks will grow over the next 30 years as the climate changes," said Matthew Eby, founder and executive director of the First Street Foundation, in a statement. What's next: The organization is making the new data available for free to the public via its Flood Factor website. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Florida Republicans are calling for an audit of the 2020 election results despite Donald Trump winning the state over Joe Biden. The one-term president defeated his successor by more than 371,000 votes in securing the states electoral votes last November. Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential rival GOP presidential candidate to Mr Trump in 2024, says that Florida did it right in the 2020 election. But now he and other conservative lawmakers are being pushed by party members to carry an audit of the election. Last month, the Lake County Republican Party approved five resolutions to send to every Florida state lawmaker backing the full audit. Observers say that the bill, which calls for audits in counties with populations of more than 250,000, would target Democratic areas such as Orange, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough counties, as well as come Republican counties such as Lake, Brevard, Lee, and Polk. Its not about margin of victory, Mr Sabatini told Politico. The fact is that people want total verification of the election results. They want an independent review of the votes. Republicans have followed Mr Trumps lead by declaring elections rigged and rife with voter fraud, despite all evidence to the contrary. Flat-out rejection of an electoral loss is becoming a defining characteristic of the MAGA crowd led by Mr Trump, who maintains a stranglehold over the Republican Party. Floridas Republican Secretary of State Laurel Lee says that a forensic audit is not necessary as election officials tested voting machines before and after the election. Floridas election in 2020 was accurate, transparent, and conducted in compliance with Florida law, she said. Florida has already conducted both pre- and post-elections audits, and we are confident in the security and integrity of our 2020 election results. Mr Trump, who moved to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when he left the White House in January, has made false and widely debunked claims of electoral fraud before and after his defeat to Mr Biden. Thousands of his supporters launched a violent insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January following his rally in Washington DC, to try and prevent the certification of Mr Bidens victory. A Republican-pushed Cyber Ninja audit of the election results in Maricopa County, Arizona, found around 350 more votes for Mr Biden instead of any fraud. SheKnows While the Cambridges and the Sussexes have been going about their royal duties and philanthropic endeavors like business as usual, there still seems to be some lingering tension between the two royal couples. But with Prince William and Kate Middletons upcoming 2022 trip to America for the continuation of the Duke of Cambridges Earthshot Prize, [] (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency trading firm Copper.co said on Monday former British finance minister Philip Hammond has joined it as a senior adviser to help with strategy as the London-based company expands its global footprint. Copper.co provides tools and services to acquire, trade, and store cryptocurrencies. The company completed an extended $75 million funding round in June, led by investor Alan Howard, and venture capital firms Dawn Capital and Target Global. "Over the last 18 months, Copper has grown exponentially, now serving over 400 institutional clients ... With Lord Hammond's expertise adding to the strength of our team, we look forward to growing Copper," said Chief Executive Officer Dmitry Tokarev. (Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) FTX.US is moving into the non-fungible token (NFT) business with a trading platform for digital collectibles on the Solana blockchain. On Monday, the U.S. wing of Sam Bankman-Frieds crypto empire said its new marketplace, FTX NFTs, will allow users to trade, mint, auction and authenticate Solana-based NFTs. It plans to soon support NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, the home to the bulk of non-fungibles trading. The exchanges prioritization of Solana instead highlights two realities: Bankman-Fried is heavily invested in the Solana ecosystem; and that ecosystem, while host to a handful of so-called blue chip projects, doesnt yet have a juggernaut marketplace for NFT trading. Instead, it features a scattered array of lesser-known marketplaces sometimes hosted by projects themselves. Solanart and Solsea both charge 3% sales fees. FTX.US says its new platform will charge 2%. The choice could bolster Solanas bid for a bigger slice of the NFT business. The blockchain is faster and cheaper to use than Ethereums is. That hasnt been enough to convince the vast majority of NFT traders to move over, however. FTX said it will support all Solana NFTs that follow NFT protocol Metaplexs standard. It wont allow users to list revenue-sharing projects and is capping artist royalty schemes at 40%. FTXs offering will be different from those found on Ethereums top NFT marketplaces, such as OpenSea. It is open only to users with an FTX account linked to their real-world identity, meaning an anonymous crypto wallet address wont be enough. The marketplace will also support credit card purchases and bank transfers, as well as crypto. If you look at every NFT marketplace, theyre all trying to achieve a more seamless buying experience, said Fanny Lakoubay, who runs an NFT advisory service in New York. Supporting traditional payment rails just as DraftKings does through its tie-up with Polygon-based Autograph is one part of that recipe. Two elections officials in Fulton County, Georgia, were fired Friday after they allegedly shredded voter registration forms. The county announced Monday that the pair of employees were reported by a colleague to a superior for allegedly shredding voter registration applications received within the last two weeks. They were fired the same day, and the Fulton County Election Commission reported the incident to Georgias secretary of state. GEORGIA JUDGE ASKS 2020 ELECTION INVESTIGATORS FOR FINDINGS ON FRAUDULENT BALLOTS The employees allegedly checked out the files for processing but shredded some of the forms instead, according to a statement from Fulton County Registration and Elections Director Richard Barron. "Elections are the most important function of our government," said Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts. "We have committed to transparency and integrity." Georgia Secretary of State Ben Raffensperger put the number of shredded ballots at 300 and called on the U.S. Justice Department to investigate Fulton County. After 20 years of documented failure in Fulton County elections, Georgians are tired of waiting to see what the next embarrassing revelation will be, Raffensperger said in a statement. The Department of Justice needs to take a long look at what Fulton County is doing and how their leadership disenfranchises Fulton voters through incompetence and malfeasance. The voters of Georgia are sick of Fulton Countys failures. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The beleaguered county has been accused of poor management of elections for decades, especially with regard to the 2020 election when Fulton was slow to report election results, leading some to suspect fraud. Most investigations have found sloppy management to blame rather than malfeasance, with one independent investigator saying, Fulton is so poor at managing the actual process that if they had actually tried to rig the election, they would have bungled it, and we would have found out. Story continues Fulton County officials did not immediately return The Washington Examiner's request for further comment. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Georgia, 2020 Elections, Voter Fraud, Department of Justice Original Author: Virginia Aabram Original Location: Fulton County election employees fired for allegedly shredding voter applications Illustration of a coronal mass ejection emanating from the sun. (Getty) A huge outburst on the sun is about to score a "direct hit" on Earth, and could cause minor disruptions to power grids in northern latitudes. People in north UK may be able to see northern lights or aurora as particles from the sun hit the Earths magnetic field. The Space Weather Prediction Center, part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issued a geomagnetic storm warning on Sunday for Monday and Tuesday. The warning suggested the storm could affect power grids in some areas, and satellites, but in practice these effects are likely to be minor. Watch: Why Scientists Recreated the Northern Lights in a Lab Aurora could be visible in some parts of the UK, the Met Office said. Read more: Aurora glitters over northern Wisconsin The Met Office said: "On the 11 October a coronal mass ejection is expected to arrive at Earth, with minor to moderate geomagnetic storms likely, resulting in enhanced auroral activity during 11 October. "There is a slight chance of aurora reaching the far north of England and Northern Ireland tonight, but cloud breaks and therefore sightings are more likely in Northern Ireland. Aurora borealis, AKA northern lights. "Minor storms may continue into 12 October, before a fast wind from a coronal hole may arrive, perhaps continuing the rather active period of geomagnetic activity." Coronal mass ejections are large clouds of solar plasma and magnetic fields released into space after a solar eruption. Stretching over millions of miles, they can cause northern lights when they hit Earths atmosphere. Read more: A 1988 warning about climate change was mostly right Solar storms are ranked from G1 to G5, with stronger storms having the potential to cause radio blackouts. This weeks storm will be at the lower end of the scale, the Met Office said. It added that aurora could continue into the week, saying: Aurora is possible through 11th and 12th across much of Scotland, although cloud amounts are increasing, meaning sightings are unlikely for most. Story continues Read more: Why economists worry that reversing climate change is hopeless Nasa describes a geomagnetic storm as an interaction in Earths magnetosphere, saying: When a coronal mass ejection or high-speed stream arrives at Earth it buffets the magnetosphere. If the arriving solar magnetic field is directed southward it interacts strongly with the oppositely oriented magnetic field of the Earth. The Earth's magnetic field is then peeled open like an onion allowing energetic solar wind particles to stream down the field lines to hit the atmosphere over the poles. Watch: How to watch William Shatner's Blue Origin spaceflight 15 years ago, if you were writing a document, chances are you were doing it in Microsoft Word. Part of the companys wildly successful Office suite, Word was the de-facto option for drafting text, whether you were an author, an office worker, a student, a teacher you get the point. But on October 11th, 2006, Google officially launched Google Docs and Spreadsheets in beta. As with everything Google, Docs and Sheets were cloud-based applications that also let you collaborate with others in real time. Its easy to forget now, but this was completely different from how most people worked on documents at the time. I was in a different career 15 years ago, one that required me to work on lots of spreadsheets and Powerpoint presentations that were accessed in a shared network drive. Submitting them to others for edits and notes was a fraught process. Making sure you had the most current version of the document usually involved six-digit numbers representing the last date it was modified, initials to note who had checked it out, and messy notes added to the end until you landed on something insanely convoluted like April_Report_051504_NI_final_final_reallyfinal.doc. 15 years later, Im writing this story in a Google Doc shared with my editors; they can make as many changes as they want to the finished parts of the draft as I keep typing away here and nothing will get lost. Collaborative work is a lot better than it used to be, and Google Docs is a big part of that but it wasnt always smooth sailing to get here. Google Docs began as a hacked together experiment, its creator Sam Schillace said in an interview with The Verge in 2013. Eight years earlier, he created a tool called Writely, a web-based text editing platform. Google bought the company in March of 2006. According to Schillace, 90 percent of the company was using Writely only a month later. When we went to Google, Writely was internally adopted very quickly, he said. Barely seven months after that, Google officially released Docs and Sheets at the Office 2.0 Conference in San Francisco. As with most Google products at the time, it was released in beta for free. Story continues Google Docs 2006 Unsurprisingly, it wasnt quite up to par with what Microsoft was offering with Office. The text editor was, comparatively speaking, very simple. But more importantly, Google Docs only worked when you had an active internet connection. While good broadband was fairly common in workplaces and universities, it was far less easy to find when you ventured out into the world. If you wanted to get some work while traveling, say on an airplane, Google Docs was a non-starter. It didnt take Google long to realize it needed to come up with a way to sync documents to a computer for offline access. In May of 2007, at its first worldwide developer day, the company introduced Google Gears. Gears was an open-source project and browser extension for Mac, Windows and Linux that would help web apps work with no internet connection. While the project was meant for any developer to use, using it for Google Docs made perfect sense. Unfortunately, it wasnt the most stable tool. In late 2009, Google stopped development on Gears in favor of using the capabilities afforded by HTML 5. But even though Google continued supporting applications that used Gears, a technology transition probably didnt do the company any favors in getting Docs and its broader app suite adopted in businesses and education institutions. Around this time, Google was experimenting with a variety of ways to push collaboration and communication forward Docs was just one of the success stories. There were failures though, the most high-profile of which was Google Wave an ambitious combination of instant messaging, email, documents, multimedia and more. It was hyped by the tech press, so much that Google Wave invites were being sold on eBay. But interest dropped off quickly, in large part because it felt like even less of a finished product than most of Googles beta launches. Google Wave 2009 Google didnt do a great job explaining exactly what problem this new tool was designed to solve, and the company pulled the plug in 2010, after only a year. But many of the things Google experimented with in Wave ended up living on in other places. Indeed, right around the time Google ended development on Wave, the company added chat to Google Docs, letting people who had the same file open discuss what they were working on right alongside the content itself. Google Docs clearly evolved past its early struggles, though. Google put a somewhat surprising amount of focus on the product over the last decade-plus, incrementally iterating and improving it at a steady pace. Thats the hallmark of products Google seems to really believe in. Its the same way the company treated Android, Chrome (both the browser and OS), Drive, Photos, and, of course, Search and Gmail. As internet access has become more and more widespread, the fact that Docs (like most of Googles products) works best online was less of a hindrance. Not having to worry about saving a document took a while to get used to, but its something that we take for granted now if your browser crashes, whatever you were working on should still be there waiting for you in the cloud. Perhaps the biggest endorsement of Googles cloud-first strategy came in 2010, when Microsoft took its first steps towards bringing Office applications online. For a long time, though, Googles suite of apps were better-suited to the cloud. For example, you couldnt have multiple people working on the same Office document until late 2013, something that was built into Google Docs from day one. Apple also followed Googles lead, bringing its iWork apps online in 2013 and eventually enabling simultaneous collaboration as well. While Office remains dominant in the workplace, its fair to say that Google gave Microsoft its first real competition in many years. Google has some giant customers, like Salesforce, Whirlpool, Twitter and Spotify. And Googles apps, combined with inexpensive Chromebooks and its education platform, have made the company a force in the K-12 space as well as in higher education. As for the next 15 years, its all but assured that collaborative and remote working will continue to be hugely important. That was clear before COVID-19, and the last 18 months have basically blown up the notion that everyone needs to go to an office. For a good idea of where collaborative work is going, consider Microsofts open-source Fluid framework. First announced in May of 2019, Fluid is meant to remove the barriers between different file formats and make it easy to pull in content from a wide variety of sources. Microsoft described it as a way to share atomized components of data across multiple files so if youre updating a spreadsheet in one document, you can link to that content in another file and itll automatically reflect those changes. Dropbox hasnt come up with its own atomized components of documents, but its Paper app works in a similar fashion. Theyre collaborative like Google Docs, but they support a wide range of content plug-ins, so you can embed YouTube videos, Google Calendar elements, Figma documents, to-do lists, Trello lists, and even entire Google Docs. Microsoft has been deliberate about developing Fluid, taking small steps since its initial release. Earlier this year, the company announced that some Fluid components would work in its communications platform Teams. I think that content moving outside of strict platforms like Google Docs or Microsoft Office into all the other places that we do work is going to be another important step forward. Thats already happened to some degree. For years now, Dropbox has supported creating, sharing, and editing Microsoft Office documents right inside its own app and website, and it later added similar support for Google Docs as well. And apps like Slack have a host of integrations for things like Google Drive and Trello, though its not clear how widely used or essential they are to a Slack workflow. (I mostly just drop links to Google Docs I need edited.) Somewhat ironically, as the barriers between content and file types fall away and more people do work in virtual spaces like Teams and Slack, Googles vision for Wave looks to be rather prescient. The notion of a space for a project or team that encompasses all of its important elements, be they written documents, spreadsheets, images, videos or any other kind of content seems to be where were headed. But despite the fact that Google (and the rest of the industry) are moving back towards models that remind us of what Wave attempted, theres still a missing piece in Googles strategy. That piece is messaging, something Google has struggled with, well, for about as long as Google has existed. As exhaustively detailed by Ars Technica, Google has never been able to stick with a coherent messaging plan for consumers or businesses. At some point, Google Chat (nee Hangouts) could have been a solid Slack competitor, as well as the web that connects all the content people work on, but the company missed the boat as Slack solidified its dominance over the past five years. Even though Google Workspace has a huge user base, it hasnt made inroads in the messaging side which is what pulls a modern workplace together. That said, Googles Smart Canvas (announced at I/O this year) could be its own version of Fluid, a way to unify disparate forms of content and communication all in one place. From what weve seen so far, Smart Canvas has various building blocks that you can pull all into a single canvas like a Meet call alongside a Google Doc for taking notes and a to-do list to assign items to team members. Its only rolling out on a limited basis to paying Google Workspace customers, but its definitely worth watching to see how it evolves. No one can really say what other cultural workplace shifts, like those brought on by COVID-19, will happen in the next 15 years. And those shifts are probably what will drive the most significant changes in products meant for work. Google TV is about to make it easier for everyone in your household to maintain their own watchlists. If you already use the platform, you may know that more than one person can sign in with their Google Account. However, at the moment, Google TV will only generate recommendations for the primary account holder. Thats about to change. Google is introducing support for personalized profiles, allowing everyone with a Google account in your household to maintain their own watchlists and Assistant settings. That also means theyll be able to get their own content recommendations. Support for personalized accounts will start rolling out next month to Chromecast with Google TV in addition to supported sets from TCL and Sony. With the introduction of accounts, Google is also enhancing the platforms ambient mode. In addition to shortcuts for things like podcasts, music and photos, youll see glanceable cards that will include personalized information related to the weather, news and more. This feature will first be available only in the US. Lastly, if youre a Philo TV subscriber, youll now see content from the service show up in Google TVs Live and For you tabs. Separately from today's announcements, Google told Engadget the mobile remote app for Google TV will be available soon through the Google Home app on Android and iOS. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Global Citizen Live event (Getty Images for Global Citizen) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not attend a party to thank donors who helped fund the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, that was unveiled on what would have been her 60th birthday. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles absence from the event at Kensington Palace was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Sussexes. The party, which was initially set to take place on 1 July and is now being held on 19 October, will see about 100 of Dianas friends, former staff and Spencer relatives joining the Duke of Cambridge in celebrating the memorial statue. Harry flew to England from his home in California to unveil the statue of his mother alongside Prince William in July while Meghan, who had given birth to the couples daughter four weeks prior, stayed behind. The unveiling of the statue was an intimate affair due to the pandemic, with only William and Harry uncovering the monument in front of their mothers siblings, Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes. The date marked what would have been the 60th birthday of the Princess of Wales, who died at the age of 36 in August 1997. Despite reports of a strained relationship between William and Harry, the brothers were photographed standing next to one another and laughing with each other. Harry flew home the following day. The memorial party will be attended by Sir Elton John, among other friends of Diana. It is not known why the Sussexes will not be attending the event, or whether they will return to Britain in the future. Meghan was last in the UK in March 2020, when she attended a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. The couples son, Archie Mountbatten Windsor, has not been back in the UK since the end of 2019, and their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor has yet to meet any of the other members of the royal family in person. Harry is also not expected to travel to Britain for Remembrance Sunday on 14 November, as he is scheduled to be in New York on 10 November to present the inaugural Intrepid Valor Awards to veterans and military families there. Story continues Read More ITV vigorously defended Piers Morgan in Ofcom probe over Meghan Everything we learned from the new Finding Freedom epilogue Harry and Meghan will not name person who commented on Archies skin Bleecker Street Films Lindas son was shy, even as a baby. He didnt play well with others. Not that he was mean; he just didnt know how. At age 13, he started a gaming profile to play fantasy games. Hearing him interact with other players over the headset made Linda happy. Middle school was hard for him. The family had moved. It was a new school. He was depressed. He was in and out of therapy because he hated it. All he wanted was to feel normal, but the therapy made him feel like he was not human. Linda, played by Ann Dowd in the new film Mass, is sharing what she remembers about her son because Gail, played by Martha Plimpton has asked her to. Why do I want to know about your son? Gail says. Because he killed mine. Written and directed by Fran Kranz, Mass is a volcanic, unflinching depiction of four parents navigating the unthinkable. Years before, Linda and Richards (Reed Birney) son opened fire on his classmates at his high school, before going to the library and taking his own life. Gail and Jays (Jason Isaacs) son was one of the victims. Neither couple is certain what theyre after by participating in this meeting. Forgiveness? Acceptance? An explanation? Their lives are forever tethered. Maybe conversation can do something for their grief, the pain that has overwhelmed their lives in so many different ways. The Explosive Nuclear Family Finale Reveals Outcome of Lesbian Moms Battle With Sperm Donor I knew I would do it, because how can you turn something as extraordinary as this down? Dowd tells The Daily Beast. But she was concerned. The other thought was: Can I live in this level of grief to the degree that would honor this character? Were talking about something that is so profoundly painful and that so many parents have gone through. Theres a sense of genuine responsibility to get to the depth of this. Kranz was inspired to write Mass, in part, after the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and staff members were killed. He was listening to an interview on the radio with one of the victims parents and became so overcome with emotion that he had to pull his car over and collect himself. Story continues While researching more about school shootings and their aftermath, he discovered stories about parents of school shooters and parents of victims having meetings like the one hed end up dramatizing in Mass. With titanic performances from Dowd and Plimpton, the fictionalized version of such a meeting becomes a rich backdrop for exploring what it means to be a motherespecially after such a lossand how to persevere over grief on a journey toward healing. Filming took place over two weeks in an Episcopal church just outside of Sun Valley, Idaho. Before it began, Dowd read A Mothers Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy, the 2016 memoir from Sue Klebold, the mother of Dylan Klebold, who was one of the two shooters in the Columbine High School massacre of 1999. The book finds Klebold recalling what her son was like as a teenager. She wonders if there were signs that she had missed and works through what its like for a mother to grieve the loss of a child who had perpetrated such a hideous and violent act. Sue Klebold has gone through something unimaginable in its level of tragedy, Dowd says. Its what Linda goes through. How would I put this? I needed a friend. I needed to touch base internally with a woman who lived it and survived it. By contrast, Plimpton found herself avoiding those accounts. I did not want to do any reading of that sort, she tells The Daily Beast. I just did not feel there was any way for me to approximate or conjure the world of Gail that would be helped by a real persons experience. And I think I feared that it would add a level of detachment or removal that I did not want. What does someone like Gail want from a meeting like this, sitting face to face with the woman who raised the killer of her son? Its almost too complicated to say. There are forces outside of her control that bring her there. Her marriage is falling apart. Her therapist wants her to go, specifically to deliver a statement to Lindas face that the therapist thinks could free her. Shes being eaten alive by anger and recrimination, Plimpton says. I think shes doing battle with herself, because she cant conceive of saying the words that shes supposed to say. Not in a million years. And I dont think she can imagine that Linda will have anything to say that will fix it, that will answer her questions. But she cant help asking. The meetings emotions undulate like readings on a Richter scale. There is politeness and pleasantries. Everyone smiles kindly and says thank you for meeting. There is small talk and sheepishness, as apologies are made for what attorneys had said publicly. Gail begins slightly begrudging and dismissive, but warms when she starts sharing stories about her son. The gruesome details of the massacre are recounted. The idea of blame and culpability are explored. What it means to be a parentto be a motheris discussed, passionately. Everyone cries. Everyone yells. Everyone changes. As you watch, you wonder if, maybe, theres a connection that is forged, parent to parent, over this morbid, involuntary bond they share. I think she simply becomes exhausted, Plimpton says about Gail. It hits critical mass. One of the things I think that human beings struggle with forgiveness is they think that if you do this or that, then you can forgive. Then you change your thinking, and then you can forget. Of course its not that way. Forgiveness is just the beginning, because you have to keep doing it. Its a behavior. Its not an action, and you keep going back and forth. Its a process. It opens the door to a world thats been unseen. Thats terrifying. Thats what we fear about it. Both actresses have understandable difficulty delivering clear answers about what happens in that room. Its overwhelming. In some respects, the entire point of the meeting and this film is figuring out if clarity is even possible when things are that overwhelming, that seemingly impossible. All of us have experienced grief to some degree, Dowd says. This is to the exponential. But I remember in periods of my life when deep grief was presentI would say in the death of my father the world changes. You are in your own world. Tragedy is everywhere you look, of course. But I remembered in my own experience that people are going about their business. They dont realize the world has changed for you. Linda grapples with her own place within this extreme tragedy. It unmoors her. It means reconciling his actions with the person she thought she raised, who she thought she knew. It means coming to terms with the fact that she had to bury her son in secret. In place of proper mourning, there was shame. Bleecker Street Films Because of that, she wonders if she will ever be able to restore the memory of who he was, and if thats even possible in a world where he caused so much pain. But what about her son? In one of the most powerful moments of the film, she says, I know the world may have been better without him. I cant say I would have been. For Dowd, the key to understanding that sentiment was when Linda says after, Does that make sense? Because, for her, it does. Our children live in our souls, she says. They are part of us. Dowds oldest son is on the spectrum. He taught me what listening was. And patience. That is the gift, among many other things, that that beautiful boy has shown me. Then theres her daughter. She taught me what joy looks like, and lack of fear. Her youngest, who is adopted and came from a very difficult childhood, continues to teach her everyday. Hes taught me about trauma, what it looks and feels like. And that there is a way forward. Those are profound gifts. Linda resides in truth. Shes able to see that if her son had never been born, these children would be alive. These families lives wouldnt have been ruined. There would not be so much despair. But Linda would not have been better for him not being there in this world, with her, Dowd says. I dont know how that would be possible for a mother. Before I had children, I thought I knew what love was. I was raised in a loving home. I have a very loving husband. A child teaches you something else. It brings something else to you. I dont even remember my life before my children. It just changes everything. Then she raises the big question that echoes through Massand one that Plimpton also asks frequently while talking about how these characters feel. She takes a pause and asks: Does that make any sense? Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Hundreds of protesters led by Indigenous activists from across the country demonstrated in front of the White House on Monday to demand that Joe Biden stop approving fossil fuel projects and declare the climate crisis a national emergency. The rally marks the start of five days of demonstrations calling for greater attention to climate injustices as Native American leaders and tribal members head to the capital to publicize their demands. The demonstrations are part of People v Fossil Fuels protests, organized by a coalition of groups known as Build Back Fossil Free, who are urging the Biden administration take further action to reduce carbon-producing fossil fuel projects. Mondays demonstrations fell on a federal holiday in the US that until recently was officially dedicated to Christopher Columbus. However, spurred by national calls for racial equity and decolonization, communities across the country have over the years paired or replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day. The protests were non-violent but dozens of demonstrators were subjected to police use of a long range acoustic device, which emits a piercing sound, according to video footage captured by Indigenous campaigners. The use of the device, ostensibly for crowd control, prompted criticism online with users tweeting, Why is police force necessary? [Theyre] not doing anything!!!! and There were less police protecting the capital from traitors, in reference to the 6 January attacks. Outside the White House, the words Expect Us were spray-painted on the base of a statue of Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president who is infamous for, among other things, leading the violent and lethal repression of Native American peoples in a displacement known as the Trail of Tears. Expect Us is part of the phrase Respect Us, or Expect Us, which many Indigenous women have been using while demonstrating against the Canadian oil company Enbridges $9bn upgrade of an oil pipeline designed to carry oil from Alberta, Canada, to Wisconsin. Story continues The Line 3 pipeline has been met with numerous protests, with police arresting more than 900 demonstrators opposing the infrastructure since construction efforts began. Enbridge has reimbursed US police $2.4m for arresting and surveilling hundreds of demonstrators in Minnesota who oppose the pipeline construction. The Indigenous Environmental Network a broad alliance of tribes, Indigenous rights groups, labor organizations and others criticized Biden for not moving to block Enbridges Line 3 replacement project. If President Biden was committed to honoring the treaties and strengthening sovereignty, he would implement a policy of Free, Prior and Informed Consent by executive authority and act swiftly to mitigate the climate chaos that has engulfed our communities by ending the anti-Indigenous US legacy of fossil fuel extractivism, IENs statement said. We have had enough of your empty words, IEN added, referring to Bidens first-ever presidential proclamation on Friday of Indigenous Peoples Day, in hopes of refocusing the federal holiday toward an appreciation of Native peoples. Proclamations dont erase the police surveillance of Indigenous peoples standing for our land and water, beatings, and imprisonment for those trying to stop pipelines, fracking, uranium, and other extractive industries from devastating our ecosystems and our bodies and violating our rights, IEN said. By Ahmed Rasheed and John Davison BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's party was the biggest winner in an Iraqi election on Monday, increasing the number of seats he holds in parliament, according to initial results, officials and a spokesperson for the Sadrist Movement. Former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki looked set to have the next largest win among Shi'ite parties, initial results showed. Iraq's Shi'ite groups have dominated governments and government formation since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003 that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and catapulted the Shi'ite majority and the Kurds to power. Sunday's election was held several months early, in response to mass protests in 2019 that toppled a government and showed widespread anger against political leaders whom many Iraqis say have enriched themselves at the expense of the country. But a record low turnout suggested that a vote billed as an chance to wrest control from the ruling elite would do little to dislodge sectarian religious parties in power since 2003. A count based on initial results from several provinces plus the capital Baghdad, verified by local government officials, suggested Sadr had won more than 70 seats, which if confirmed could give him considerable influence in forming a government. However, Sadr's group is just one of several that will have to enter negotiations to form a coalition capable of dominating parliament and forming an administration, a period of jockeying for position that may take weeks or longer. Sadr broadcast a live speech on state TV claiming victory and promising a nationalist government free of foreign interference. "We welcome all embassies that do not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs," he said, adding that celebrations would take place in the streets "without weapons". Sadr has increased his power https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-cleric-special-report-idUSKCN2E5117 over the Iraqi state since coming first in the 2018 election where his coalition won 54 seats. Story continues The unpredictable populist cleric has been a dominant figure and often kingmaker in Iraqi politics since the U.S. invasion. He opposes all foreign interference in Iraq, whether by the United States, against which he fought an insurgency after 2003, or by neighbouring Iran, which he has criticized for its close involvement in Iraqi politics. Sadr, however, is regularly in Iran, according to officials close to him, and has called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, where Washington maintains a force of around 2,500 in a continuing fight against Islamic State. The initial results also showed that pro-reform candidates who emerged from the 2019 protests had gained several seats in the 329-member parliament. Iran-backed parties with links to militia groups accused of killing some of the nearly 600 people who died in the protests took a blow, winning less seats than in the last election in 2018, according to the initial results and local officials. Kurdish parties won 61 seats, the results showed, including 32 for the Kurdistan Democratic Party which dominates the government of the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, and 15 for its rival the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party. Sunni parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi's Taqaddum coalition won 38 seats, Iraq's state news agency reported, making it the second largest in parliament. Maliki's State Of Law coalition came third overall with 37. NEW LAW, SAME BIG PARTIES Elections in Iraq since 2003 have been followed by protracted negotiations that can last months and serve to distribute government posts among the dominant parties. The result on Monday is not expected to dramatically alter the balance of power in Iraq or in the wider region. Sunday's vote was held under a new law billed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi as a way to loosen the grip of established political parties and pave the way for independent, pro-reform candidates. Voting districts were made smaller, and the practice of awarding seats to lists of candidates sponsored by parties was abandoned. But many Iraqis did not believe the system could be fundamentally changed and chose not to vote. The official turnout figure of just 41% suggested the vote had failed to capture the imagination of the public, especially younger Iraqis who demonstrated in huge crowds two years ago. "I did not vote. It's not worth it," Hussein Sabah, 20, told Reuters in Iraq's southern port Basra. "There is nothing that would benefit me or others. I see youth that have degrees with no jobs. Before the elections, (politicians) all came to them. After the elections, who knows?" Kadhimi's predecessor Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned after security forces and gunmen killed hundreds of protesters in 2019 in a crackdown on demonstrations. The new prime minister called the vote months early to show that the government was responding to demands for more accountability. In practice, powerful parties proved best able to mobilise supporters and candidates effectively, even under the new rules. Iraq has held five parliamentary elections since the fall of Saddam. Rampant sectarian violence unleashed during the U.S. occupation has abated, and Islamic State fighters who seized a third of the country in 2014 were defeated in 2017. But many Iraqis say their lives have yet to improve. Infrastructure lies in disrepair and healthcare, education and electricity are inadequate. (Reporting by John Davison and Ahmed Rasheed, additional reporting by Ahmed Tolba, Yasmin Hussein in CairoEditing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Peter Graff, William Maclean) TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, defended his pro-nuclear energy policies on Monday, saying that re-starting nuclear power plants mothballed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster was vital. Energy became a key issue during the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) recent leadership race, during which Kishida beat Taro Kono, a former vaccine minister who had spoken out against nuclear energy, to become prime minister. "It's crucial that we re-start nuclear power plants," Kishida said as he faced opposition questions in parliament for the first time since becoming prime minister last week. Kishida was responding to questions from Yukio Edano, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), on the government's policy for sustainable energy and if nuclear power would be part of the plan. Nuclear energy has been contentious in Japan, especially since a 2011 earthquake off the coast triggered a tsunami that smashed into a nuclear power plant in the Fukushima region north of Tokyo, causing one of the world's worst nuclear accidents. All of Japan's nuclear power plants were shut down after the disaster, which highlighted failings in regulation and oversight. While some reactors have been coming back on stream, most remain shut. Kishida is leading the LDP into a general election on Oct. 31 when priorities for many voters will likely be bringing an end to the coronavirus pandemic and rebuilding a weak economy. Many of Japan's hospitals have struggled during a fifth and most fatal wave of the coronavirus, though infections rates have begun to come down in recent days. Kishida acknowledged there was room for improvement in health care after criticism from Edano who said: "It is the fault of the LDP that so many people died in their homes." But Kishida was vague on specifics, saying that he would "order to have the overall structure of our coronavirus policies drawn up soon". Story continues Kishida also had to fend off criticism over an apparent U-turn on an earlier pledge to review taxes on capital gains and dividends as a way to redistribute wealth. He said he would prioritise boosting wages through tax incentives rather than imposing higher levies on capital gains and dividends to address the income gap. "It's among options to create a virtuous cycle of growth and redistribution," Kishida told parliament, when Edano asked him about his earlier idea to raise capital gains tax. "But there are other things we should do first such as reforming the tax system to achieve wage increases." (Reporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Robert Birsel) Firefighters extinguished a blaze that erupted in a fuel storage tank at Lebanon's Zahrani oil facility, AP reports. Details: No casualties have been reported. Energy Minister Walid Fayad said the fire started while workers were transferring gasoline from one storage tank to another, per AP. It is not clear what exactly caused the fire. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Nearly 250,000 liters of gasoline were burned in the incident. State of play: Lebanese troops had closed the highway connecting Beirut with southern Lebanon following the fire, but it was opened after it was extinguished, AP notes. The Zahrani Oil Installation is located approximately 30 miles from Beirut. What they're saying: "The situation now is almost under full control," Fayad told reporters, per AP. The big picture: Lebanon has been hit by a series of fuel-related disasters in the past year. Fuel shortages "amid a deep economic crisis forced the country's two biggest power plants, one in Zahrani and the other in Deir Ammar, to shut down on Saturday bringing the already straining power network to a complete halt," Reuters notes. A fuel tank explosion in the Akkar region of northern Lebanon in August killed at least 28 people, and a port explosion in Beirut in 2020 killed more than 200. Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, athletic clothing and athleisure trends have boomed. However, a lot of it comes from fast fashion, a term used to describe clothing mass-produced by big companies and available at a low price. The problem with fast fashion is that it actually causes harm to the environment due to the amount of waste it produces. However, slow fashion often comes from small businesses, artisan designers and reduces waste. Case in point: You need to check out the Indigenous-owned fashion brand Lesley Hampton. Most of the Toronto-based brands items are made to order. However, that means it can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to create pieces before shipping and its worth the wait. Lesley Hampton is an Anishinaabe artist, fashion designer and activist whose namesake brand focuses on mental health awareness, body positivity and authentic representation in each design. The brand offers three lines of clothing: a Signature Collection, a Bridal Capsule Collection and an Athluxury Collection with made-to-order, gym-appropriate items. The latter gained special attention when Lizzo donned its Forest Haze set in an Instagram post in February 2021. The Forest Haze set is specifically part of Lesley Hamptons Athluxury Robust Collection, which, according to the brands website, focuses on body positivity and mental health awareness through the lens of athleisurewear and festivalwear. Each item includes bold, sometimes abstract photos of cannabis to highlight the use of cannabis for mental health for some individuals. The collection includes leggings, sports bras, T-shirts and more, all made with soft and comfortable materials (like microfiber yarn). Wear any of them to the gym or around town and youll definitely stand out in the best way. Plus, youll be supporting a small business with a focus on the environment, mental health, size inclusivity and indigenous representation. You can take a look at some of the Athluxury items below. While youll have to wait a bit to receive your new fits, you can feel better knowing your purchase does some good for the world. Story continues Credit: Lesley Hampton Buy Now These leggings have a light compression fit and a lot of style. The raised waistband has a hidden inner pocket for stashing your valuables as you move. Credit: Lesley Hampton Buy Now Wear this bodysuit with the matching leggings or pair it with leather pants for a festival-friendly look that turns heads. Credit: Lesley Hampton Buy Now This hydro bodysuit, also known as a one-piece swimsuit, is made with a chlorine-resistant fabric so the macro cannabis crystal photography print will never fade. Credit: Lesley Hampton Buy Now These yoga shorts feature an incredibly soft four-way stretch fabric so no matter which way you move your body, your shorts wont hold you back. If you liked this article, read about Ginew, the only Native American-owned denim line. More from In The Know: Get ready for fall with these 7 plush throw blankets on Overstock starting at $23 The 7 best hardside luggage picks that will keep your belongings safe and secure 5 tech items you need to get your home ready for the fall All the best TV sales to shop this Columbus Day weekend at Walmart, Amazon and Target The post Meet the Indigenous-owned fashion brand focused on the environment, mental health and size inclusivity appeared first on In The Know. AUGUSTA, Italy (AP) Hundreds of migrants protested for the 10th straight day Monday outside a United Nations facility in Libya's capital of Tripoli demanding evacuation from the North African nation. The gathering outside the U.N. refugee agencys facility began after Libyan authorities launched a massive crackdown on migrants earlier this month in the western town of Gargaresh, detaining more than 5,000 people. The detained migrants were held in overcrowded detention centers where torture, sexual assault and other abuses are rife. U.N.-commissioned investigators said earlier this month that abuse and ill treatment of migrants in Libya amount to crimes against humanity. The government in Tripoli defended the raids, saying it was cracking down on illegal migration and drug trafficking. Libya was plunged into turmoil by the NATO-backed 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The North African nation has since emerged as a popular, if extremely dangerous, route to Europe for those fleeing poverty and civil war in Africa and the Middle East. Panicked and fearing detention, several hundred migrants have gathered outside the U.N. refugee agency's community center in Tripoli since the crackdown began Oct. 1 in Gargaresh, a major hub for migrants. The migrants have continued their protest even after the UNHCR said Friday it has temporarily suspended its activities at the center after two of its workers were injured amid tensions among the crowd. The situation deteriorated outside the day center after hundreds of migrants fled the overcrowded Mabani detention center in Tripoli on Friday. Guards shot dead six migrants and injured at least 15 others, according to the U.N. migration agency. However, Libya's interior ministry, which oversees migrant detention centers, said only one migrant died due to the chaotic scramble during the mass escape. Footage shared by migrants showed a crowd outside the facility, with women and children sitting in the street. Libyan police vehicles were also seen nearby. Some migrants held banners with slogans such as: Libya, NO. Out of it, Yes, and Immediate Evacuation. Story continues Hanadi al-Nazir, a Sudanese migrant, said she was detained along with her husband Friday in the Gargaresh raids. They beat and whipped us during the raids, she recalled. She said security forces bound their hands behind their backs and took them to the Mabani detention center. Al-Nazir said they managed to flee the center during the mass escape. Since then, they have taken refuge outside the UNHCR center fearing they could again be detained. Evacuation is the solution, she said in a telephone interview from outside the center. It is not safe for us to stay here anymore. Abeer Adam is another migrant from Sudans war-ravaged Darfur region. The 35-year-old mother managed to flee, along with her four children, when forces stormed her makeshift home in Gargaresh on Oct. 1. They went directly to the UNHCRs center, she said. Many women and children are still in prison, she said over the phone. All here are scared. The U.N. refugee agency has called on Libyan authorities to allow the resumption of humanitarian flights, which have been suspended for almost a year. The suspension has led some countries to stop receiving additional resettlement submissions from Libya for 2021, causing the loss of 162 places on direct resettlement flights out of the North African country, the UNHCR said. The agency warned that around 1,000 resettlement slots will not be filled either from Libya or through the Emergency Transit Mechanism, which allows the UNHCR to evacuate people out of Libya and then process their claims for long-term solutions. These flights are a lifeline for migrants, the agency said. MOLINE, Ill. (AP) The vast majority of United Auto Workers union members rejected a contract offer from Deere & Co. Sunday that would have delivered at least 5% raises to the workers who make John Deere tractors and other equipment. The tentative agreement reached by the UAW and John Deere was rejected this evening by a majority of 90% of the membership," UAW Vice President Chuck Browning said in a statement Sunday night. Negotiators will return to the bargaining table Monday to try and work out a new deal to cover more than 10,000 workers at 14 plants across the United States, including seven in Iowa and four in Illinois. The union set a strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Officials at the Moline, Illinois-based company said operations will continue as normal in the meantime. Brad Morris, vice president of labor relations for Deere, expressed disappointment that the offer was rejected. After weeks of negotiations, John Deere reached tentative agreements with the UAW that would have made the best wages and most comprehensive benefits in our industries significantly better for our employees, Morris said. John Deere remains fully committed to continuing the collective bargaining process in an effort to better understand our employees viewpoints. The proposed contract would have delivered immediate 5% raises for some workers and 6% raises for others depending on their positions within Deere's factories. The pact also called for 3% raises in 2023 and 2025. The contract talks come as strong sales this year helped Deere report $4.68 billion net income for the first nine months of its fiscal year, which was more than double the $1.993 billion it reported a year ago. The company is expecting to earn between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this fiscal year. The membership's rejection also comes after UAW-represented workers at a Volvo Trucks plant in Virginia went on strike and rejected three tentative contract offers last spring before ratifying the third offer on a revote. The workers ended up with better pay and lower-cost health benefits. The strike and multiple rejections of contracts agreed to by union leaders showed that workers are emboldened by a nationwide shortage of employees that's affecting nearly all industries. Shares of Deere & Co. stock declined less than 1% in midday trading on Monday. People are detained by the police after a rally in Hong Kong on December 22, 2019 to show support for the Uighur minority in China. Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images Muslim women were sent to Chinese re-education camps for cyber "pre-crimes," a book out Tuesday reveals. One student said she was detained for using a VPN to open her school Gmail account and submit homework. She shared a cell with a woman arrested for using WhatsApp to contact coworkers, the book says. Women belonging to China's Muslim ethnic groups were detained in a cell for months by Chinese police after being accused of various cyber "pre-crimes," an excerpt from the book "In The Camps: China's High-Tech Penal Colony" revealed. Vera Zhou, a US permanent resident and student at the University of Washington, said she was detained for downloading a VPN in order to access her school homework and email accounts while visiting her father and boyfriend in Xinjiang, China. "They informed me that I will be sent to a 're-education class,'" Zhou wrote in remarks to the US Department of Education. "I was required to change into their uniform which has neon green stripes on the sleeves and pants. The door was locked from the outside." "I was there from October 2017 to March 2018," she added. "I spent my Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 2018 New Year in that cell." The Uighurs and Hui are the two major Muslim ethnic groups in China, living under intense surveillance from the Chinese government. More than one million Uighurs are believed to have been sent to "re-education" camps and prisons like Zhou's, where former detainees detail horrific experiences with torture and medical experiments. Zhou was held along with 11 other Muslim women identified by police as extremist "pre-criminals" through China's internet security law, the book out Tuesday says. The law, implemented in 2017, requires internet network operators to share personal data with Chinese authorities. One woman said she was arrested for downloading WhatsApp in order to talk to coworkers in Kazakhstan. Another woman who sold smartphones said she allowed multiple customers to use her ID to set up their SIM cards. Story continues All three were victims of China's high-tech surveillance system that targets Muslim minorities, according to "In the Camps" author Darren Byler. After spending six months at the camp, Zhou was released under a set of conditions requiring her to stay within her local neighborhood and report frequently to a "social stability worker." One day, while going to a movie theatre with friends, Zhou said her ID and face were scanned at a checkpoint, prompting an alarm to go off. Another day, she accidentally walked beyond her neighborhood's border, as her face quickly became highlighted by a yellow square on a nearby monitor that identified her as a Muslim pre-criminal. Zhou soon realized that while her physical confinement had ended, she was still stuck in a digital prison. But when she was finally able to return to Seattle in 2019, the surveillance technology that made her confinement possible had also reached the US. Amazon, with headquarters in Seattle, reportedly purchased 1,500 thermal imaging cameras from a Chinese company that the US has blacklisted due to allegations it helped the Chinese government "detain and monitor the Uighurs and other Muslim minorities," Insider's Ben Gilbert reported last April. The technology is intended to remotely monitor employee temperature as a means of preventing coronavirus from spreading. Despite Dahua 's status with the US government, private businesses are legally allowed to purchase goods from blacklisted companies. In an earlier email exchange with Business Insider, Amazon spokesperson Rena Lunak confirmed that Amazon is implementing "the use of thermal imagers from multiple manufacturers for temperature screening to create a more streamlined experience for our employees." However, she added, "none of this equipment has network connectivity, and no personal identifiable information will be visible, collected, or stored." Read the original article on Business Insider An undercover FBi officer helped crack the case by posing as a foreign agent, and setting up Jonathan Toebbe to do two dead drops of classified intel at locations in Virginia. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Jonathan Toebbe, 42, was arrested on espionage-related charges on October 9. Toebbe was nabbed by an undercover FBI officer, who posed as a foreign agent looking to buy intel. Toebbe is accused of selling Navy intel to the undercover agent by concealing an SD card containing the data in a peanut butter sandwich. A Navy engineer is accused of attempting to sell classified data about nuclear submarines to someone he thought was a foreign agent - by popping the intel into an SD card and slotting it into a peanut butter sandwich. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused Jonathan Toebbe, 42, of espionage-related charges and violations of the Atomic Energy Act.. In a criminal complaint, it was alleged that Toebbe, who worked with the Navy since 2012, was attempting to send out classified intel containing military intelligence to someone he thought was a foreign agent, in exchange for cash. According to the court filing, Toebbe was a nuclear engineer for the US Navy and had top-secret security clearance at the Department of Defense. The FBI became aware of Toebbe's intentions to sell US Navy secrets last April when their agents in an unnamed country received a package containing classified documents from the Navy. This package also contained a letter containing instructions on how to communicate with Toebbe via an encrypted platform, and further details on what he intended to sell. The DOJ alleges that Toebbe was the sender of the initial document, which included a letter that said: "I apologize for this poor translation into your language. Please forward this letter to your military intelligence agency. I believe this information will be of great value to your nation. This is not a hoax." An FBI undercover agent then took over and contacted Toebbe, setting him up to drop the intel over several months of communications via an encrypted email. According to the criminal complaint, the undercover agent first sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Toebbe as a sign of his "good faith." Story continues Toebbe then showed up at an agreed-upon location in Jefferson County, West Virginia, on June 26, 2021, and dropped off a blue memory card that was wrapped up in plastic and hidden inside a peanut butter sandwich. The FBI later checked the SD card and found that the records Toebbe dropped off included information on the capabilities and designs of Navy submarine reactors. A further $20,000 was transferred to Toebbe, the complaint read. This memory card Toebbe dropped off in the sandwich included a message that read: "I hope your experts are very happy with the sample provided and I understand the importance of a small exchange to grow our trust." Per the court filing, the Bureau set up another exchange with Toebbe. On August 27, Toebbe slotted an SD card containing detailed designs of a Virginia-class submarine into a packet of chewing gum and left it at a location in eastern Virginia. Toebbe was paid around $70,000 for this second drop, bringing the total amount paid to him via cryptocurrency to $100,000. Toebbe's wife, Diana Toebbe, 45, a teacher in Maryland, was also charged in connection with the case. She is accused of helping Toebbe by acting as a lookout during the first information exchange. The Toebbes were arrested on October 9, according to the DOJ. "The complaint charges a plot to transmit information relating to the design of our nuclear submarines to a foreign nation," said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a DOJ statement released on October 10. "The work of the FBI, Department of Justice prosecutors, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of Energy was critical in thwarting the plot charged in the complaint and taking this first step in bringing the perpetrators to justice." Read the original article on Insider WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) speaks to reporters outside of the U.S. Capitol on July 21, 2021. Good afternoon, OnPolitics readers. I hope at least some of you got to enjoy a day off today. Indigenous Peoples' Day, which honors Native American history and culture, is celebrated by many in place of Columbus Day, first recognized as a national holiday in 1934 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This year, President Joe Biden became the first president to mark Indigenous Peoples' Day with a presidential proclamation. While the day is not over yet, USA TODAY has some tips on thoughtful ways to celebrate. It's Amy with today's top news out of Washington: They voted to impeach Trump in 2020. What's in store for these Republicans in 2022? Ten GOP lawmakers voted to impeach former President Donald Trump on a charge he incited the insurrection on Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol during the electoral vote count that certified the results of the 2020 election. The House approved the impeachment charge, but the Senate acquitted Trump in the president's second impeachment trial of his term. The success or failure of the 10 GOP members in the 2022 midterms could show whether the Republican party has moved on from Trump or whether he has enough sway to end the political careers of those who cross him. Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, one of the 10 Republicans, announced he will not seek reelection next fall. Hell hath no fury like an impeached president's scorn: Trump, who vowed revenge on those who voted to impeach him, previously endorsed Gonzalezs opponent, Max Miller, a former Trump White House aide. In addition to Gonzalezs opponent, Trump has endorsed primary Republican challengers in three of the other nine races. 1 down, 9 to go, Trump said in a statement on his website the day Gonzalez made his announcement. Real quick: Stories you'll want to read "I don't want to abandon Afghanistan" : The Taliban's sudden takeover and the U.S. State Department's uncertain response have left about 100 Fulbright semifinalists in limbo in Afghanistan. Harmful comments : North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has doubled down after his comments calling transgenderism and homosexuality filth drew widespread rebukes and calls for him to resign. Coal country's centrist senator: Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who opposes efforts to quickly phase out fossil fuels as Biden's plan calls for, has already come out against a key part of the infrastructure bill that would reward utilities that speed up their transition to clean energy and penalize them if they don't. Omar on cancelling student debt: Eighteen members of Congress, led by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., signed a letter Friday addressed to Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging the release of a memo on the administration's authority over student loan debt cancellation. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for OnPolitics newsletter here. Story continues Pro-Trump secretary of state candidates set up 'Big Lie' battleground In the 2022 midterms, secretaries of state contests are emerging as just as important as who controls governors' mansions or Congress but with more direct ramifications for overseeing elections including the 2024 presidential race. Trump's "Big Lie" campaign: It's been almost a year since President Joe Biden won the White House, yet there remains a persistent belief among many right-leaning voters that the 2020 election was rigged against Trump. That, in turn, has stoked interest in secretary of state roles. What does a secretary of state do? In 36 states, secretaries of state are elected by the voters and hold varying degrees of power. They mostly are responsible for maintaining registration rolls and statewide voter databases and certifying election results. Trump has either endorsed or previously supported GOP candidates in at least four swing states. A common thread among them: They have questioned 2020 voting process, if not outright said the outcome was stolen. Trump's false claims of a stolen election and attempts to overturn the outcome have been knocked by multiple fact-checkers, state audits and more than 60 failed lawsuits that have been rejected by multiple court jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court. The final election results: Biden won the 2020 presidential race by roughly 7 million votes nationwide in the popular vote and 74 electoral votes. In Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Michigan, Republican secretary of state candidates are in regular communication and formed a coalition backed by Trump allies to win in 2022. Those four states total 49 electoral votes among them and would have changed the 2020 outcome had they all gone for Trump. "If we do not elect secretaries of state who are unwilling to overturn the results of elections no matter what those results are we are in huge trouble," State Rep. Bee Nguyen, a candidate for Georgia's secretary of state. Today is National Coming Out day, which marks the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987. Amy This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 Republicans facing Trump's wrath ahead of 2022 Parents are using guerrilla tactics to see how safe their schools are from COVID-19. MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images Parents are smuggling $100 air-quality monitors into school with their kids, NYT reports. During back-to-school season, sales for one popular monitor doubled. The devices can detect how well-ventilated a building is and by proxy, help inform about the risk of contracting COVID-19. On top of masks and hand sanitizer, some parents are employing a new tactic to keep their kids safe during a pandemic-era back-to-school season: air-quality monitors. Parents are arming their children with air-quality monitors hidden in their backpacks and pockets to gather data on CO2 levels in the school building, which can indicate whether a space is well-ventilated and reduce the child's chance of catching COVID-19, The New York Times reported. Aranet, a company that makes a popular CO2 monitor, told the Times that sales had doubled since the start of the school year. The company didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The company's home sensor costs $250. One of Aranet's air quality sensors retails for $250. Aranet Good ventilation can be critical in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in a classroom, even if all students are masked. If classroom air isn't well-circulated, the virus can accumulate in the air and put other students at increased risk of contracting the disease if one of their classmates is infected. Schools have struggled with poor indoor air quality for years prior to COVID-19 and bad air quality from sources like mold and mildew has been linked to lowered test scores and learning. But during the pandemic, air quality in schools has become even more critical. "The biggest risk comes from poorly ventilated, crowded environments where people spend a lot of time. Unfortunately, that kind of perfectly describes a lot of schools," Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Toronto, told Insider's Susie Neilson. The air-monitoring devices, which can cost hundreds of dollars each, can provide data on CO2 levels throughout the day, as long as they're exposed to open air, the Times reported. However, some school officials have discouraged the use of the machines, while others have dismissed parents' findings of high CO2 concentrations in their children's classrooms and defended the school buildings' ventilation. Story continues "It's our responsibility to assure every space is safe," Kris Munro, the superintendent of Santa Cruz City Schools, said to the Times. "Not just to have individuals coming on campus to find out: Is a specific place safe?" But parents have defended the tactic as a way to get insight on an area they feel schools haven't been transparent enough about and as a tool to pressure their children's schools to make changes if ventilation isn't satisfactory. Read the full story about parents sneaking air quality monitors into school in The New York Times. Read the original article on Business Insider HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Pennsylvania's high-profile attorney general, Josh Shapiro, will formally announce his candidacy for governor on Wednesday, entering the 2022 race months after making his intentions known and effectively clearing the field of potential rivals for the Democratic nomination. Shapiro, a familiar presence on cable TV news who has spent nearly two decades in elective office, will launch a bid to become the state's chief executive with a speech in Pittsburgh, campaign communications director Will Simons confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday. The 48-year-old Shapiro is a self-described progressive who led a nationally prominent investigation into sexual abuse of children by clergy and further raised his political profile by pushing back against Donald Trump's effort to overturn his presidential election loss last year. He served as a state representative and chair of the Montgomery County commissioners board before winning election as the state's top prosecutor in 2016 with no law enforcement background and little practical courtroom experience. If he gets the Democratic nomination, its far from clear whom Shapiro would face in the fall 2022 election. The large and growing pool of potential and declared GOP candidates seeking their partys nod includes state senators, business leaders, a former congressman and others. Shapiro has benefited from a close relationship with Gov. Tom Wolf, a fellow Democrat who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. Shapiro has Wolf's endorsement and, so far, the Democratic field to himself. He's shown himself to be a formidable fundraiser in two successful statewide runs for office, with $2.7 million in his campaign account at the beginning of 2021. Shapiro was reelected by 4.5 percentage points against an opponent with little name recognition or campaign cash. After securing his own victory, he helped lead the PR and legal charge both on television and in court actions from Pennsylvania to the U.S. Supreme Court against baseless claims by Trump and his allies that Democrats had cheated in the presidential election. Story continues Those claims built the foundation for what Republicans now call a forensic investigation into the 2020 election, drawing a court challenge from Shapiro's office over subpoenas issued to state election officials by a Republican-controlled Senate committee. State Republican Party officials have long accused Shapiro of using the attorney generals office to boost his political ambitions, particularly in his legal battles with Trump, and have sought to tie him to Philadelphias rising murder rate. Charlie Gerow, who declared he is seeking the GOP nomination over the summer, said Shapiro should resign as attorney general. You cant possibly do both jobs, Gerow said Monday, accusing Shapiro of being out of step with mainstream Pennsylvania. In a state that is closely divided between the two major parties, the governor's race is certain to be hard fought, as will the race to fill retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey's seat. Pennsylvania's partisan split has proven durable in recent years with a Republican-controlled Legislature, wins by both parties among the statewide elected judgeships and razor-thin margins in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential contests. Shapiros tenure as attorney general produced the groundbreaking grand jury report in 2018 on the cover-up of child sexual abuse in six of Pennsylvanias Roman Catholic dioceses. The report spawned more than 20 similar investigations in other states and stronger laws in Pennsylvania, and helped prompt the nations bishops to approve new steps to deal with sexual abuse. Trump's presidency also drove a heavy workload. Shapiro's office went to court to challenge Trump administration policies more than 40 times, by its own count almost always as part of a coalition of Democratic-led states and won nearly every time, Shapiro's office said. Also on the national stage, Shapiros office helped lead state attorneys general in settlement talks with big pharmaceutical distributors and major drug manufacturers over the U.S. opioid addiction crisis. Shapiro ran for attorney general promising to hold what he called the frackers accountable, although his record of taking on the state's huge natural gas drilling industry is mixed. His office issued a grand jury report slamming how gas drilling is regulated, and criminally charged a drilling company and a pipeline developer. Another driller pleaded no contest and paid $150,000 in penalties. Shapiro let yet another gas company settle a lawsuit over royalties for $5.3 million in restitution a fraction of what landowners say they were cheated out of though he extracted a promise for higher future payments. He also lost a bid in court to sue exploration firms on consumer protection grounds over their mineral rights-leasing practices. On gun violence, he has emphasized his office's efforts to trace guns used in crimes, break up gun-trafficking rings and subject so-called "ghost guns" to state regulations. Shapiro and his wife, Lori, have four children and live in the Philadelphia suburb of Montgomery County. A graduate of the University of Rochester and Georgetown Law, he worked as a congressional staffer before launching his own political career in 2004. ___ Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania Police in New Zealand say they arrested a sex worker who tested positive for COVID-19, The Daily Beast reported. New Zealand has seen a rise in cases recently due to an outbreak of the Delta coronavirus variant. The sex worker's positive test made the Northland region raise its COVID-19 alert from a level 2 to a level 3. Police in New Zealand have arrested a sex worker who they say tested positive for COVID-19 and prompted one region of the country to go into a stricter lockdown. The woman, whose name has not been released publicly, is being held in a quarantine facility in West Auckland, The Daily Beast reported. According to the report, police say that between October 2 and October 6 the woman traveled to and potentially took clients in the Northland region, which is around three hours north of Auckland. Due to the nature of the woman's work being anonymous, police said contact tracing in those areas has been difficult. The woman was charged with failing to comply with a COVID-19 order, which carries a maximum fine of $4,000 and a six-month prison sentence, according to The New Zealand Herald. Dame Catherine Healy, co-coordinator of the New Zealand Prostitute's Collective, told The Herald that most sex workers have continued to follow the country's disease protocols. New Zealand has been under strict lockdown protocols through much of the pandemic, a strategy that has helped keep its case numbers fairly low. Only 4,659 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported there since the beginning of the pandemic. However, New Zealand has seen recently seen a sharp rise in positive cases due to an outbreak of the Delta coronavirus variant. According to the country's Ministry of Health, 1,622 cases have been reported in the outbreak. The Northland region raised its COVID-19 alert from a level 2 to a level 3 after the sex worker and another woman tested positive for COVID-19, according to The Daily Beast. The change forced schools in the region to offer virtual learning options instead of opening on October 18 as planned. Read the original article on Insider Prados Beauty While working as a makeup artist during New York Fashion Week, Cece Meadows, the founder and CEO of Prados Beauty, realized that there was a lack of representation in the beauty industry. When youre Chicana and Native American, and youre part of New York Fashion Week, thats something thats truly unheard of, she told Glossy in a 2020 interview. Driven to carve a space in the industry for the indigenous community, she came up with Prados, which, according to the brands website, is an inclusive and uplifting beauty brand that inspires people through the lens of Indigenous communities throughout Turtle Island. Prados sells everything from makeup brushes to synthetic lashes all with the purpose of targeting consumers who, more often than not, have not seen themselves reflected in an industry worth upwards of $500 billion. For quite some time, many of these same customers have also seen major brands, such as Rebecca Taylor and Urban Outfitters (as Glossy notes), profit off cultural appropriation without showing any respect to the indigenous community an issue that the 35-year-old Meadows is currently tackling with Prados as well. I take so much pride in my heritage, my connection to the land, my family and my community, she wrote on her website. It is their resilience that inspires me and I not only carry them with me but youll see them in everything we do here at Prados. And Meadows, who grew up in a farm town in Roll, Ariz., isnt just preaching about giving back to the community shes also following through with action. Prados reportedly gives away 50 percent of its profits to Native American communities, along with personal protective equipment and back-to-school clothing. Theres no need to acquire anything else, she explained to Glossy. That was my thought process when I said that I wanted to give away 50% of the profit. Story continues Thats not all. Meadows, who is working on a Prados Life Foundation that will continue her mission to serve the indigenous community on a larger scale, has bigger plans in store all of which are aligned with her cosmetics brands purpose. We want to start building homes on reservations, purchase solar panels and water systems, she wrote in Sunday Edit. If you want to learn more about Prados Beauty or check out its products, click here. In The Know is now available on Apple News follow us here! If you liked this story, check out Kulfi Beauty, which makes inclusive products for South Asian people. More from In The Know: This is the first Black-owned clean beauty brand at Sephora these are my thoughts This sheet mask set is like a juice cleanse for your face Yeti rebuilt its best-selling cooler to fit wine bottles 14 fun white elephant gifts under $20 that will make your friends smile The post Prados Beauty is going above and beyond for the indigenous community appeared first on In The Know. Yoox Net-a-porter has a new manager of its American business. Mary Ransom has joined the company in the newly created position of general manager of its business in the U.S., where she will oversee business operations for Net-a-porter, Mr Porter, The Outnet and Yoox. She will also work to drive further growth in the region and provide more localized experiences. More from WWD Ransom will be based at the companys New York City headquarters and will report to Paolo Mascio, chief regional officer. Over the course of her career she has held senior executive positions at several digital businesses in the U.S. Most recently, she was executive vice president at The Knot Worldwide, owners of TheKnot.com, WeddingWire.com and TheBump.com. Prior to that, she was general manager of Bloomingdales.com and has also been with Borderfree.com. She was also chief operating officer of AHAlife, a global marketplace she cofounded in 2009. It is a privilege to welcome Mary to our team, said Mascio. As a global business, we are committed to strengthening the localization of our teams, offers and services across the region. In her role as general manager of our U.S. operations, Mary will leverage her experience and insights to deliver an exceptional digital service to our clientele, bringing the worlds best luxury and fashion brands straight to their doors. Yoox was founded in 2000 and went public in 2009. It merged with Net-a-porter in 2015 and three years later, Compagnie Financiere Richemont took control and delisted it from the Milan Stock Exchange. YNAPs active customers today total 4.3 million and the group comprises the multibrand online stores Net-a-porter and Mr Porter, and the multibrand off-season players Yoox and The Outnet, as well as the online flagships for designer brands ranging from Giorgio Armani to Valentino. We may receive commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. This microSD card basically has a fan clubit has thousands of near-perfect reviews! (Photo: Amazon) Storage woes? Youre in luck. The SanDisk 400GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card is one of Amazons Deals of the Dayand its a winner. This little storage device is on sale for just $45, down from $70. Amazon also has deals on tons of other data storage devices, up to 52 percent off. But you have to hurry, all these deals expire at midnight. One of the biggest deals in the lot is on this SanDisk 400GB. Its perfect for Android smartphones and tablets that need more storage capacity for HD videos and high-resolution photos up to an impressive 400GB. It features fast read and write speeds, so you wont miss a single moment with your phones camera. Plus, nearly 78,000 shoppers gave it a perfect 5-star rating, so this is a deal you wont want to miss. $45 $70 at Amazon This memory card is very durable. Its built to be waterproof, temperature-proof, shock-proof and X-ray-proof. This is the one my Sony video camera requires, and it really is a perfect match. Also works well with my LG Stylo phone and Fire 10 tablet. I also have a couple I use to hold the operating systems of my laptops on, just an added bit of security should the laptops grow legs, wrote a delighted Amazon reviewer. For the camera, it records 1290x1024 HD for 65 hours and 30 minutes or so (with studio-stereo sound quality), so I will never really run out of room no matter what single-camera project I decide to take on. $45 $70 at Amazon Looking for different storage options? Check out these other deals on SanDisk memory cards, flash drives and other data storage devices Story continues The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Read More from Yahoo Life: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Life's newsletter. BeInCrypto Republican Senator Rafael Edward Ted Cruz has spoken out about Bitcoin mining in his state of Texas, offering some innovative solutions to existing problems. Speaking at the Oct 8 Texas Blockchain Summit, Senator Cruz stated that Bitcoin has the potential to address many problems the state faces. Texas suffered severe power outages during the last winter storm, yet the state has an abundance of energy. Its the top producer of wind power in the U.S. and has an abundance of cheap solar energy which is why it has become a mecca for bitcoin mining operations since their exodus from China earlier this year. Cruz has suggested another form of energy though, that is largely otherwise wasted. Castle Island Ventures partner Nic Carter posted a transcription on Oct 11, commenting. This story was seen first on BeInCrypto Join our Telegram Group and get trading signals, a free trading course and more stories like this on BeInCrypto SkyCell, a Swiss company developing smart containers for transporting medicines and vaccines, is announcing a significant round of funding. On top of a $62 million round that closed last year, the company has now raised a $35 million Series C to improve shipping of temperature-sensitive drugs -- including COVID-19 vaccines. The round, which is a combination of equity and debt financing, lists investors from the Middle East, including DisruptAD and (the VC arm of ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund), and SHUAA (a major UAE asset management and investment banking firm). The investment also includes, per the company, China-based and Zurich-based family offices, and investment from Mobiliar, a major private Swiss insurance company. This round brings the company's total funding to $133 million. Essentially, SkyCell has developed a shipping container that maintains temperature, controls vibration and is outfitted with sensors that continuously report the status of the cargo. The idea is to minimize temperature excursions -- harmful fluctuations that can spoil drug products -- and other damage that happens during shipping. An oft-cited number in the vaccine logistics community comes from a 2005 World Health Organization report suggesting that as much as 50% of vaccines are wasted -- partially thanks to temperature, logistics and shipping issues. The biopharma industry uses more optimistic numbers. SkyCell co-founder and CEO Richard Ettl says the industry typically factors in about a 4% failure rate for established markets and 12% failure rate for emerging markets when it ships drugs around the world. So far, SkyCells temperature excursion rate is less than .1%, according to an outside audit of the technology. When TechCrunch last covered SkyCell back in April 2020, the company had been working with eight major pharmaceutical companies and was in trials with seven more. The company now works with the majority of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies, per a PR representative -- though the company wouldnt provide further details. Story continues Before COVID-19, the company was delivering about 250 million vials of pharmaceutical products per year across all customers. Since then, the technology has moved forward in one big way: Its been redesigned to be able to transport mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the raw materials needed to make them. The newly designed containers use dry ice -- a necessity to achieve the temperatures about -80 to -60 degrees Celsius preferred (but no longer always required) to transport vaccines like Pfizers. When it comes to ultra-cold vaccine shipping, dry ice is basically unavoidable. (UPS Healthcare makes its own dry ice and has been upping production to meet COVID-19 vaccine demand). SkyCells tech, says Ettl, uses far less of it than competitors. It uses 100 kilograms of dry ice for about 120 hours of use, though it can store vaccines longer, if more dry ice is added upon arrival. The competition would need 200 kilos or more of dry ice, he says. So that was a major feat of engineering. Ettl says the company is now transporting either raw materials or vaccines for three top COVID-19 vaccine makers (he did not disclose which ones -- though by the ultra cold temperature requirements, you might be able to guess. For two [of the three] we almost exclusively transport the raw material that comes out of the factory, he says. Another major step forward is the companys expansion from flying into trucking services. Though many vaccines first arrive in countries via plane, its often trucks that bring vaccines to central medical warehouses. Ideally these trucks are refrigerated, but those arent always available, which means that cold boxes and large-scale hauler trucks get used instead, according to a 2021 McKinsey report. The expansion into trucking greatly increases the reach of SkyCells vaccine distribution network. The company has been involved in European distribution of vaccines for one major vaccine player, Ettl says. Before we were not doing trucking, says Ettl. Our container is used on trucks to transport these -80 Celsius and very cold temperature [products] around. So this was definitely a big change. Ettl says that COVID-19 vaccine shipping will likely continue to play a role in the companys future. But its not the core of their business. Many pharmaceutical products, from cancer drugs to other vaccines, require cold-chain handling. The International Air Transport Associations Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics suggests world sales of cold-chain drugs and biologics will surpass $440 billion by 2024 -- and that doesnt include COVID-19 vaccine spending. Within that industry, there also appear to be three macro-trends, the report continues. There are an increasing number of container reuse services, and development of more recyclable shipping containers, and finally the use of electronics to track shipments in real time. For its part, SkyCell overlaps with all of these trends. The fact that SkyCells container is reusable is a major driver that has helped the company obtain pharmaceutical partnerships, Ettl says. The company has also installed sensors within the boxes, and collects a constellation of data points on every shipment. Ettl believes that SkyCell is poised to respond to industry-level changes and increasing demand for cold-chain products. So far, the numbers seem to be in the companys favor. We have never lost the product in the company's history, he says. A Southwest Airlines plane. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images It was a rough weekend for Southwest Airlines and its customers, as the company canceled more than 1,800 flights on Saturday and Sunday. Over 1,000 flights about 28 percent of Southwest's daily operations were canceled on Sunday. The company blamed this on weather and unexpected air traffic control issues in Florida that started on Friday evening. Travel industry analyst Henry H. Hartevedlt told The Associated Press he thinks the problem has nothing to do with outside factors. Since June, Southwest has been scheduling more flights than it is capable of operating, he said, and because the company uses a point-to-point route network, meaning one flight makes multiple stops, delays cause "cascades" along the rest of the flight segments. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association pushed back on rumors that the cancelations were due to a mass walkout by pilots who oppose the company's vaccine mandate. "SWAPA is aware of operational difficulties affecting Southwest Airlines today due to a number of issues, but we can say with confidence that our pilots are not participating in any official or unofficial job actions," the group said in a statement Saturday. You may also like 'Wholly inappropriate': Kyrsten Sinema responds to Arizona State University bathroom confrontation Jimmy Fallon and Nicole Kidman almost make it through an interview without residual awkwardness from dating miss Afghans reportedly escaped Kabul through a CIA gate so secret not even the Taliban knew it existed Former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is scheduled to campaign this weekend with former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe in his race for a second term, his campaign announced. Abrams, who became a voting rights activist after her failed 2018 bid for Georgia governor, will join McAuliffe on Sunday, when the pair will make overtures to religious voters at three Norfolk-area churches and participate in a "Souls to the Polls" event in the city. The coastal Virginia city and surrounding areas have significant black populations. McAuliffe and Abrams are also scheduled to host a grassroots event in Northern Virginia that afternoon. Abrams became a Democratic icon of sorts in her losing gubernatorial bid. She refused to concede to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, citing voter roll purges he conducted as secretary of state, which, according to her, discriminated against Georgia's black voting population. NEW MEXICO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN PAYS EX-STAFFER OVER CROTCH-GRABBING INCIDENT McAuliffe holds a small but narrowing lead over his Republican rival Glenn Youngkin, a Christopher Newport University poll released last week found. McAuliffe leads Youngkin 49% to 45% among likely voters, which is within the polls 4.2% margin of error. Virginia is the only state in which governors cannot run for a second straight term. McAuliffe was governor from 2014-18 and chaired the Democratic National Committee from 2001-05. Maddie Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Republican Governors Association, said in a statement that McAuliffe thought he had the race won the moment he declared his candidacy, and hes now paying the price for his arrogance. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER McAuliffe knows that while his team is asleep at the wheel, Republicans have the energy on our side, Anderson said. His latest act of desperation is to call in Stacey Abrams, who has yet to concede her 2018 loss. This begs the question: if McAuliffe loses to Glenn Youngkin, will he concede or will he follow in the footsteps of his next surrogate? Story continues Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Stacey Abrams, Terry McAuliffe, Glenn Youngkin, Virginia Original Author: Kate Scanlon Original Location: Stacey Abrams set to campaign with Terry McAuliffe as polls tighten in Virginia governor's race British police on Monday said they will not take action against Prince Andrew following a review of sexual abuse accusations by a Jeffrey Epstein accuser, AP reports. Driving the news: Virginia Giuffre has accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her at Epstein's London home in 2001 when she was 17 years old. The prince has denied any wrongdoing. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Giuffre is suing Andrew in U.S. court. The London Metropolitan Police in August started a review of the accusations, saying that "no one is above the law," AP notes. What they're saying: "As a matter of procedure MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) officers reviewed a document released in August 2021 as part of a U.S. civil action," the police said in a statement, per Reuters. "This review has concluded and we are taking no further action." They also said they would not take action over allegations that Epstein's longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked, abused and groomed women and girls in the U.K., per AP. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free UNC-Chapel Hill officials canceled classes Tuesday after police investigated multiple reports of suicide since the start of classes this fall. We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, both on our campus and across our nation, and we are aware that college-aged students carry an increased risk of suicide, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said in a statement. This crisis has directly impacted members of our community especially with the passing of two students on campus in the past month. At Carolina, we strive to put our students first in everything we do. We are living in a world that is constantly shifting and changing. We are facing major challenges and the ongoing toll this takes on our health cannot be underestimated. This cannot be solved by one person, or on one day, alone. Tuesday will be a Wellness Day in which students are encouraged to rest and check in with each other. Chapel Hill police records show two calls made to 911 over the weekend, one regarding an attempted suicide, and another for a suicide. The university said investigations in both of those cases are ongoing. Police call logs also show two reported suicides in September. Police call logs only show what callers reported to 911, not what actually happened. That means the details that are publicly released for either of those cases could change after investigations are completed. In a release Sunday, which is designated as World Mental Health Day, UNCs Undergraduate Executive Branch, Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Government said students mental health needs should be prioritized and considered. The executive branch said in a tweet Sunday it was in talks with university administration to cancel classes Monday and Tuesday, and the student government and graduate and professional student government said its requesting the university provide a break from instruction along with the postponement of University Day events. Story continues All university actions should be guided by the expertise of Carolinas mental health professionals and we request transparency from the university as to the implementation of this guidance, the graduate and undergraduate student governments said. A loss of even one Tar Heel is one too many. Both releases encouraged students who are struggling to contact the Dean of Students team, Counseling and Psychological Services or Student Wellness for assistance. In addition, both releases said Counseling and Psychological Services support is available 24 hours a day by phone at (919) 966-3658 or in-person at the services offices on the third floor of Campus Health from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. On-campus residents can contact resident advisors or community directors by visiting the Community Office Front Desk or by calling (919) 843-5621. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, you can receive confidential and free services 24/7 by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images After two on-campus suicides in just one month, the chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill canceled Tuesday classes, acknowledging the school is in the midst of a mental health crisis. The last-minute decision was announced Sunday night, after student leaders demanded a chance to grieve and reflect over the recent student deaths. We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, both on our campus and across our nation, and we are aware that college-aged students carry an increased risk of suicide, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said in a letter to students and staff at the school late Sunday. This crisis has directly impacted members of our communityespecially with the passing of two students on campus in the past month. We are facing major challenges and the ongoing toll this takes on our health cannot be underestimated, he added. The cancellation of Tuesdays classes fell short of demands from student leaders since half the days classes had already been called off for University Day, an annual celebration commemorating the schools history. Student body President Lamar Richards pushed back on the single-day pause on Twitter, blasting teachers who refused to cancel classes on Monday as well. If you are a professor requiring a class to meet tomorrow you are part of the problem, he wrote on Twitter late Sunday. We are not machines with on and off switches. I dont care what youre not allowed to do. We are students and we need a break. The class-free day comes amid police investigations into a series of suicides since the start of the fall semester. Last month, the UNC Police Department uncovered a body at the Forest Theatre that was deemed a suicide, according to campus police data posted online. On Friday morning, campus police reported a 911 call about a suicide at Hinton James Residence Hall, which was followed by yet another call about an attempted suicide early Sunday morning at Granville Towers South, the log shows. Story continues Katelyn Campbell, 26, a fourth-year Ph.D. student who teaches an American Studies class to undergraduates, told The Daily Beast on Monday that the university had been sluggish to communicate about the student deaths. Campbell said she held an optional class on Monday to provide a space for students to come together and said students had expressed they were really frustrated and angry about what she described as a lack of care from higher-ups within the university, to address pressing mental health issues. Socially reintegrating after nearly two years of being isolated people are reaching their breaking pointwhich is obviously what happened this weekend, Campbell said. She suggested that a lack of funding for counseling services and turnover among staff may lead students to fall through the cracks. It seems like their staff are pretty overwhelmed and students have a hard time finding a therapist on campus and ultimately end up having to go off campus for care a lot of the time, she said. A series of high-profile exits among faculty of color, including New York Times journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, have also rattled the school in recent months, Campbell said. UNC-Chapel Hill senior Brooks Fitts, 24, told The Daily Beast that many of his peers have been upset in the wake of Jones departure and dissatisfied with administrators since the school convened for one week before going fully remote last fall with virtually no mental health support at all. The pause to classes just for Tuesday didnt help, he said. Personally, Im kind of down, I dont know why we still had class today, Fitts said. I dont know why theyre still holding a celebration Tuesday, it just kind of seems in bad taste. Student government leaders on Sunday had appealed to school officials for a pause to classes beginning on Monday until the end of the day Tuesday, suggesting an urgent need to grieve and to ensure that their mental health needs are being considered and met. All university actions should be guided by the expertise of Carolinas mental health professionals and we request transparency from the university as to the implementation of this guidance, UNC Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Government wrote in a joint letter. A loss of even one Tar Heel is one too many. In lieu of classes, Tuesday has been designated as a Wellness Day and students are encouraged to rest, reflect, and check in with each other. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Simon Coveney - Reuters/ Lorraine O'Sullivan Unionists do not care about the European Court of Justices oversight of post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland, Dublin has claimed, prompting a furious backlash from Belfast and London. Simon Coveney, Irelands foreign affairs minister, said that none of the politicians or business people he had spoken to in the province had raised concerns about the oversight of the EUs highest court. Intensifying his war of words with Lord Frost on Monday morning, Mr Coveney claimed that the issue of the ECJ was being used by the UK to sink any prospect of the two sides agreeing changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol. "I've spoken to many Unionists and I've spoken to many business people in Northern Ireland, and none of them are raising the issue of the ECJ jurisdiction in terms of the interpretation of the EU single market on the implementation of the protocol, he told Irelands national broadcaster RTE. His comments were swiftly rebuked by UK government sources, while senior DUP figures dismissed it as complete nonsense and warned that the role of the court was at the heart of our objections to the protocol. The protocol, which was established to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland, requires Northern Ireland to continue to follow the EUs customs and single market rules. The consequence has been to erect a new trade barrier in the Irish Sea, causing significant disruption for goods destined for the province from the British mainland. The ECJ is the supreme interpreter of the rules of the single market, but the UK is now demanding that it no longer has oversight over a renegotiated agreement, which would also seek to drastically reduce the amount of red tape imposed on British goods. In a bid to resolve the long-standing dispute, the EU intends to propose solutions this week which include allowing British sausages and chilled meats to continue to be sold in Northern Irish supermarkets. Maros Sefcovic, the Commission vice president, will unveil four proposals on Wednesday, covering the supply of medicines, animal health rules, customs procedures and a stronger role for Northern Irelands institutions in managing the protocol. Story continues 'ECJ is a red line' But Lord Frost will make clear that the ECJ is a red line for the UK in a keynote speech in Lisbon on Tuesday, warning that the EU has been too quick to dismiss governance as a side issue". Instead of the EU's top court in Luxembourg ruling on questions of European law in Northern Ireland, Lord Frost wants it replaced with an arbitration panel similar to the one agreed in the Brexit trade deal. Ahead of the speech, Mr Coveney accused the British Government of "shifting the playing field" away from solving issues around the controversial protocol, adding that the protocol was underpinned by the ECJs oversight. "The functioning of the EU Single Market relies on the European Court of Justice as the interpreter of the rules... the whole point of the protocol is that it extends the EU Single Market for goods to Northern Ireland to prevent the need for border infrastructure on the island of Ireland, he continued. "They are putting up this new red line issue, of jurisdiction of the ECJ. The truth is that they know the EU can't move on this issue, yet they're still asking for it. Mr Coveney said that unionists in Northern Ireland were more concerned about trade barriers with Britain, adding: "The European Commission is trying to solve those issues as much as they can within the confines of the protocol. Hitting back at Mr Coveney, a gGovernment source said: There definitely is a concern [about the European Court of Justice.] I think whats more likely is there is no Unionist who actually wants to talk to Simon Coveney. The case we are making is that it is really fundamental to the problems with the protocol. Its clear that it is not the basis for a sustainable relationship. Lord Dodds, the former deputy leader of the DUP, told The Telegraph: This is nonsense from Simon Coveney. The DUP have always made clear there are two issues with this protocol: one is trade barriers and the second is the constitutional-legal position of Northern Ireland being in the EU jurisdiction for the EU Single Market and Customs Union. It is exactly what we have been raising since the backstop was first proposed by Theresa May and later replaced by the protocol. It is laws being made in Brussels, with no say of anyone in Northern Ireland, and then the application of those laws by a foreign jurisdiction. Whether its the ECJ or the application of the laws through direct regulation, it is all about sovereignty. This is nothing new, this is not technical, this is at the heart of our objections to the protocol. So Coveney is completely wrong in trying to make out that the ECJ is some tiny technical matter, what it speaks to is the entire issue of sovereignty. US Navy Seawolf-class submarine USS Seawolf after an undersea-warfare exercise with US and Japanese ships in the Pacific, February 12, 2009. US Navy/PO3 Walter Wayman US Navy officials are getting ready to start designing the service's future attack submarines. They plan to take design elements from the Navy's current submarine fleet and combine them in a new boat. The result will be what one of the Navy's top submarine officers calls "the ultimate apex predator." US Navy officials are already laying the groundwork for the next generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, drawing on the current fleet to develop a fearsome new boat. "We are looking at the ultimate apex predator for the maritime domain," Vice Adm. Bill Houston said of the new program at a Navy League event in July. Houston is now the head of Naval Submarine Forces, Submarine Force Atlantic, and Allied Submarine Command. The new submarine is dubbed SSN(X), indicating that the design is not yet determined, but Houston said the boats would take the best features of the Navy's three previous sub designs: the Seawolf- and Virginia-class attack submarines, or SSNs, and the still-in-development Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines, classified as SSBNs. "We're taking what we already know how to do and combining it together," Houston said, pointing to the payload and speed of the Seawolf class, the electronics of the Virginia class, and the expected service life of the Columbia class. Best of three Sailors load a Mark 48 torpedo aboard Los Angeles-class fast-attack sub USS Columbia at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 2, 2021. US Navy/MCS1 Michael B. Zingaro Seawolf-class subs were designed in the 1980s to counter the increasingly advanced Soviet submarine fleet. They were intended to replace Los Angeles-class SSNs, but the end of the Cold War and the Seawolf program's high costs prompted its cancelation in 1995, with only three boats built. The Seawolfs are still regarded as the most powerful SSNs in the Navy's inventory. They're known for being among the quietest subs ever built and are some of the most heavily-armed American attack subs ever, with eight torpedo tubes and enough space for 50 torpedoes or cruise missiles. They can also reach speeds well over 25 knots. Story continues Seawolf-class subs have had their electronics upgraded and are fully loaded with advanced sonars, acoustics, and other sensors. The final boat in the class, USS Jimmy Carter, received a 100-foot extension known as the Multi-Mission Platform, which allows it to carry unmanned vehicles for intelligence missions and SEAL teams for special operations. Sailors aboard Seawolf-class fast-attack sub USS Jimmy Carter sailing to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington state September 11, 2017. US Navy/Lt. Cmdr. Michael Smith The Navy began procuring Virginia-class attack submarines in 2011. Virginia-class subs are meant to replace Los Angeles-class subs and are cheaper than their Cold War-era predecessors. So far, 19 have been completed, with 11 more under construction and four on order. Virginia-class subs are not as well armed as the Seawolfs - they have just four tubes and enough space for 37 torpedo-sized weapons - but they have some features that make them more advanced than their predecessors, including vertical launch systems and modern periscopes. Additionally, Virginia-class Block V subs are being built with the Virginia Payload Module, an 84-foot extension that adds four launching tubes capable of firing seven missiles each, increasing the total payload to 65 torpedo-size weapons. Finally, Columbia-class SSBNs are meant to replace the Navy's Ohio-class subs. The first boat of the Colombia class, USS Columbia, will be the largest American submarine ever built. It was ordered in late 2020 but is not expected to be commissioned until 2031. The Navy hopes to take elements of the Columbia-class - specifically its planned 42-year service life - and include them in the SSN(X) design. SSN(X) The future US Navy attack submarine North Dakota during sea trials. US Navy photo While the Virginia-class was designed at a time when war with another major power wasn't a primary concern, work on SSN(X) is starting amid rising competition with China. China's military has grown considerably, particularly its navy, which the Pentagon says is the largest in the world. Because of those trends, SSN(X) "really needs to be ready for major combat operations," Houston said. "It's going to need to be able to go behind enemy lines and deliver that punch that is going to really, really establish our primacy. It needs to be able to deny an adversary ability to operate in their bastion regions," he added. The Navy has said that the SSN(X) design will feature "a renewed priority in the anti-submarine warfare mission against sophisticated threats in greater numbers" and that the new subs need to be able to defend themselves against unmanned underwater vehicles. Given the requirements, combining the best of three nuclear submarines makes sense, although it is a monumental task. According to Houston, the Navy is timing the development of the SSN(X) with the final phase of the Columbia-class design process and will use the same team. Ohio-class ballistic-missile sub USS Pennsylvania in the Hood Canal as it returns to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, December 27, 2017. US Department of Defense "We're going to capitalize on that design team," Houston said, "and we're going to time [it] such that when Columbia is ramping down in production, we'll be ramping up in SSN(X) because we'll have the design and the [research, development, testing, and evaluation] done." "We're very confident we can get there. It's a daunting task, but the team is more than capable of doing it," Houston added. Kevin Graney, the president of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which builds all of the Navy's submarines, said coordination can increase once the specifics of the new subs are determined. "We'd love to see those requirements get settled down, so that we know exactly what we are designing" Graney said at the event in July. "I think we're getting more and more in sync with each passing day, which I think is great." "We've got the design team coming off of Columbia right now, so they're a hot hand, having just developed that, and now's the time to transition to the new SSN(X) design. We're ready to go," Graney added. The Navy's sub fleet will shrink in coming years as older boats are retired, but recent administrations have proposed plans to build a fleet of roughly 70 attack subs over the next three decades. The Navy plans to procure its first SSN(X) boat in 2031, with follow-on orders beginning in the mid-2030s. The service estimates each submarine of the class will cost $5.8 billion, but a Congressional Budget Office report estimated it could be as high as $6.2 billion. Read the original article on Business Insider A nuclear engineer employed by the U.S. Department of the Navy and his wife have been charged with attempting to sell restricted data to an undercover government agent in exchange for the privacy-centric crypto monero. According to a criminal complaint filed Friday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Jonathan and Diana Toebbe, both of Maryland, had been engaged in a conspiracy to sell information relating to the design of U.S. nuclear submarines to a foreign nation, referred to as COUNTRY1 in the complaint and supporting affidavit. Jonathan Toebbe, an engineer assigned to the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, held an active national security clearance through the U.S. Department of Defense, which afforded him access to sensitive information. The charge alleges the pair violated the Atomic Energy Act. The act prohibits the communication, transmission or disclosure of restricted nuclear data with the intent to injure the U.S. or to secure an advantage to any foreign nation. The use of crypto as payment in a case with national security implications could embolden regulators and members of Congress who argue for curbs on crypto due to what they say is its prevalence in facilitating illegal activity. On April 1, 2020, according to the affidavit, Jonathan Toebbe sent a package containing a sample of restricted data to a foreign government in a bid to establish a relationship to purchase additional sensitive information. The complaint also alleges Toebbe began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual he believed to be a representative of the foreign government. Toebbe and his wife, Diana Toebbe, attempted to sell the restricted data on three occasions from June 8 to Oct. 9, 2021, according the the complaint. Unbeknownst to the Toebbes, the pair met with an undercover agent on three separate occasions and handed over restricted documents, including encrypted data loaded onto SD cards concealed in a chewing gum packet and half a peanut butter sandwich. A review of the SD cards revealed they contained restricted data related to submarine nuclear reactors. Story continues The Toebbes had received a total of $100,000 in monero before they were arrested by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in West Virginia on Saturday, the complaint reads. The Toebbes will appear via the federal court in Martinsburg, W.Va., on Tuesday. Read more: Major Law Enforcement Operation Busts 300 Crime Rings, Recovers Millions in Crypto Volunteers seeking to help at-risk Afghans and others left behind in Afghanistan have emptied their retirement accounts to fund their efforts. Safiullah Rauf was born in a refugee camp in Afghanistan and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. He subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Navy but deferred his medical school enrollment after receiving an outpouring of cries for help from his Afghan connections during the U.S. military's evacuation. Instead, he formed Human First Coalition, a group whose mission is to provide safety to people left behind in Afghanistan and now living under the Taliban government. SPAIN TO PROCEED WITH ADDITIONAL AFGHAN EVACUATIONS The members of the organization have "dumped" their 401Ks and "funded $6 million literally through our own retirements," a source within the organization told the Washington Examiner. "Everybody put their retirements on the line for this." The volunteers helped evacuate 6,000 people out of Afghanistan, including roughly 1,000 Americans, prior to the Aug. 31 withdrawal date, when U.S. and NATO troops departed the country. After that point, they "transitioned ... to provide humanitarian support for those who were left behind during the evacuation," Alex Plitsas, a spokesman for the group, told the Washington Examiner on Monday.There are still tens of thousands of people who did not get out during the evacuation itself, whom we have made a commitment to evacuate. Whether they're former interpreters or whether they're former embassy employees and their families, there's still tens of thousands of people that have been left behind, so to speak. They were able to facilitate the escape of the entire family of Aman Khalili, the Afghan interpreter who helped save then-Sens. Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Chuck Hagel in 2008 when they were forced to land in an Afghan valley due to inclement weather, leaving them vulnerable to a Taliban attack. Human First Coalition's volunteers were able to help Khalili and his family move from Mazar-e-Sharif to Kabul before taking them to the Helmand province, where they were able to escape across the border into Pakistan. They boarded a flight to Doha, Qatar, earlier this week. Story continues CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The key to their ability to operate within Afghanistan has been their willingness to be "completely transparent about what we're doing," Plitsas continued, noting that they're "not trying to play James Bond or do things that we're not supposed to be doing." Human First Coalition has communicated with the Taliban "when there's a need to engage with them," Plitsas said, explaining that, "they've actually been extremely cooperative to date. They have been helpful in ensuring that we get people out." He chalked up their willingness as an effort to avoid "an international incident" and said they are mindful of not violating any foreign corruption policies. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, War in Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Middle East, Defense, Taliban Original Author: Mike Brest Original Location: Volunteers empty their retirement funds to save at-risk Afghans A bull elk in Colorado is no longer stuck in unconventional a-tire thanks to the work of two wildlife officers. Two wildlife officers with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife were successfully able to remove a tire stuck around the neck of a bull elk on Saturday night. The elk with the tire stuck on its neck was first seen in July 2019, with several attempts made by the department to catch it and remove the tire, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife revealed in a news release. SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER SAID MOVIE OF HIS HIT MUSICAL CATS WAS SO BAD HE BOUGHT A DOG It was tight removing it, Scott Murdoch, one of the wildlife officers, said in regard to removing the tire. It was not easy for sure. We had to move it just right to get it off because we werent able to cut the steel in the bead of the tire. Fortunately, the elk's neck still had a little room to move." To remove the tire, Murdoch and Dawson Swanson had to cut the antlers off the elk. The initial plan was to simply cut the tire, but since that plan was not working, they resorted to cutting the antlers and lifting the tire off the elk. Inside the tire were 10 pounds of wet dirt and pine needles, making the whole tire weigh approximately 35 pounds, according to the news release. Once the two officers removed the tire, they were shocked to find that the animal's neck looked "really good." The only problems they could find were part of the elk's hair was rubbed off and a small open wound that was no bigger than a quarter, the news release reported. Multiple attempts had been made since July 2019, when a wildlife officer saw the elk while conducting a population survey in the Mount Evans Wilderness, to tranquilize the elk and remove the tire, but Saturday's attempt by Murdoch and Swanson was the first successful one. Swanson was able to successfully tranquilize the elk and called for help to remove the tire, with Murdoch arriving shortly after, according to the news release. Story continues CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Wildlife officers aged the over 600-pound elk as over 4 years old, and it had five points on each of its antler beams. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Colorado, Fish and Wildlife, Police Original Author: Asher Notheis Original Location: Wildlife officers in Colorado remove tire stuck around elk's neck for two years (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping is scrutinizing the ties that the country's state banks and other financial institutions have developed with big private companies, the Wall Street Journal reported https://www.wsj.com/articles/xi-jinping-scrutinizes-chinese-financial-institutions-ties-with-private-firms-11633972484?mod=djemalertNEWS on Monday, citing people with knowledge of the plan. The inspections focus on whether state-owned banks, investment funds and financial regulators have become too friendly with private firms, especially those that have come under fire from Beijing in recent months, including debt-laden China Evergrande Group, ride-hailing giant Didi Global Inc and high-profile fintech firm Ant Group, the report said. Citic Group, one of Evergrande's main lenders, is among the institutions being scrutinized, the report said. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The examination is being led by China's top anti-corruption agency and centers on 25 financial institutions, according to the report. Officials from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection are reviewing files of lending, investment and regulatory records at these institutions, the report said. The commission could not be immediately reached for comment. The firms suspected of having engaged in inappropriate dealings are likely to be formally investigated by the Communist Party and potentially charged later, the people cited told the Wall Street Journal. In recent months, Chinese regulators have taken aim at sectors ranging from technology to education and property, targeting some of the biggest firms in the country like Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings. (Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath) Dear Mike Pence: Most of them are fervid adherents of bizarre conspiracy theories and fascist dogmas that might yet burn this country down. Many of them spew a noxious slurry of racial, religious and sexual hatreds that defame the principles we purport to hold dear. And on Jan. 6 of this year, a mob of them broke into the U.S. Capitol. They injured police officers. They drove Congress from its own house. They looted government property. They called for federal officials including you to be lynched. They smeared feces on the walls. But you say its the media who are demeaning the supporters of that Florida man who used to be president? That, at least, was your claim last week on Fox News. You told Sean Hannity, I know the media wants to distract from the Biden administrations failed agenda by focusing on one day in January. They want to use that one day to try and demean the character and intentions of 74 million Americans who believed we could be strong again and prosperous again and supported our administration in 2016 and 2020. A couple in their 20s were indicted Monday for murdering an 18-year-old Tokyo high school girl in the central Japan prefecture of Yamanashi in late August, Tokyo prosecutors said. Shohei Komori, 27, and his wife Izumi, 28, strangled the girl, whose identity is withheld, with a rope at a storage shed in Yamanashi and stabbed her multiple times in the back with a knife on Aug. 30, according to the indictment. Based on security camera footage, investigators believe the couple picked up the girl, a senior at a private high school and a resident of Tokyo's Sumida Ward, on Aug. 28 and the three spent the night at the couple's house in Shibukawa in Gunma Prefecture. They are believed to have left Gunma the following evening and reached the storage shed on Aug. 30, according to the investigators. A blood stained knife was found at the shed. The couple were arrested on Aug. 31 on suspicion of abandoning the girl's body, after the police apprehended them a day before in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. They were served a fresh arrest warrant for murder on Sept. 20. Plans to go to New York to visit her brother, who has been battling pancreatic cancer, were scrapped. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Elaine told Bob she did not want to be resuscitated, intubated or placed on a ventilator. Their daughter, Amy, and son-in-law Greg Skolaut, set up a Zoom session with all six of Elaines brothers and sisters, Bob said. She got to see all of them, she got to talk to all of them, he said. She said This is goodbye, because after were done, Im going to have the doctor unplug me. She lasted about two more hours, Bob said. Bob, an infantryman, and Elaine, an Army nurse, met at Fort Carson, Colorado and spent the first year of their married life in Japan. They moved to Council Bluffs before starting a family. Elaine worked as a school nurse for Council Bluffs Community Schools, an instructor for Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing and an occupational health leader at Jennie Edmundson Hospital. Still, she and Bob found time to run The Pasta Shop, where they sold homemade pasta, sauce, pizza crusts and breadsticks. They also ran a catering service for a while. Union workers at Deere & Co. voted down the company's latest contract offer Sunday night. According to a release from Deere & Co., the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America informed Deere & Co. that "its production and maintenance employees have voted to reject the tentative collective bargaining agreements that would have covered more than 10,000 workers at 14 facilities across the United States." Deere and UAW had reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract on Oct. 1. For ratification, the agreement required 51% approval. Facilities impacted by the contract are Davenport Works, Des Moines Works, Dubuque Works, Ottumwa Works, and Waterloo Works in Iowa, including Tractor and Cab Assembly, Engine Works, and the Foundry. In Illinois, Harvester Works in East Moline, North American Parts Distribution Center in Milan and the Seeding Group and Cylinder Division in Moline are subject to the agreement. For the 2020 fiscal year, Deere & Co. net income totaled $2.751 billion, according to the company. For 2021, income is projected to be $3.6 billion to $4 billion. We were not being recognized as the contributor to that, another union worker said. I'd like to see the record profits, quarter after quarter, show some of the same love in which they show the shareholders. Office workers receive better treatment and more acknowledgement and appreciation for their work, while production workers are treated as second-class citizens, they said. Any past appreciation, like parties or gifts for exceptional employees, have disappeared. Retirement plans were also cut back for new employees, the employee said. Those hired before 1997 have a full pension and health care plan when they retire. Those who joined the company after 1997 have a smaller pension and a 401K, but no health care. Under the contract voted down Sunday, those hired on or after Nov. 1 would only have a 401K. "Right now they're trying to get us to basically cut the throat of the next generation coming in behind us, where they won't even have the retirement which we have," the employee said. "And we're not happy with what we've got." Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest: SPECIAL SESSION: The Iowa Legislature will meet Oct. 28 to consider a second plan for redistricting congressional and legislative boundaries, according to a Friday proclamation by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Senators rejected the first plan, so the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency will deliver a second proposal to lawmakers Oct. 21. If approved, the new districts will be in effect for the 2022 elections. If not, the Legislative Services Agency will prepare a third plan, which lawmakers can amend. The Iowa Supreme Court has given legislators a Dec. 1 deadline to complete the redistricting plan. HOLIDAY TEA: Reservations are being accepted for a Dec. 6 Holiday Tea at Terrace Hill, the Iowa governors residence and National Historic Landmark. There will be a morning tea from 10:30 a.m. to noon and an afternoon tea from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The mansion will be decorated for the holidays, with tea, scones, sandwiches and cakes on hand. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Terrace Hill Partnership, a nonprofit that supports conservation and restoration projects at Terrace Hill. Weve read, seen and heard it all before too many times. First comes doomsday predictions about what will happen to the United States and its economy if the nations debt ceiling isnt lifted by Congress. After considerable political wrangling, a short-term extension is approved, thereby alleviating the crisis for a few more weeks or months. 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. John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court, said the sealing of cases in Douglas County happens more often than (people) think. A judge must order each case to be sealed, except for rare automatic sealings required by law, such as a dismissed felony case or the appeal of a mental-health commitment. Judges also are expected to hold hearings before they seal cases. Judges have sealed certain cases when they involve someone famous or infamous, or couples who have $25 million businesses together, things like that, Friend said. I think it happens quite a bit, especially when youre talking about people arguing over millions of dollars (in a marital estate) or over business interests they want to protect. However, under state law, fear of publicity or notoriety is not a reason for an order to seal; nor is the fact that some people have more zeroes at the end of their net worths. GRAND ISLAND Former Telegraph Executive Editor Jill Claflin was one of four Nebraska journalists inducted Saturday into the Marian Andersen Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame. Recently retired Kearney Hub agricultural and natural resources writer Lori Potter also officially joined the hall during the Nebraska Press Womens 2021 fall convention in Grand Island. Claflin, now of Cozad, grew up in Ohio and worked on the copy desks of the Cincinnati Post and St. Louis Post-Dispatch before becoming co-owner of the Callaway Courier in 1978. Her association with The Telegraph began around that time when the late Keith Blackledge, the papers editor from 1967 to 1992, hired her as a weekend copy editor. After returning to Cincinnati and rising to assistant managing editor of the Post, Claflin joined The Telegraph full-time as Blackledges managing editor in 1985. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} She was general manager of the Lexington Clipper-Herald from 1990 to 1993, then returned to North Platte as executive editor from 1993 to 1996. Claflin capped her full-time writing career at Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, Georgia, serving 18 years there before her 2014 retirement as senior director of communications. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Capitol Police officer Michael Fanone sounds as if hes suffering a crisis of faith. He joined the force after 9/11. He voted for Donald Trump in 2016. Then on January 6, he battled the former presidents most zealous defenders in hand-to-hand combat, a conflict that gave him a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury. Now he finds himself alone. While there are still some officers that are very supportive of me, I can count them on one hand, he told Time magazine. The vast majority of police officers would they have been on the other side of those battle lines? Fanone is becoming un-Trooped, to borrow a phrase from journalist Spencer Ackerman. Hes still a police officer, still wears the uniform, but he lost whatever authority he once possessed because he dared question whether cops are heroes. While the right moves to discredit him, liberals have latched on to his story in a desperate bid to prove they are more pro-cop than the GOP. This age-old dynamic shows that, while Fanones crisis may be recent, its roots are wide and deep, stretching back not just to the rise of Trump and the radicalization of his supporters but to the global war on terror. The connection between the rise of Trump and the sprawling post-9/11 national-security state is one of the central themes of Ackermans new book, Reign of Terror, which ranks alongside Adam Serwers The Cruelty Is the Point as one of the most illuminating books to come out of the Trump era. Ackerman offers a persuasive, exhaustive accounting of a 20-year-old war and its authoritarian consequences. Forget Americas diners: The path to understanding Trump and what formed him lies not through a pathologized version of the white working class but through the architecture of the war on terror. Ackerman depicts a conflict shaped by endemic xenophobia and knee-jerk jingoism. To question either the military response to 9/11 or the pervasive conviction that America was a thoroughly innocent party was to assume the role of a heretic. People in uniform, from the military to police to firefighters, were valorized to the point of civic worship, Ackerman writes, an impulse most conspicuous in those whose lives intersected with such people rarely. That valorization was accompanied by the villainization of the wars early critics and of Muslim Americans, who endured surveillance from the authorities and hatred from the public. Others were also implicated. Ackerman recalls Andrew Sullivan writing about a decadent left burrowed within its enclaves on the coasts that may well mount a fifth column. Because the war had civilizational stakes, according to the authorities and their enablers in the press, dissent had a high cost. The valorization of the troops and the cops, the fear and loathing of Muslims and other alien elements, the subordination of so much to the overarching project of asserting Americas greatness all were elements of the Trump juggernaut. Trump himself makes an easy target, but the extremism of his presidency can obscure the bipartisan consensus that helped these ideas and attitudes take shape. If the road to January 6 began years ago, then it necessarily winds through the Obama years. In the immediate wake of 9/11, nearly all things seemed permissible under the need to protect the homeland. There was STELLARWIND, a secret and warrantless National Security Agency surveillance program, and the PATRIOT Act, which unlike STELLARWIND came into being with the enthusiastic support of Congress. A regime was emerging. They had not made the War on Terror respect the law, Ackerman writes. They had made the law respect the War on Terror. The regime generated new justifications for itself, and created new norms. Under the ministrations of John Yoonow on the faculty of the Berkeley Lawthe torture memos later appeared. Many of the more extreme transgressions of the war on terror occurred in areas beyond the reach of the law. Gul Rahman froze to death in a CIA black site in 2002, Ackerman reminds us. Was he a necessary casualty of war? Or was he something else, a human being who was tortured to death without trial, a person whose demise shows a deep rot in the American heart? Over time, government elites have recast the overall War on Terror not as Bushs theological crusade, but as a technocratic, salvageable struggle, guided by the hard-won rationality of its veterans and practitioners, Ackerman writes. When Barack Obama took office in 2009, he not only continued the war but in many ways expanded it. The conceit was that the war had passed into more competent control or so liberals believed. Technocracy likes to pretend it has no ideology. As Ackerman puts it, Obamas Sustainable War on Terror presented itself as more lawful than Bushs. That presentation was important to the self-image of the lawyers, from Obama on down, shaping it. Beneath this professionalized approach, however, is the same old belief in American exceptionalism. Americas civil religion enjoys broad popularity, as heretics know all too well. In extreme cases, apostasy had legal consequences, and the demonization of dissenters became a bipartisan affair. Liberals and conservatives alike attacked whistleblowers, including Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. They were un-Trooped, their service rendered meaningless by their acts of conscience. Their service did not invest their whistleblowing with greater public respect, Ackerman writes. Instead, their whistleblowing cost them the post-9/11 public reverence accorded to military or intelligence service. A judge recently sentenced my friend Daniel Hale to nearly four years in prison for leaking documents about the bloody American drone program. The U.S. governments investigation and eventual prosecution of Hale spanned three presidential administrations: Obamas, Trumps, and now Bidens. Yet its partly because of Hales actions that the public knows more of what was done in its name. Under Trump, the nativism inherent in the war on terror reached its ugly apotheosis. Far from being Donald the Dove, as New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd once christened him, Trump made good on years of xenophobia with his Muslim travel ban, his border-security fixations, and his treatment of ICE detainees. But Trump was no anomaly, and though he might have inspired the uprising at the Capitol, the riot has many fathers. Neither conservatives nor liberals wanted to face what nationalists and leftists knew, Ackerman writes. The War on Terror could sustain itself because of how deeply American it was. As long as the war on terror persists at home and abroad, democracy itself is at risk. Heresy may not be patriotic, but it is necessary still. Washington, PA (15301) Today Some clouds. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There Mya - Case of the Ex One Direction - Steal My Girl Ariana Grande - Into You Beyonce - Run the World (Girls) Britney Spears - I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman Rihanna - Hard (Feat. Jeezy) Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much S Club 7 - S Club Party Billie Eilish - Bellyache Ke$ha - Your Love Is My Drug Other Music Videos Starring the Desert: There is a sister post with the same theme but with K-Pop videos over on Omona. Pop stars, they're just like us! They eat, they sleep, they frequently get lost in the desert where they dance and sing and brood! I've decided to make a series on Music Video tropes - some common and relatively normal, some less frequent but incredibly bizarre. I've started with a common and understandable trope to kick things off - the nondescript desert location (sometimes featuring a gas station, or a diner, and frequently featuring a sick overhead shot of a car driving - usually down a lone highway that seems to stretch on forever).Below I've compiled a short list of music videos featuring pop stars that, for some reason or another, are in the middle of the desert:What is the plot of this? Are the girls alien action stars waiting for male prey in the desert? I have no idea, but we've got dancing, iconic fashion, and the obligatory overhead shot of a car cruisin' (which represents FREEDOM! in these music videos, also so does the desert, it's all very symbolic).A dance battle in the desert! Where else would they do it!? They had to go all the way out there to get away from "her" - they broke up in '96 but she's still a problem!The boys apparently materialize in the desert (why are they so confused coming out of that trailer?) and then proceed to shoot a music video with the icon, the LEGEND, Danny DeVito.Poor Louis found himself stuck in a desert again when he filmed his solo music video for his song "Walls" Still Ariana's best song - ohhh that highway, ohhh that motorcycle, ohhh those...unharmonious shots of Ariana unhappy at a fancy party with a narcissistic man in an attempt to give us a plot. It's a desert video - we don't need a plot, we just need rocks and cute looks!Beyonce running a very dystopian looking desert world from an underpass!also sort of Spirit (although it makes way more sense and is visually stunning) and to a lesser extent, Sweet Dreams (which is visually bleak and she's only in the desert for a minute before she's trapped by another music video trope - "the room").How'd she get up there? She probably had to Work Bitch! Rihanna in haute couture training her Navy in the desert while Jeezy sits on some scrap metal.Name a more iconic desert music video. I'll wait!A pop group gets lost in the desert, time travel, and have to dance their way back to the present.Just a girl and her wagon full of cash taking a stroll down the highway that cuts through - *checks notes* - a desert.Ke$ha's $teez is gonna be affected by that dry de$ert air!+ 6 hundred million othersSources: Spice Girls Shaun King recently launched his A Real One clothing line, which he describes as a disruptive fashion company designed to completely change the supply chain from the seed to your closet, but already he seems to be stealing borrowing work from other organizations that actually have been involved in the industry he seeks to exploit next. The image you see here is from a Gatsby Foundation report on the Tanzanian cotton and textiles sector, but it's being used uncredited on the A Real One website. The results of an ONTD investigation are below! After kebedes posted a comment in the post about Shaun King launching his A Real One clothing line pointing out that photos on his site are taken from "a BCI feature on Tata Djire about women's economic empowerment in Mali" and a Gatsby Foundation report on the Tanzanian cotton and textiles sector, I decided to reach out to BCI and the Gatsby Foundation to ask whether those photos were used with permission, and if their organizations were affiliated with King and his A Real One clothing line. After asking, "Does he even have the right to use their photos or did he stay true to his scammer ways and steal those too?", kebedes noted, "As far as I can tell, there's no attribution and no mention of Mali, Tanzania, the organizations or the subjects anywhere on his site. Just a generic nod to black production and transparency, which is of course a known strong suit of his." So what's the deal? My correspondence to the Gatsby Foundation is as follows. Hello! It was pointed out to me that a photo from the Gatsby site, specifically a report on the Tanzanian cotton and textiles sector (https://www.gatsby.org.uk/uploads/africa/reports/pdf/2020-tanzanian-cotton-textiles-highlights.pdf) is being used to promote A Real One clothing store launched by Shaun King (https://arealone.com). However, I see no photo credit on the A Real One site or mention of an affiliation, even though other organizations are listed. As someone who works in the media, I am sensitive to proper citations and giving credit where credit is appropriate. Additionally, as a consumer, I try to be conscious and discerning about the brands I support, so I wanted to reach out and see if there is an affiliation between Gatsby and A Real One that just isnt cited (yet) on the A Real One site. Thank you for any assistance you can provide! While I have not yet received a response from BCI, who I sent a similar message to, I did hear back from a representative of the Gatsby Foundation, who shared, its a surprise to see an image of our cotton programme being used on the website. The full response I received from the Gatsby Foundation is below - emphasis theirs. Hi [name redacted for privacy reasons], We received your message about the use of one of our images on the A Real One clothing store. Firstly, I want to say so thank you so much for taking the time to bring this to our attention, it is hugely appreciated! We do not have any affiliation with A Real One clothing or Shaun King so its a surprise to see an image of our cotton programme being used on the website. We will be looking into the matter further in the coming weeks. Thank you so much again for letting us know. Best wishes, Georgia A similar message was sent to BCI with the appropriate links. While I have not heard back from BCI (which stands for the Better Cotton Initiative), I will point out that the photographer is cited on the BCI site, but there is no proper citation or indication of who took the photo or where its from on the A Real One site. So whats this mean? Who knows! But at the very least, if you launch a business saying youre going to interrupt the current supply chain for good and that youre going to empower and employ Black farmers, designers, printers, and partners, maybe dont start off by not crediting the images of the farmers. It doesnt look good to claim youre going to show every single level of production and have the first images you show on your site be ones you're using without permission. P.S. While I did not look into this matter, in the original post about A Real One launching, neonguts commented, "I went to the site and crossed checked some of the 'certifications' the brand supposedly has by simply googling the certifications website and searching if this brand is a member and..yeah its not. Its like they just googled all the best certifications to have and then just photoshopped them all together to put on the site to make themselves look good." That also crossed my mind, but this was enough research for one day. I can confirm A Real One is not listed on the Fair Wear, Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, nor Canopy websites, which they claim to be a member of. To be fair, although King is not deserving of the benefit of the doubt, that could be explained by those organizations not yet updating their websites. As an end note, Canopy just issued a press release with 14 new brand partners on Sept. 15 and a press release announcing 400 new brands and retailers joining CanopyStyle, "a game-changing fashion and forest conservation initiative that is transforming the fashion industrys viscose supply chain," on Sept. 16. Draw from that what you will. Sources A Real One website kebedes comment in the original post about A Real One launching neonguts'comment in that post A BCI feature on Tata Djire Gatsby Foundation report on the Tanzanian cotton and textiles sector Uncredited image of the BCI photo on the A Real One website Uncredited image from the Gatsby Foundation on the A Real One website Canopy website My personal email I think most marvel fans wanted this to be like Zac Efron or whoever but Will is a really offbeat choice and hes a good actor so this will be fun Reply Thread Link Okay Miss Pollyanna Sunshine Reply Parent Thread Link Um, isn't that character supposed to be like super hot? I get people will try to act like he's attractive, but like..... Reply Thread Link so few of the marvel leads are objectively fuckable. it's a problem Reply Parent Thread Link what Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I love him and his weird eyebrows. His interview on Films to be Buried With really endeared me Reply Thread Link I like his Sid looking face so Im okay with this Reply Thread Link Good for you, Syd. Reply Thread Link every time i see this guy all i can think is "is that the 'you guys are getting paid' kid"? and every time it is! Reply Thread Link Well he's certainly getting paid with this. Reply Parent Thread Link i feel like hes 12 but also that hes been 12 for 20 years Reply Thread Link LOL I know hes grown now but all I see is Lee Carter. Reply Parent Thread Link good for him Reply Thread Link james gunn is back? Reply Thread Link He was fired for a hot minute, then brought him back on. Reply Parent Thread Link boo Reply Parent Thread Link They fired him and then brought him back. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Good. I think he elevates everything he's in. Still kind of bummed it wasn't him as Pennywise. Reply Thread Link Im surprised he took such a high profile role, after he was driven off social media after that Black Mirror episode. He can replace crisp rat as leader of the guardians. Reply Thread Link Wait. What happened after that? Reply Parent Thread Link From what I remember, fan girls couldnt decide if he was hot-hot or ugly-hot, so they went onto his Twitter and flooded him with inappropriate and/or rude messages. He took a break from social media because it was too much for him, not sure if hes back on it now or not. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I was like.. he was never in Black Mirror? But I never did watch the chose your own adventure because the format bugged the shit out of me Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah hopefully he stays off social media because fans are going to be even more insane now Reply Parent Thread Link Of course James Gunn would deprive us from hot Adam Warlock. Tired of his ass. Reply Thread Link I bet that he not being hot like adam warlock is supposed to be is going to be a throwaway joke in the film (cus gunns flop ass would). Reply Parent Thread Link im so mad. I no longer care about his character anymore Reply Parent Thread Link Why did I think Zac Efron was going to get this role? Reply Thread Link I swore they were filming already? Or Are they in Thor 4? And tbh good for this dude! He's a great character actor. Reply Thread Link they are in T4or, yes Reply Parent Thread Link The Theme of NSC 2021 Congress & Expo: Resilience The NSC Congress & Expo kicked off in Orlando, Florida on Monday, October 11. Safety professionals swarmed the halls of the Orange County Convention Center as The National Safety Council kicked off their 2021 Safety Congress & Expo on Monday, October 11 with an important conversation on a word that should be familiar to all professionals in the field: resilience. During the Keynote, NSC CEO and President Lorraine Martin defined resilience as, "the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties." Its a word that adequately defined the last 18 months as safety professionals maneuvered through the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic changed everything, Martin said. But at the same time, traditional safety risks never went away. It can all be so overwhelming. However, it is important to remember that because of your work, there is one less patient in the hospital and less empty chairs at family dinner tables around the country. Martin is right. It is because of the work of the safety professional that workers around the country are able to return to their homes each night. It is also because of Congress and Expositions, like the NSCs flagship event each year, that safety pros can take advantage of opportunities to continue their education and gain more safety knowledge. In a key move from the NSC to show their resilience, theyve offered the Congress to members in several different ways. For those that are attending the NSC Congress in person this year, theyll have the opportunity to earn CEUs and network with professionals from all types of workplaces. Those who choose to enjoy the show virtually will also have the ability to further their safety education by logging on live streaming sessions from the Congress. For all who look to engage with NSCs event, no matter how they choose to registerin-person or virtually, sessions will be available to view for 60 days after the Congress endsa move highly appreciated by attendees as added value to their registration. While resilience may be the unofficial theme of NSCs Congress this year, it is also a great way to define the work of the safety professional. Celebrate your capacity to recover through the difficulties this field of work brings and pat yourself on the back for the hard work youve done through the most uncertain times of our lifetimes. HEPA Vacuum Cleaners Play Critical Role in EPA's Lead RRP In 2008, in order to curb the occurrence of lead-related diseases, the EPA issued 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart E, also known as the Lead RRP. Choosing the Best Equipment Rental Company Renting equipment instead of spending large amounts of capital to own the same thing is often justified by todays tighter budgets, reduced workforce and wide variety of projects. There is a measurement tool available that can provide an accurate and quick way for customers to objectively evaluate and compare the abilities of different equipment rental companies. Coal futures in China closed at a new record high on Monday after sixty coal mines in the countrys top coal-producing region were forced to shut amid heavy rain, flooding, and landslides, worsening the energy supply crisis. Coal futures on the local Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange jumped by nearly 12 percent to close at the equivalent of $219 per ton on Monday, setting a new record, data from Bloomberg showed. Heavy rain in recent days has led to nearly 2 million people being displaced in the northern Chinese province of Shanxi, which is the largest coal-producing area in the country. Around 60 coal mines out of a total of 682 mines in the province have closed due to the flooding. The weather-related setbacks for Chinese coal production come at a time when the worlds second-largest economy is grappling with a shortage of coal supply and a power crisis, which threaten to slow economic growth. Just last week, Chinese authorities ordered 72 coal mines in Inner Mongolia to boost production by almost 100 million tons amid an energy crunch that has seen factories shut down and prompted fears of a disruption to the global economy. China is now allowing coal mines to produce the dirtiest fossil fuel even if they have already hit their production quotas. China is also said to have resorted to Australian coal once again to plug the supply hole gaping in its energy security. Last year, China imposed an unofficial ban on Australian coal imports amid a political spat between the two governments. China is scrambling for energy supply ahead of the winter, with a global shortage of natural gas and coal that has led to record-high prices of the fuels in Asia. China has also reportedly ordered its state energy companies to secure supply at all costs despite the rallying prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Iran is offering crude oil in exchange for goods or investments in its oil industry, oil minister Javad Owji told Iranian TV, as quoted by Bloomberg. The plan has yet to be approved by the Iranian parliament, Owji said. It remained unspecified whether it was targeting local or foreign investors. The overall sentiment, however, is optimistic, thanks to the latest developments on the oil and gas markets that favor oil producers. The plan to attract investments in oil and gas in exchange for output follows another announcement made by Iran's new oil minister last month. In it, Owji said Iran planned to attract some $145 billion in local and foreign investments in its fossil fuel industry. "We plan to invest $145 billion in the development of the upstream and downstream oil industry over the next four to eight years, hence I welcome the presence of domestic and foreign investors in the industry," Owji said during a meeting with executives from China's Sinopec. China is Iran's biggest trade partner and one of the very few countries still importing some crude oil from Iran despite the U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic's oil exports and oil industry. It is also the world's biggest oil importer. Meanwhile, the prospects of Iran shaking off U.S. sanctions remain uncertain. This weekend, the Islamic Republic's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said Iran placed a priority on verifying that U.S. sanctions will be lifted once talks resumed again. "Of course, we will soon return to the Vienna talks and we are keeping our eyes on the issue of verification and receiving the necessary guarantees for the implementation of commitments by the Western parties," Amirabdollahian told Iranian media, as quoted by Reuters. At the same time, however, "Given the pace of its nuclear advancements, Iran is nearing the point at which the nuclear deal's nonproliferation benefits will be unrecoverable without major changes to the accord, at which Tehran would balk," said analysts from Eurasia Group, as quoted by CNBC. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: If Russia was indeed able to manipulate prices higher by using paper volumes, then the security of Europes broader energy market will have to be looked at While it appears that Russia has been refusing to send extra natural gas to Europe during the current shortage, the continents energy crisis may have been caused by something else The continuing European energy market crunch is still making headlines. The main culprit, according to media and politicians, is Russia, as it is refusing to increase its gas deliveries to the market. When looking at market fundamentals, it certainly appears that Russia is partly responsible for the energy shortage, but there is a major underlying issue that is not being covered. Putin has weaponized the energy markets by using an intricate web of trading instruments, media attention, and supply-side control. Russia has been playing pipeline politics with oil via the OPEC+ agreement and with natural gas via its control of European markets. After warning European leaders several times in recent years, Putin now seems to have used the financialization of energy markets, aka paper values and not volumes, to his advantage. In recent years, Putin has been looking to use the changing European gas market to his advantage. Europes liberalization of its domestic gas markets combined with a full focus on spot market options, such as TTF and others, removed long-term contracts as a primary source. Long-term contracts, based on oil-price indexed contracts, were seen as the main constraint to liberalization and lower price settings. This change to spot contracts was due to Europes desire to become less import-dependent on Russian natural gas while opening up to international LNG options. For the first years, this change worked well, as prices went down and diversification, at least on paper, increased. More recently, however, the situation changed dramatically and Russia once again gained the upper hand. While European politicians were focusing on Ukrainian gas pipelines or Nordstream 2, the internal function of the European gas market was largely ignored. In reality, the liberalization of gas markets, especially in Europe, put more power into the hands of independent gas trading groups, including Gazprom. Without pushing for a direct confrontation, Russia was able to play with market fundamentals. The push by European nations to go all-out on renewables, discarding the idea of gas as the transition fuel of choice, threatened Russias future. Putin and his supporters warned Europe that there could be major repercussions for that move, but the message fell on deaf ears in Brussels. It seems that Europes politicians failed to understand a major threat in modern international gas trading, namely the role of new technology and algorithms. Putins advisors clearly understood both the positive and negative options associated with putting gas market futures and deals in the hands of algorithm-based systems. An in-depth analysis of current gas markets, including EU and UK gas storage volumes, is partly clouding the overall real situation. There is doubt that current gas storage volumes are lower than before, however, no real attention has been given to the fact that one of the main drivers behind the current energy crunch and extremely high prices, which are to the advantage of Putin, are caused by 3rd party moves. In recent months, financial players and traders have been committing to extreme high hedging and speculative positions, not only in natural gas markets but also in electricity markets. Analysis of the commitments of traders report ICE Europe data on TTF futures trading shows that speculation has been a major driver behind the current price spikes and shortages. Putin has been able to use the system of natural gas and electricity markets to his own advantage, aka weaponizing his own energy trade position in the market. Related: A Very Predictable Global Energy Crisis As a trader stated, while Europe wanted its own energy exchange (EEX) to hold market power, the reality is that the EEX is not even close to ICE Endex and ICE Europe. Taking into account US CME/NYMEX and ICE US Energy Division, EEX is being dwarfed when looking at energy derivatives trading. If EEX is even analyzed, it is clear that the same players of other exchanges are in place. The EEX main shareholder is Deutsche Borse Group with 75% of the shares, followed by Edison S.p.A., Enel Global Trading S.p.A. (Italy), and 3 Austrian organizations. Deutsche Borse Group's shareholders are 90% institutional shareholders, of which 36% are from North America and 25% are from Great Britain. If you now analyze EEX, it becomes clear that it is directly linked to major Russian traders. Of the 424 participants, the main heavyweights include Gazprom Austria GmbH, Gazprom Marketing & Trading Limited, Gazprom Marketing & Trading Switzerland AG, and Novatek Gas & Power GmbH. The EEX also holds key financial organizations with their own spot and derivatives arms, such as BofA Securities Europe SA, Citadel Energy Investments, Citigroup Global Markets, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, Goldman Sachs International, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho Securities USA, Morgan Stanley, Societe Generale International, etc. When it comes to energy trading in Europe, international financial players are holding all the cards and are able to influence (or manipulate) the market. Current price spikes are not abnormal if it is understood that all financial players have been betting on higher prices since the beginning of this year. Goldman Sachs pitched a commodities supercycle in April 2021, JPMorgan followed a bit later. All other major financials followed suit very soon after, leading to a legal but pushy energy price spike expectation. These forecasts were made even at times when physical markets, oil especially, did not demonstrate crude oil shortages. As several analysts repeatedly stated, US markets dont need a lot of crude oil storage. Fluctuations in the USA were seasonable. At the same time, storage reports in Fujairah, Singapore, and Japan, indicated normal physical storage situations. Just after Gazproms condensate processing facility in Siberia was destroyed, the crude oil hysteria jumped to natural gas. Crisis reports started to emerge in the market. These reports seem to have been very well understood by Russian parties, as Gazprom decided to put pressure on the physical gas market, expecting financial markets to move very soon after. International traders, such as Vital, Glencore, and Trafigura, were looking at that time at extreme risks in their portfolios, as there were large short positions on gas and power in the financial markets. Reports emerged last week that Gunvor, the largest independent LNG trader, is back in the debt markets, for the 1st time since 2013. Zerohedge stated that Gunvor is facing massive margin calls as the global natural gas arb explodes. Possible casualties are ABNAmro, Credit Agricole, Rabobank, SG, Natixis, ING, and Unicredit. The site reports also that the margin calls are between $3.6B and $6.1B in the coming months for a company with a $2.5B net equity. The natural gas crunch in Europe may well be a self-made issue. To increase the influence of financial markets over energy markets is to increase the risk of volatility. With a huge uncontrolled OTC market in place, with immense volumes of financials swaps being traded, with re-hedging by swap-dealers, and nearly 70% of trading volume coming from algorithmic trading, the threat to natural gas markets is clear. Related: Is America Doomed To Replicate Europes Energy Crisis? It is possible that Russia combined its potential physical gas market manipulation with its ability to influence financial markets. It is unclear which came first, but a combination of both, clearly not understood by unprepared European politicians, has given Russia a potent geopolitical weapon. By understanding the fundamentals of both sides, extreme energy price spikes are easy to realize. By understanding that algorithms now control the financial market and that the natural gas market is no longer focused on physical trades but on paper trading, Russia is able to move markets. Most algorithms of traders are linked to certain market keywords, events, or price level red lines. They act automatically, in principle to prevent spikes or huge losses on respective futures holdings. In the current European energy crunch, Russia seems to have been able to tweak the system to its own advantage. In the past, Putins response to a new energy market was, if Europe wants a liberalized open energy market, lets have it. Now, he is all too happy to point out that Europes current energy crunch is its own doing, now deal with your own strategy. Claims by the IEA that Russia is unable to provide more natural gas have not be proven. Russia is currently using all the instruments at its disposal to prove that Russias energy weapon is ready and armed. In the coming months, the weaponization threat of a fully financialized energy market needs to be assessed, and measures to prevent a repeat of current events should be taken. Handing over total control of energy prices and volume trades to paper, based on algorithms, is clearly a problem that needs to be resolved. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oiprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Last week saw the already broadening and deepening ties between the UAE and India extend further. With the announcement in August 2020 of the U.S.-brokered Israel-UAE normalisation deal a new corridor of co-operation was opened up, running from the U.S. (and Israel), through the UAE (and Kuwait, Bahrain, and in part Saudi Arabia) through to India, as a regional counterbalance to Chinas growing sphere of influence. As much of Chinas current turbo-driven expansion into the Middle East is predicated in the first instance on the energy sector, this is also the starting point for the build-out of the U.S.-Israel-UAE-India alliance. This makes perfect sense as the oil industry involves the movement of huge amounts of money, ships, equipment, technology, and personnel in often disguised ways confidential bank accounts, intelligence, and military personnel who can pass as high-level oil technicians or security people, ships that can disappear through the flick of an AIS switch and so on that other industries cannot match for activities that countries want to conduct quietly. According to various announcements, the leading Indian conglomerate, Reliance Industries, outlined plans to establish a major oil and petrochemicals trading unit in the UAE as part of an overall US$2 billion investment to be made in the emirate. This huge funding Reliances first such deal in the Gulf region - is to flow into the UAEs TAZIZ chemical joint venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and sovereign wealth fund ADQ. ADNOC stated at the end of June that the final investment decisions for the projects related to the EPC contracts for TAZIZ will be made in the coming months, possibly before the beginning of 2022, OilPrice.com understands from local legal sources, and that the plants will have the capacity to produce 940,000 million metric tonnes per year (mtpy) of chlor-alkali, 1.1 million mtpy of ethylene dichloride, and 360,000 mtpy of polyvinyl chloride, among other planned products. In ADNOC, this new U.S.-aligned group has an ideal corporate proxy to advance such broader policy and power projection all the way up to Chinas border through increased cooperation with India. At the moment, ADNOC already the UAEs biggest energy producer is pumping around 4 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil but is aiming to increase this output by at least another 1 million bpd by 2030 at the latest, and to increase its gas output as well. With this moving forward, and given the U.S. endgame in securing India as a direct counterbalance to China in Asia, the last piece of the puzzle appears to be moving into place right now. ADNOCs chief executive officer, Sultan al-Jaber, has repeatedly stated that he looks forward to exploring partnerships with even more Indian companies across the energy giants hydrocarbon value chain, with TAZIZ being a prime example of this. Related: Is America Doomed To Replicate Europes Energy Crisis? He added that he wants this to include expanding the commercial scale and scope of the strategic reserves partnership, in line with ADNOC currently being the only overseas company so far allowed to hold and store Indias vitally important strategic petroleum reserves (SPR). In keeping with the developing scope of this relationship, Indias government approved a proposal that will allow ADNOC to export oil from the SPR if there is no domestic demand for it, in the first instance from the Mangalore strategic storage facility (the other major SPR pool being at Padur). This decision marked a major shift in the policy of India in the handling of these vital energy reserves, with the country having previously completely banned all oil exports from the SPR storage facilities. A further sign of this relationship between the US-sponsored UAE and India moving up a gear is the likelihood of ADNOC being top of the list of foreign companies that would be considered to buy a substantial stake in the high-profile privatization of major Indian refiner, Bharat Petroleum. Russian state-corporate proxy, Rosneft, had expressed an interest in buying the Indian governments 53.29 percent in the company following a visit to New Delhi by Rosnefts chief executive officer, Igor Sechin but these overtures have now been sidelined by India. Certainly, given the current low oil price environment and low demand for a range of refined products, it may be thought that buying a refining-centric operation would not appeal to many companies. However, as far as the UAE is concerned it would fit well not just into the broader geopolitical maneuvering that is going on but also commercially into the swathe of deals being planned with Indian companies in the UAE. This was underlined by al-Jabber at the end of 2020 when he said: Today, Indian companies represent some of Abu Dhabis key concession and exploration partners[and] As we continue to work together, I see significant new opportunities for enhanced partnerships, particularly across our downstream portfolio. He added: We have launched an ambitious plan to expand our chemicals, petrochemicals, derivatives, and industrial base in Abu Dhabi and I look forward to exploring partnerships with even more Indian companies across our hydrocarbon value chain. This longer-term view accords with the outlook given at around the same time by Indias minister of petroleum and natural gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, as he stated that Indias demand for refined products is expected to rise dramatically, requiring a 40 percent increase in its refining capacity to 350 million tonnes a year or 7 million bpd by 2030. Part of the policy to accommodate this increase is the plan to build a 1.2 million bpd refinery and petrochemical plant on Indias west coast through a joint venture made up of Indian state refiners and ADNOC, plus possibly Saudi Aramco. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Californias Governor Gavin Newsom signed in the weekend legislation that would ban from 2024 the sale of new gasoline-powered landscape equipment with small off-road engines such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers, in another move to reduce emissions. According to the new law, all sales of new small off-road engines equipment should be zero-emission as of 2024 or as soon as the California Air Resources Board says it could be done, Los Angeles Times reports. The legislation introduced by assembly member Marc Berman notes that in 2020, daily emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and reactive organic gases (ROG) from small off-road engines in California were higher than emissions from light-duty passenger cars. An hour of using a gas lawn mower equals to driving 300 miles from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, while an hour of leaf blower use is equivalent to driving 1,100 miles from Los Angeles to Denver, as per estimates from the California Air Resources Board. The authors of the legislation argue this would be a step to limit the massive amount of emissions from gas-powered landscape equipment, but professional associations of landscapers say that zero-emission lawnmowers and other equipment are much more expensive and less efficient. A gas-powered commercial riding lawn mower typically costs between $7,000 and $11,000, but its equivalent with zero emissions costs more than twice as much, Andrew Bray, vice president of government relations for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) told Los Angeles Times. California plans to allocate $30 million to help landscape professionals move to battery-powered or plug-in equipment, but this wouldnt be enough for around 50,000 small businesses that would be hit by the new law, Bray told the newspaper. A ban on sales of new gas lawn equipment is Californias latest move to restrict the use of gasoline in the state after banning in September 2020 sales of new passenger vehicles with internal combustion engines from 2035 in the push towards a cleaner energy future. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: The European Commission, the EUs executive branch, is considering joint purchases of gas supplies in order to avert another natural gas crisis, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing a source with knowledge of the draft proposals in the blocs toolbox to alleviate the impact of record-high gas and power prices. The benchmark European gas prices continued their rally last week, surging to new record highs on Tuesday to an equivalent of $205 a barrel oil, amid a wider energy commodity rally driven by supply concerns ahead of the winter. The gas price at the Dutch TTF hub, the benchmark gas price for Europe, even topped 160 euro per MWh on Wednesday, before falling back toward 100 euro per MWh. Early on Friday, the benchmark European price was the equivalent of $200 oil, as per Reuters calculations based on the relative value of the same quantity of energy from each source. As Europes benchmark gas prices hit record highs amid tight supply, the European Union is looking at a single-market response to the surging energy prices, European Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson, said on Wednesday. The Commission will present next week a toolbox of measures Members States can take in line with EU law, both short and medium term, Simson told the European Parliament on Wednesday. More ideas have been put forward by the Member States and members of the Parliament, such as forms of joint purchase of emergency gas reserves. We are analysing all of them, the energy commissioner added. According to Bloombergs source, joint purchase of gas is just one of the measures that the European Commission will review and put to discussion at an EU leaders summit on October 21 and 22. The other proposals to cushion the impact of the soaring prices and low gas stockpiles include tax exemptions, energy price caps, tax breaks for companies and households, encouraging long-term power purchases of renewable energy, and emergency income support to the most vulnerable households. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: India has enough coal to meet demand from the power generation sector, the coal ministry said in a statement this weekend, as quoted by Reuters. The statement comes on the heels of a warning by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that the national capital territory was facing a crisis because of a coal shortage. Indeed, some parts of India experienced supply shortages that led to power cuts. But according to the coal ministry, Coal India Ltd. is currently using its stockpiles of 40 million tons to add to power utilities' inventories of 7.2 million tons. The latter figure represents enough coal for four days of power generation. This is certainly an improvement on a week ago when Reuters reported that more than half of India's 135 coal-fired power plants only had enough coal inventories for less than three days of operation. This compares with government guidelines that say power plants should have at least two weeks' worth of coal. A return to growth in industrial activity led to a surge in electricity demand, which in turn spurred a price spike for all fossil fuels. This is now threatening that same growth that led to the price spike. "The supply crunch is expected to persist, with the non-power sector facing the heat as imports remain the only option to meet demand but at rising costs," said Indian analytical services provider CRISIL, a unit of S&P. "Coal inventory at (Indian) thermal plants will improve only gradually by next March," the firm added. The situation is potentially dire because of India's dependence on coal: it accounts for some 70 percent of the country's total electricity output. Power utilities, in their turn, account for about 75 percent of India's coal consumption. As prices continue up, some expect India to face further shortages that might lead to power rationing. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: The worlds largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, will ship additional volumes of crude to at least three refiners in Asia in November, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Saudi Arabias state oil giant Aramco will also deliver the full volumes under the contracts to four other Asian refiners, Reuters sources say. Some of the Asian buyers asked for full or incremental supply on top of the contractual volumes because of attractive prices for November, the sources added. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia cut its official selling prices (OSPs) for its key Asian market for November. This was a second cut for Saudi prices in two consecutive months, after the price rise spurred by the OPEC+ decision to stick to monthly additions of 400,000 bpd in total rather than boosting output more to cap international prices. The Saudi cut amid tight OPEC+ supply signaled that the worlds top oil exporter was keen to keep its prices on the Asian market competitive. In the summer, when Saudi Aramco was raising the price of its crude to its most important market, Asian refiners started turning to cheaper spot supply of cargoes from the Americas. Another Middle Eastern oil exporter and an OPEC member, Kuwait, is also set to ship additional volumes on top of the contractual supply, sources told Reuters. Last week, Saudi Aramcos chief executive Amin Nasser said at the Energy Intelligence Forum that the natural gas crunch had increased global oil demand by 500,000 bpd. Some utilities in Asia are switching from gas to oil, as Asia has more flexibility in burning oil at power plants than Europe, where steep carbon regulations limit European utilities from burning oil, Rystad Energy at the end of September. If the gap between LNG and oil prices remains wide, Asia is set to boost oil demand by 400,000 barrels per day on average over the next two quarters, Rystad Energy said in a report. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Russian equities and its currency are winning the race for attracting investors in emerging markets after the Evergrande debacle in China, as soaring energy prices are raising the bullish prospects for Russias economy and markets. So far in October, the Russian ruble has gained the most among all currencies of emerging-market economies, estimates from Bloomberg showed on Monday. Portfolio managers have recently moved some investment from China into the Russian equity and forex markets, expecting gains for energy companies and the Russian currency as prices of Russias largest exportsenergy commoditiesrally. For example, during the third quarter, London-based hedge fund Carrhae Capital has moved some of its investment away from tech shares in China to energy companies in Russia, Bloomberg notes. Energy prices will remain elevated and companies in commodity-exporting nations will be beneficiaries of the global tightness in the supply of power-related commodities, Ali Akay, chief investment officer at Carrhae Capital, told Bloomberg. Since the global energy crunch started in early September, the Russian ruble has been the key beneficiary of surging oil and gas prices as it is closely linked with the main exports of Russiaenergy. The ruble is further expected to strengthen despite a higher risk of more U.S. sanctions against Russia, analysts say. The main factor is the rise in oil and gas prices, which should continue until the end of the year, and without talks about new sanctions, the ruble should be even higher, Iskander Lutsko, chief investment strategist at ITI Capital, told Bloomberg at the end of last month. As global energy prices rallied, the biggest winners in the forex market turned out to be the currencies of commodity-exporting countriesthe Norwegian crown, the Russian ruble, and the Chilean peso, Enrique Diaz-Alvarez, Chief Risk Officer at financial solutions provider Ebury, wrote in a market commentary last month. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: In 1910, Eugene B. Ely became the first aviator to take off from a ship as his Curtiss pusher rolled off a sloping platform on the deck of the Crime victims who want to find out where criminals are in the Nebraska corrections system now will access a state website instead of a private service. The Nebraska Crime Commission built the Nebraska Victims of Crime Alert Portal, or NEVCAP, a website that went online last week. The website allows a person to search for an inmate in custody anywhere in Nebraska. People also can subscribe to custody change alerts to be sent via email or text, in English or in Spanish. The state-run service is a change from the previous website, a national third-party service called VINE, which stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. In a press release, officials said people who already had signed up for criminal notifications on VINE will automatically have those subscriptions moved over to NEVCAP. No reregistering is necessary. The change was made official Thursday, although nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies across the state were listed Monday as still offline: Buffalo, Otoe, Platte, Saline, Sarpy, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Washington and York County Sheriffs Offices and the Dodge and Hall County Departments of Corrections. The COVID patient count at Lincolns Bryan Health, which had generally been in the 70s before dipping into the 60s late last week, shifted in mid-September from having a majority of patients from Lancaster County to having the larger share coming from outside the county. By Thursday, 39% of Bryans COVID patients were from Lancaster County and 61% were from greater Nebraska and beyond. The CDCs community profile report posted Thursday also indicates increased COVID hospital admissions in some rural spots in the state. However, such patterns are difficult to interpret given some COVID patients may be transferred outside of their communities for care. Some 55.2% of Nebraskas population is fully vaccinated, slightly below the U.S. rate of 56.4% and ranking 24th among states. The states rate trails the national number largely because of its low vaccination rate in rural areas. Nebraska administered 42,000 new shots last week, up from 27,000 the previous week and the most in a week since late June. Data was not readily available indicating how many of those shots were third vaccines or boosters. Certification programs for everyone at Lone Star Kingwood The new Lone Star College Kingwood presidents 30-minute talk to the Rotarians of Lake Houston ended up taking more than an hour. Dr. Melissa Gonzalez, now on the job at Kingwood for three months, lives in Fall Creek. She was peppered with questions and comments from Rotarians after she gave a quick update of the Kingwood campus. Much of Gonzalez talk centered on dual credit programs earned by students still in high school and the many certification programs that students can earn as soon as in four to eight weeks. She bragged on the three bachelors degrees that Lone Star offers: a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), a bachelor of applied technology in cybersecurity (BAT) and a bachelor of applied science in energy, manufacturing and trades management (BAS-EMTM). Education changed my life, Gonzalez said. I would not be who I am and where I am without my education. We need to give this education opportunity to everyone. Gonzalez then deep dove into the plethora of certification and fast-track programs offered at Lone Star such as automotive technology, biotechnology, computer programming, construction, corrosion technology, fire science technology, HVAC, logistics management, pharmacy technology, welding plus game design and simulation. Some of our potential students dont have two to four years to spend getting a degree, she said. They need to find a good paying job now and we can train them in a program often in four to eight weeks that will offer them good pay and benefits. Rotarian Pam McNair commented, Employers need to understand that they may not need to hire someone with a four-year degree. Good employees can have associate degrees or one of the certification programs. Rotarian Jess Fields Jr. commented on the individuals he knew who entered certification programs rather than a four-year college and were successful, career-wise and financially, in vocations such as welding and plumbing. Gonzalez also bragged on new construction underway or almost completed on the Kingwood campus. The new process technology center is a stand-alone campus located at Generation Park that provides hands-on experience and certification in process technology and instrumentation technology. A health professions center will house Kingwoods multiple health certification programs. Now under construction, the center will include virtual experiences so that students can experience realistic health care skills. Gonzalez described the Kingwood campus fire training facility and the Honors College, through which students develop projects and coursework on topics they are interested in or that will help them reach their career goals. In answer to a question about high school students attending college classes that offer certifications, Gonzalez said the local school districts are open to these programs. Because businesses need more workers, Gonzalez said that Lone Star finds itself providing more options for students to attend classes that lead to certification. If the community doesnt know what we are offering, that is on us, she said. We are going out to the community and letting them know we are here and what we provide. We do everything we can to make our students successful, Gonzalez said. We understand. Students need more than instruction. They need support. The Lake Houston Rotary will participate in two charity programs, according to President Katy Lemman. They will ring bells during the holiday season for the Salvation Army and their first project for 2022 will be spending a Saturday morning building beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace not-for-profit that builds beds for kids who dont have them. The Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area meets Wednesdays, 11:45 a.m., at the Lake Houston YMCA. The Summer Creek Satellite Club meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the second floor Board Room of Generation Park at 8:30 a.m. To learn more about the advantages of being a Rotarian, lharotary.com. Sarman outlines role of Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority By mid-to-late 2024, Kingwood residents and Lake Houston motorists who travel Northpark Drive can expect to drive on a safer, expanded and scenic Northpark Drive. That was not exactly a promise, more of a prediction, from Stan Sarman, chair of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 10 (TIRZ No. 10) and the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (LHRA), as he spoke to the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Sept. 29. Sarman and his six fellow members of TIRZ No. 10 are charged with upgrading and improving Northpark, which is one of just a couple of major thoroughfares through Kingwood. We thought we would have shovels in the ground earlier this year, but our problem is not with design but with acquisition of right of way, Sarman explained. It has been a long process to get the 25 parcels we need to begin. The authority has reached agreement on 11 of the parcels, seven are close to agreement and seven are in condemnation because those property owners are disputing the amount they would receive, according to Sarman. Sarman is a retired engineer who was employed by engineering firms that built Kingwoods original infrastructure, so he is familiar with the areas foundation. TIRZs are special zones governed by the Texas Tax Code and created by city councils to generate incentives for both development and redevelopment. TIRZ No. 10, one of 180 TIRZs found throughout Texas, was created in 1996 to replace several MUDs when Houston annexed Kingwood. The seven trustees are volunteers appointed by the Houston City Council. The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority consists of the same seven members of the TIRZ No. 10 board and was created to issue bonds that will fund the rebuilding of Northpark, according to Sarman. Sarman explained that the Northpark Drive Project was created because of the Kingwood Mobility Study commissioned by the TIRZ in 2015. It took two years to receive and tabulate the responses, Sarman said. We received more than 2,000 comments. That study is our marching orders. Two completed projects based on the results of the study were the intersection improvements on Kings Crossing and West Lake Houston Parkway and Northpark Drive at West Lake Houston Parkway. The trustees now have turned their full attention to Northpark, which is divided into two projects: - The Overpass Project from Interstate 69 to Russell Palmer Road which includes a six-lane, divided roadway with an overpass over the Union Pacific train tracks and Loop 494. It is funded from $15.4 million given by the city while the rest will be funded by bonds raised by the authority. Construction will take 30 months. - The Reconstruction Project from Russell Palmer Road to Woodland Hills also includes a six-lane, divided roadway, new bridges at the Kingwood diversion ditch and Bens Branch, and a pedestrian tunnel near Glade Valley Road. It is funded with Federal Highway Commission funds. Building the overpass over the train tracks and Loop 494 is a top priority, according to Sarman, because Union Pacific currently runs 28 trains a day through the area and is planning a parallel track that will create even more train traffic, Sarman explained. In addition to circumventing the train traffic, the new Northpark will serve as the only dedicated all-weather event evacuation route for Kingwood, Sarman added. The middle ditch down Northpark will go, he said, replaced by an eight-foot storm sewer. We are designing it for a 500-year flood plan. The road will be high and dry. During construction, Sarman assured Rotarians that two lanes each way will always be open. Businesses along Northpark will have temporary entries allowing them to continue business. Since TIRZ No. 10 has authority only for new construction, Kingwood Service Association will maintain all landscaping. View the landscaping, trees and water features by taking a virtual ride down the new Northpark Drive in a video simulation on the authoritys webpage. The page also gives an overview of the two projects, their budgets, fact sheets and the authoritys most recent board meeting minutes, lakehoustonracom. Martin voices consternation about Northpark Overpass land acquisition Chairman Stan Sarman opened the Sept. 23 meeting of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority and Tax Increment Zone No. 10 (TIRZ) by asking Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin if he had any remarks to make to the directors. Martin had plenty, beginning with a demand for an explanation. Where do we stand on the lawsuits on the land for condemnation, he asked, referring to the right of way land acquisitions needed to get construction started on the Northpark Drive Overpass Mobility Project. Sarman advised there are currently five parcels of land that are in different phases of condemnation and noted the phase each was in. Martin responded: In particular, the piece of land with Exxon: I want to know the last thing on that because I got the email on the absurd price, he said. Ralph De Leon, administrator for the authority, responded with the details. Landmark Industries owns several hundred stations in the Houston region, including the Exxon on Northpark Drive, just off Interstate 69. We had an offer of $1.1 million. They came back at $3.3 million, and the special commission awarded $4.5 million, he said and explained the authority has three weeks to file objections. We are planning to meet with you and Carol (Haddock, director of the city public works department) next week, De Leon said. Martin noted he wanted Haddock in the meeting because they needed to look at all options the city has in order to resolve the issue. It is absurd and I want the community to understand that when we go through this process, there is our price and their price, and then a commissioners court or whatever decides on a higher price. This is a company that owns a lot of these types of businesses in our area and I would say that our community has been very good to them from a business standpoint. We have had a good relationship, so I hope they look at this with the understanding that the community has been very good to this company and the city has been very good to this company allowing those businesses to prosper. This is taxpayer money that we are using to pay for the condemnation of the land to do this project and I hope they take all those things into consideration when we reach the final number, Martin said. He said he even wondered if the higher number provided by the commissioners was some kind of penalty for taking a tough stand to help our residents in Elm Grove with flooding issues. Martin said that if it were up to him and they, the company in question, come back with this absurd final number, it is time to find other options. I think we develop another path to go over them, around them, through them or whatever we need to do to get this [overpass] project done, Martin said and emphasized he does not think the situation is to that point yet, but he hopes the owners of the land involved can hear him. I hope that the folks that award this decision can hear me. Period. Exclamation point! Martin said. He said we are all trying to do this great project for the good and safety of the area and we have been working on it for far too long. This part of the process is what slows us down and when you get figures like this, now we are having to battle over the numbers and slow us down even more. We need to put shovels in the ground and get this going. Its all about safety. We got lucky with Ike. We got lucky that it did not do what it did to Louisiana where it sat and dumped. We all know what happens to Kingwood when a hurricane comes. We become an island and this road takes us into a new level of evacuation route, Martin said. As he prepared to leave the meeting to attend other obligations, he concluded his remarks: More importantly, we want to keep moving forward with a great working relationship of the gentlemen, gentle ladies and the company that owns many Exxons and many Shell stations with the nice logo that says TimeWise on it. We have been very good to them and they have been very good to us, so we like that relationship, Martin said. In other business, Justin Jenkins presented the final audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. There were no questions from the directors and they formally approved and adopted it. However, when the Friendswood Development representative, Brian Gibson, later presented his routine monthly status report, he raised a question about the designation of final payment for expenses paid for projects conducted during the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2021. We dont believe that it is final, he said and explained the company had just recently completed off-site projects and qualifying facility projects. They now know the final totals, so they dont believe the approved audit totals are actually final. He noted the difference was probably another $2.4 million over what has been paid. We need to find a way to get this resolved, Gibson said. In order for us to achieve what you have just described, it would require an amendment to your agreement, DeLeon said. DeLeon suggested this was an issue best served in a public forum and explained TIRZ is a public entity and is bound by the approved final audited numbers. He noted this kind of issue has been going on for several years. At this point, TIRZ lawyer Mark Arnold joined in the discussion and closed it off by stating the issue will demand legal resolution and will not be resolved in this meeting. You can have your lawyer contact us; that is perfectly fine. You need to send us a legal letter with your legal analysis of the contract. That is what you guys need to do or not do at this point in order to preserve any good will you have with TIRZ. Thank you, Arnold said. Humble thanks community for Hurricane Ida support, appoints community positions City council members met Sept. 23 to thank and recognize citizens and city officials for their time, money and contributions to the Hurricane Ida needs recently delivered to the Grand Isle area in Louisiana. Mayor Norman Funderburk stated, I had the distinct pleasure of riding along with City Manager Jason Stuebe as he delivered the items collected Sept. 17 and 18 as a part of the Hurricane Ida Relief Fund collection at the civic center. A large quantity of items were collected, such as extension cords, cleaning products, storage containers, box fans and more. Stuebe added, The devastation left behind by Hurricane Ida to Golden Meadow in the Lafourche Parish was insurmountable. This is a small-sized area and the damage was unfathomable. The impact to the surrounding areas was second only to the damage left from the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. This area took a direct hit which left many evacuees in desperate need of help. Citizens, officials and local organizations, such as Cynthia Calvert of the Tribune, as well as others too many to name, stepped up to the plate to give back, Funderburk said. The council appointed personnel to various community positions. Council member Charles Cunningham was appointed as representative to the general assembly of the Houston-Galveston Area Council for 2022. Aimee Phillips was appointed as a civil rights officer to Community Development and Revitalization, Texas General Land Office, with Missy Miller as alternate. Mark Arnold was appointed as Community Development and Revitalization, Texas General Land Office, labor standards officer, with Aimee Phillips as alternate. He was also appointed as Community Development and Revitalization, Texas General Land Office, Section 3 coordinator. Funderburk said, I want to thank City Secretary Jenny Page for her service to the Humble community. Tonight is her last council meeting and we are grateful for her time with us and excited to hear of her retirement journeys. To close the meeting, Council member Charles Cunningham gave community announcements and thanked the people of Humble A special thanks to all who helped decorate the streets of Humble with the festive scarecrows, he said. NORMAL Comfortable fall weather on Sunday lifted spirits of merchants and attendees alike at the Sugar Creek Arts Festival in uptown Normal. This year's event which featured around 100 artist vendors and several live music performances was moved from July to October because of COVID-19 case numbers, according to McLean County Arts Center Executive Director Doug Johnson. He noted they scheduled the event between Illinois State University Family Weekend and homecoming. "So it's turned out actually wonderfully," Johnson said. "This is the first time I've had artists that have come to me late Saturday afternoon and say, 'I can't be here tomorrow because I've sold everything I have.' "That's been just phenomenal." Johnson said they're looking at the possibility of keeping the festival in October and have discussed that with Mayor Chris Koos. Johnson said Saturday's crowds were as big as any other year. He also said artists are loving the "fantastic" traffic. "A lot of these artists, this is their primary gig," he said. "Some of them have been making work for 18 months and this is their first venue." Champaign's Lisa Kesler won the festival's Best in Show Award. She told The Pantagraph she splits her time between painting and printmaking. "With both of them, I use a lot of color, a lot of graphic shapes, a lot of repeating patterns," Kesler said. She also spends her time at the festival working on carving designs onto linoleum print blocks. "I carve away the areas I don't want to be printed," she said. "I like to bring this to shows to work on because it gives me something to do and then it also lets people see the process," Kesler continued. After browsing Kesler's wares, ISU sophomore Josalyn Service was sold. She told The Pantagraph her artwork is fantastic. "My roommate is an art major, so I've seen printmaking before," she said, "so I'm familiar with it and that is so impressive." Peoria's Richard Wehrs had sculpted busts for sale, which he said got a lot of lookers at the festival. Leona Smedley was one visitor who was drawn to his booth. "You just love looking at it," she said. Wehrs said his art is a "mix of cute and creepy, and they're just pure play for me." "I'm like a 63-year-old kid with cans of Play-Doh," Wehrs said. He's been working on his unique style of art for 35 years. Wehrs explained his art is made from earthenware clay that's fired in an electric kiln. "The colors are fired on in the second firing," he said. "They're called under-glazes they're formulated to not flux and melt like a glaze does, but it still fuses under the clay in the firing." "I took a lot of non-Western art history, and pre-Columbian, African and Oceania," he said. "I have been inspired by the artwork of many cultures. "I try not to be directly referential, but there's no question that those thousands of images I've seen are in my head somewhere." Wehrs said he was very pleased with the festival, and he's impressed by how it's been run. "It's just so thoughtfully done," he said. Su Ge, of Bloomington, had her traditional Chinese brush paintings on display at the festival Sunday. She said they mainly use ink and watercolors on xuan paper, which is also called rice paper. She said in this art style, she'd include inscriptions of who painted it, when it was painted, and sometimes a poem, along with the traditional artist's seal. Ge said at the festival, she can see when some paintings get more attention than others. "I think it's a very good way for artists to see the reaction of people," Ge said of the event, "and I really appreciate it, because it's a good way to communicate with them, and they will ask questions." "It is very nice, and lots of people come by and the weather is perfect," she said. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. FUNKS GROVE French philosopher and author Albert Camus called autumn a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Its an apt description when the woods are filled with leaves of red, orange, yellow and purple. Trees in Central Illinois are just starting to change into their autumn finery, and its too soon to know if we will get a beautiful bouquet of colorful fall trees or the leaves will quickly turn brown and fall down. The weather plays into that a little bit, explained Mariah Myers, an environmental educator at Sugar Grove Nature Center near Funks Grove. We have to have some nice sunny days mixed with the cool evenings in order for that color to really come out. The element of surprise is part of the fun. Being surrounded by colorful trees is an incredible experience, but so is seeing one blazing orange tree amid others of muted colors of tan, brown and pale yellow. For updates from across the state, check the Fall Color Report at enjoyillinois.com. The trees arent the only things providing fall colors. You may find deep yellow goldenrod and purple asters still blooming in the prairie or orange monarch or yellow clouded sulphur butterflies. Just being outside in fall is its own reward. Leah Thompson of Bloomington was at Sugar Grove Nature Center on a recent overcast day with her children. We just really like to be outside, she said. We like the cooler weather. We like to go on the trails and see the changing colors. The Bloomington-Normal area has some great places to go leaf-peeping. You dont even have to leave town. Take a walk or ride a bike on Constitution Trail or visit one of the many Twin City parks, such as Bloomingtons Ewing Park or Normals Maxwell Park. Comlara Park Located northwest of Hudson, McLean Countys Comlara Park has numerous hiking trails (a few are currently closed for archery deer hunting). You can double your pleasure by viewing the trees reflected in Evergreen Lake. Great colors can often be found at Many Pines Cove, off Ropp Road on the parks west side, where sweet gum trees mingle with evergreens. Sweet gums, whose leaves turn into a variety of colors, also line the roads around the park, making this a good drive, too. The park is celebrating Fall Colors Family Day from 1 to 9 p.m. Oct. 16. Activities include hayrack rides and games as well as marshmallow and wiener roasts. Funks Grove The same maple trees that provide sap for Funks Groves famous maple sirup also provide a wonderful golden glow when in full fall display. Take the trail to the Chapel in the Trees near the Funks Grove Church, 7054 E. 535 North Road, McLean, or one of the trails from the Sugar Grove Nature Center. My absolute favorite part is the drive in when you hit the tunnel of trees, said Myers. Theres also a short loop trail in Imagination Grove thats good for those with small children along, she said. Merwin Preserve The ParkLands Foundation has several preserves worth exploring in McLean and Woodford counties. You can learn more about them at parklandsfoundation.org. One of the most popular spots is the Merwin Preserve, 25777 N. 1925 East Road, Lexington, about 2 miles from Lake Bloomington. The Mackinaw River runs through the preserve and its trails give you a birds eye view from a bluff as well as at river level. These trails have a lot of ups and downs, so trekking poles can be helpful. Moraine View State Park Another place good for both driving and hiking is Moraine View State Park near LeRoy. The trees reflect nicely in Dawson Lake. Kayak rentals are available through Oct. 17. Call 866-724-6398 for more information. The Tall Timber Trail, which has backpacking tent sites, is a good place to hike surrounded by tall trees, as its name implies. For those seeking a shorter, more level trail, try Timber Point Trail, which also takes you along the lake. Starved Rock State Park About an hours drive north of Bloomington-Normal are Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks near Utica. Both can be very crowded on weekends, so get there early or try a weekday. You can experience the sweet citrus smell of sassafras leaves crushed underfoot, expansive views of the Illinois River Valley from overlooks at Starved Rock and a variety of colors in the woods. Ottawa and Kaskaskia canyons on the east end of the park can be a little less crowded. The view of the woods looking out from the back of Council Overhang is one of my favorites. Fall Colors Weekend is Oct. 16-17. The park offers free guided hikes, but advance registration is required. Go to http:/starvedrockstatepark_programs.eventbrite.com. Starved Rock Lodge offers guided river cruises, some combined with meals or hikes. Prices range from $25 to $45. Check out starvedrocklodge.com/activities/water-cruise. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Local Rotarians receive award BLOOMINGTON The Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Rotary was recognized and took home several awards at the annual Rotary District 6490 Awards, presented at the district's annual conference on Sept. 25 in Decatur. Former District 6490 Governor Julie Dobski was honored with the Hall of Honor award. Elizabeth Palma, president of the Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Rotary family satellite club, was named Rotarian of the Year. The Sunrise Rotary was also awarded the Vocational Service Award and received an honorable mention for international and club service. Another former District Governor, Michael Step, presented the 2020-21 Rotarian awards for Rotary District 6490. The district conference ended with an award ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of members and clubs throughout the district. Rotary District 6490 includes 46 clubs in east, central and southern Illinois, from Dwight to Vandalia, with more than 1,700 members. The mission of Rotary is to "provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders." Visit BNSunriseRotary.org to learn more about the Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Rotary. Submit items to newsroom@pantagraph.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON State law enforcement officials told The Pantagraph on Sunday that DNA backlogs did not slow down confirmation of the body found in the Illinois River last month as Jelani Day. In a statement to The Pantagraph, Illinois State Police Chief Public Information Officer Beth Hundsdorfer said the delay in identifying Day's body was "not related at all to any backlog." Hundsdorfer did not respond Sunday when asked what did cause the delay. A body was found deceased Sept. 4 in the Illinois River, just east of the Illinois Route 251 bridge in Peru. Investigators identified the body as Day's 19 days later. The Pantagraph published an article Sunday that examined the current backlog on DNA tests performed by ISP's Division of Forensic Services, and the impact it may have had on the investigation into Day's death. ISP representatives previously told The Pantagraph they could not comment on the case since it's an open investigation, and that "all cases are a priority." ISP Sgt. Joey Watson said Sept. 30 that cases are prioritized in laboratories by considering whether it's a violent crime or a property crime, if it has an upcoming court date, or whether the requesting agency has asked for rushed processing, in addition to other information provided by police or prosecutors. "There are a number of mechanisms that laboratories use to ensure an agency's requests are considered and ISP strives to meet these needs through practices such as the use of overtime, outsourcing analysis to an external laboratory, and transferring cases to other ISP labs for assistance," Watson said. LaSalle County Coroner Richard Ploch said Oct. 6 that the samples sent to ISP forensic labs were expedited from the very beginning. He also said a bone sample was collected from Day's body on Sept. 5 and was submitted that same day to state investigators. Memorial services for Day were held Saturday in Danville. The Justice for Jelani Day Facebook page on Sunday stated graveside services originally scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday have been postponed. A new time and date for burial services are to be determined. Balloons were released Friday in memory of Day on the Illinois & Michigan Canal Dock Trail in LaSalle. Day's mother, Carmen Bolden Day, said at that vigil that police departments in Bloomington, LaSalle and Peru, along with the LaSalle County Sheriff's Office, need to "do their jobs" and find out what happened to her son. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHICAGO One person died and four others were injured in a drive-by shooting early Sunday on Chicago's North Side, according to police. Officers were called around 3:45 a.m. for a report of shots fired by someone in a dark-color vehicle in the city's Wicker Park neighborhood. A 32-year-old man suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest and was later pronounced dead at a Chicago hospital. Those injured included a 30-year-old man, 22-year-old woman and two 25-year-old women. No arrests have been made. Authorities said the shooting remained under investigation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The city of Effingham has agreed to receive assistance from the Illinois Fire Chiefs' Association in finding its next fire chief. The city council voted unanimously this week to accept a proposal from the IFCA's Assessment and Consulting Services to help with promoting the fire chief vacancy across the state. IFCA will craft an ad to be placed in a variety of different spots, from IFCA's website and Facebook page to the daily dispatch of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Great Lakes Division. The ad will also be posted on forums for female, African-American and Hispanic firefighters, in addition to a posting for 30 days on the Illinois Municipal League's website. In addition, IFCA will also review resumes and provide a list of their preferred candidates. The city will pay $6,620 to IFCA for its services. City Administrator Steve Miller said that the city has been unable to find the right candidate for the job, although they have been close on a few occasions. He said that a variety of reasons have prevented Effingham from finding a new, permanent fire chief. "We came close on a couple of candidates, but we were unable to get to the finish line for one reason or another," Miller said. "We're going to go back to the IFCA and ask them to help us do the search and see if there is another, larger pool that we can pull from." That larger pool could include a more diverse field than what they originally pulled from, with the notices being sent out to women and minorities. Miller feels that they are taking a closer look at candidates that may have been overlooked in the first hiring attempt. "It's a little bit of a deeper dive into the bigger pool (of candidates)," Miller said. "We felt that we got the word out pretty good (the first time). We've interviewed candidates but we didn't hire that person for a variety of reasons. We had a good selection of candidates, (but) we just feel that after going through the process with the pool that we had, we just need to regroup." The goal is to find the kind of candidate that fits a community like Effingham and Miller believes that finding someone that fits with the goals of the fire department is essential in this search. "We need an individual that is like-minded with our community, that they understand the types of calls that we're taking and fits in with the community," Miller said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DANVILLE The hundreds of people who attended Saturday's celebration of life for 25-year-old Jelani Jesse Javontae Day were a testament to how beloved the aspiring doctor and his family are in the community. The four-hour-long service was held in the auditorium of Danville High School, where Day graduated in 2014. He would continue on with his education, graduating in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in communicative sciences and disorders from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama, and was pursuing a master's degree in speech language pathology at Illinois State University in Normal. His goal was to earn a doctorate. Many college friends and associates called Day an inspiration to others on campus. To honor his memory, representatives from the National Alumni Association of Alabama A&M University, 100 Black Men of Greater Huntsville, Black Speech-Language Pathology Association, and Omega Psi Phi fraternity and the House Arrest 2 dance team, both of which Day was a member at A&M, presented Day's family with resolutions and declarations. There were uplifting moments during the homegoing service with gospel songs sung by a celebration choir, comforting words spoken by several ministers, and stories from family and friends that illustrated Day's caring nature and sense of humor. "Jelani is missed and cared about. He was smart, kind, compassionate and loved his family," Day's mother, Carmen Bolden Day, said. "Jelani made peace and he accepted God, and I know he's in heaven." "Thank you, God, for him," Day's grandmother, Gloria Bolden, said. "He took care of his dad and then he would come over and take out my trash. "I'm honored to be his grandmother," she said. "We never hung up the phone without saying 'I love you.'" One poignant story was told by Paul DeArmond, a childhood classmate of Day's since kindergarten. "He was always nice to me. He went to college to help people like me," DeArmond said. "He wanted to become a speech therapist because of me." DeArmond shared that Day came to him in a dream last week and that Day smiled at him, which comforted him. "I'll always remember what a good friend he was to me," DeArmond said. "He will always be in my heart." Bolden Day explained, "People teased Paul in school, and Jelani stood up for him. Jelani loved him." During the service, family members and friends also expressed sadness and determination to find the truth behind Day's mysterious death. Day went missing Aug. 24 after he was seen on video surveillance that morning at the ISU student center and then, about an hour and a half later, at a business in Bloomington. His car was discovered in a wooded area of a park in Peru, Ill., on Aug. 26, and his body was discovered along the Illinois River on Sept. 4. A month after Day went missing, the LaSalle County Coroner's Office finally identified the body as Day's. Bolden Day thanked God for her five children, adding "they are the best part of me." Jelani was her fourth child and youngest son. "He was the loudest, and he would argue with you up and down," she said. Day's skillful debating and role as a protector for his siblings and cousins were characteristics many family members mentioned during the service. "Jelani was my protector, but Jelani made me tough, Jelani made me strong because he said he might not always be around," his younger sister, Zena Day, said tearfully. "I want to say thank you to Jelani for being a great brother and for making me laugh the hardest." Cousin Emani Davis called Day "a big brother and protector all in one." After telling a story about how Day would find older sister Dacara Bolden's journals and diaries no matter where she hid them, Bolden read aloud her journal entry from the night before in which she said she missed her brother's bear hugs and Facetime calls. "I feel lost, heartbroken, and that I have failed you," Bolden said. "You always wanted to protect me, but I always wanted to protect you, and I'm so sorry this one time I couldn't." Day's older brother Seve said, "He was confident in himself everywhere he went, and that's why everyone loved him." Because of that self-confidence, Day's mother denounced any notion that her son would take his own life. "My son fought until the end," she said. "He would have never allowed anyone to do anything to him without putting up a fight. "My son would never do anything to himself," Bolden Day said. "He would have never driven himself 60 miles, hid his car in the woods and taken the license plates off. "He would never go to a river he didn't know and take his clothes off," she said. "No one's going to jump in the water if you know how to swim which he did to end your life. "Whoever you are that did this, I want you to know your time will come," she vowed. That sentiment was echoed by many family members and friends. "God sees you and He knows," said Day's aunt, Terri Davis, adding a warning about her sister, Carmen, "You don't know who you're messing with. She's a fighter, and she will not let this go." "For those who did this, this is far from over," Emone Davis said. "We are seeking justice for my cousin." "We may not know exactly what happened, but we have ideas," Seve Day said. "But whoever did this to my little brother, I swear to God I'm coming for you. "Pray for my family," he added. "Pray for us as we go down this journey." Bolden Day called upon everyone to help and pray for her family as they demand justice for her son. "We need all of you to help," she said. "After today, the struggle continues." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Member of Parliament(MP) for South Dayi constituency in the Volta Region, Hon. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor says there is the need for Parliament to come up with a substantive Act of Parliament to address the lacuna in the provision of unnatural carnal knowledge in the Criminal Offenses Act in the 1992 Constitution. According to him, the existing law that criminalises homosexuality or unnatural carnal knowledge has created room for the prosecution to be difficult as the current provision means that the perpetrators must be caught in the act before it can be proven that they are engaging in unnatural carnal knowledge as enshrined in the Criminal Offenses Act. We have realised that there is a lacuna in the existing law that prevents unnatural carnal knowledge. The existing law makes it difficult to punish people who are engaging in unnatural carnal knowledge because the law is such that you have to catch them in the act with a photograph or video to prove the act, he noted. Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Hon. Dafeamekpor indicated that the existing law is such that it is difficult to prove that homosexuals who are in a conference to promote the activities of lesbians and gays are engaging in an act that is termed as unnatural carnal knowledge. "But we know that in criminal law when you are dealing with offences, we have what we call equate offences which means that when two or three people meet to conspire to commit a crime, that is also against the law and that is why we normally hear conspiracy and abetment in the prosecution. It means that maybe the person was not in the act but he was part of the people who plotted to commit the crime," he explained. " . . those people can be charged with abetment or conspiracy to go and engage in activities leading to unnatural carnal knowledge and that is why we have realised that there is a lacuna in the existing law and so we have to come up with a substantive Act of parliament in order to explain these things and then we can proscribe the entire activities, he stressed. He feared that there are some NGOs in the country that are hiding behind public advocacy to promote the activities of homosexuality in schools to indoctrinate children into accepting lesbianism and gay as a way of life. If we dont pay attention to such activities, it will be very deadly; they will pollute our children and by the time they attain majority, the whole country is gone. They know that those of us at the top are matured enough to resist their doctrine and so they are polluting from the ground up, he cautioned. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has dismissed suggestions that he has indicted the Majority NPP Members of Parliament for their reported silence on the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill before Parliament. According to the renowned private legal practitioner, he only raised concerns about the fact that only one New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament, Hon. Rev Ntim Fordjuor, happens to be vocal about the issue. Ntim-Fordjour is the only MP from the Majority side among the eight (8) Members of Parliament behind the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill. It is not as if I am indicting the NPP MPs; God forbid. I dont know what some of the Journalists want to achieve with the way they write. I am saying that I support the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill but I am surprised that the MPs who presented the bill, the majority of them are NDC MPs and only one NPP MP in the group, Rev Hon. Ntim Fordjuor. This is all that I said. I never indicted the NPP MPs, he clarified. Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Nana Obiri Boahen made it clear that the fight against the activities of LGBTQ+ in the country has nothing to do with any political party as well as any religious denomination but the collective responsibility of every Ghanaian to resist the imposition of a foreign culture on the Ghanaian set-up. This fight against the activities of LGBTQ+ in this country has nothing to do with any political party; it is neither NPPs nor NDCs fight and it is also not a fight for the Christians or the Muslims. We as a country cannot entertain and tolerate gay and lesbianism in the Ghanaian set-up, he stated. He, however, was emphatic that gay and lesbianism cannot be either entertained or welcomed as well as legalised or recognised the activities of gay and lesbianism in this country since these activities are inconsistent with and in contravention with some provisions in the 1992 Constitution. What some of us are saying is very simple; gay and lesbianism cannot be entertained and welcomed in this country. We cannot legalise and recognise gay and lesbianism in this country; it can never happen. Every society has its likes and dislikes, provided it is inconsistent with and in contravention with some provisions in the constitution, he stressed. To him, in the way that a certain provision of the laws of UK, US, Canada and Germany promote monogamy and abhor bigamy, some provisions of the law in the country [Ghana] welcome bigamy; hence, making it wrong for any group of people or State to impose gay and lesbianism on Ghanaian setup that abhors LGBTQ+. . . if someone comes to impose a certain culture on us as Ghanaians, it is wrong and we cannot accept it. It is not the matter for the NPP and NDC MPs and so I am not indicting any MP for not talking about the bill or not getting involved in the debate, he indicated. Watch video below Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says his culture does not support the activities of LGBTQ+. My upbring does not in any way support this kind of activities, he emphatically said in an interview on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie. Obiri's Indictment Hon Kyei-Mensah's stance, however, has somewhat offered some clarity on the position by the NPP caucus in Parliament after the partys deputy General Secretary Obiri Boahene raised concern about their seeming silence on the issue. Nana Obiri Boahen, earler last week, urged the MPs to declare their support or otherwise for the bill. I am surprised that I dont see a good number of the NPP MPs championing this cause, I am worried. No person should even encourage that we should not be talking about that, we should stop it. How do we discuss this even in the public domain, he told JoyNews in an interview. Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill A couple of months ago, some legislators presented a copy of the draft of the Bill to the Speaker of Parliament. This bill is seeking to expand on the current law that provides up to three years in prison for same-sex activity. The new bill when passed will prohibit and criminalize advocacy, funding and act of LGBTQ+ while promoting conversion therapy programs seeking to convert people from homosexuality to heterosexuality. However, the controversial anti-gay bill has already divided opinions in the Ghanaian public discourse. Academicians Oppose Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Some fifteen renowned legal, academic and civil society professionals have filled a memorandum challenging the anti-gay legislation submitted to Parliament saying it violates key fundamental freedoms under the constitution. In the memorandum, they contend that the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, which seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ and adjacent activities, is an impermissible invasion of the inviolability of human dignity. "The Bill violates virtually all the key fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, namely the right to freedom of speech and expression; the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and belief; the freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such in practice (which includes the freedom not to practice any religion); the right to assemble, including the freedom to take part in processions and demonstrations; the freedom of association and the right to organize- in essence, the fundamental human rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution," "In short, the provisions of the Bill are so egregious in their violation of the fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution that it beggars belief that it could be introduced as a Bill in the House of Parliament," the individuals stated in a memo. Religious & Traditional Groupings Back Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Some Christian leaders, on the other hand, have submitted a memorandum to Parliament on the Proper Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, endorsing the bill. The Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference have said they want homosexuality to be illegal in Ghana and described the practice as an abomination on the basis of scriptures in the Holy Bible. As a Church, we want this abominable practice made illegal in our country "....according to the Churchs understanding of human rights, the rights of homosexuals as persons do not include the right of a man to marry a man or of a woman to marry a woman. We should also point out that the European Court for Human Rights has ruled that same-sex marriages are not considered a human right, making it clear that homosexual partnerships do not in fact equal marriages between a man and a woman. The ruling was announced 9th June 2016 in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Who Wins? With the stage now set for what will be an intriguing "battle" of reasons for and against the anti-LGBTQ+, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu summed it perfectly in Monday's interview on NEAT FM, when he posited that despite his culture frowning on the LGBTQ+ activities lawfully, well debate on it in parliament. Listen to interview Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Stakeholders at a forum on mental health service delivery in the country have called for an increase in investment and public awareness of mental illness. They said that had become necessary following growing negative public perception of and myths and stigmatisation about mental illness, hence the need for the government, the public and civil society organisations to help address those challenges. The stakeholders made the call in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, as part of activities commemorating this year's World Mental Health Day yesterday. It was on the theme: "Mental health in an unequal world". According to statistics, 98 per cent of people with mental health conditions in the country do not have access to treatment, while the 1.4 per cent of the national budget allocated to mental health had been described as woefully inadequate. Also, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to claim lives and jobs and livelihood losses, has worsened mental health conditions in the country. The stakeholders said if mental illness was not given the needed attention, the situation would continue to increase, with related consequences on the socio-economic development of the country. Mental Health Day World Mental Health Day is commemorated on October 10, each year to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilise efforts to support the sector. The day was declared in 1992, and this year's commemoration is focused on issues that perpetuate inequality in mental health care in the midst of the global pandemic and the need for collective action from state and non-state actors, as well as individuals, to address such inequality to ensure that people enjoy good mental health. The forum was organised by Songtaba, a rights advocacy organisation, in partnership with the Ghana Somubi Dwumadie programme promoting womens mental health in Ghana, as part of a three-year project targeted at people with disability, including mental health, in northern Ghana. Speakers The speakers included the Northern Regional Mental Heath Coordinator (RMHC), Mr. Mumuni Fuseini, and a clinical psychologist and lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Rev. Dr. Rejoice Enyonam Hoedoafia. Both of them called for the full implementation of the Mental Health Act (846) that was passed in 2012 to help address the inequality that existed in the sector. Mr. Fuseini said the staff situation in the sector in the Northern, Savannah and North East regions had improved, with about 242 mental health workers, comprising 165 registered mental health nurses, 67 community mental health officers, five clinical psychiatric officers, two psychiatrists and three clinical psychologists. He, however, said the inadequate and erratic supply of psychotropic medications from the government remained a challenge, adding that majority of mental health conditions in the three regions of the north were seizure disorders (epilepsy). For her part, Dr. Hoedoafia said mental illness could be treated and, therefore, called on the public to support people with mental illness, which includes stress and depression. She also urged the public not to consider mental illness as a spiritual disease but help victims seek proper medical care. A communique signed and issued by the Executive Director of Songtaba, Hajia Lamnatu Adam, at the end of the forum, entreated the government to fulfill its promise to construct mental health hospitals in the middle and the northern belts of the country to improve access to mental health services. It further urged the government to constitute a Mental Health Authority board as a matter of urgency. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip has played down the observation that the anti-LGBTQ+ bill does not have the support of the majority caucus in Parliament. Annoh-Dompreh in social media post clarified the position of the majority, stressing that they are in support of the bill. He however explained that the bill needs some modifications as it is defective in its current state. Annoh-Dompreh explained that the shortcomings ought to be finetuned before approval is given the bill. Its unfortunate the LGBTQ bill is being politicised. As the majority caucus in Parliament, we agree in principle that legislation that protects Ghanaian values in all areas of life must be supported. However, the bill, as it is now, is defective, he tweeted on Saturday. He added, We need to fine-tune it to ensure that it maximises the protection of rights and freedoms in consonance with democratic principles as we have practised uninterrupted for over three decades. Annoh-Domprehs tweets have offered some clarity on the position by the NPP caucus in Parliament after the partys deputy General Secretary Obiri Boahene raised concern about their seeming silence on the issue. Nana Obiri Boahen in a JoyNews interview urged the MPs to declare their support or otherwise for the bill. I am surprised that I dont see a good number of the NPP MPs championing this cause, I am worried. No person should even encourage that we should not be talking about that, we should stop it. How do we discuss this even in the public domain, he added. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Director General for National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku has expressed regret at the assault on the Democrats Republic of Tanzania. According to him, the happenings at Tanzania are an affront to freedom and free expression. Sammi Awuku, on his facebook page, reiterated the need to uphold center right values as a key to deepening political participation, particularly for young people. Read the full statement below; Yesterday, I had the honour of addressing the Young Democrats Union of Africa Conference in Malawi. In my submission, I expressed my regret at the assault on democracy in Tanzania, which is essentially an affront to freedom and free expression. I reiterated the need to uphold center right values as a key to deepening political participation, particularly for young people. In this regard, I supported the call of Vice President H.E Dr. Bawumia, President Chakwera from Malawi, Prof. Mario Voight of the CDU in Germany and Hon. Peter Mac Manu who were all speakers at the Conference for the youth to not only participate in Politics and the discourse but also lead the discussion for the transformation of our Governance, Political and economic development. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, has dropped all charges against Bawku Central MP, Mr Mahama Ayariga, in connection with an alleged tax evasion over some purchase of vehicles. Mr Agyebeng filed a nolle prosequi at the Accra High Court Monday [October 11] morning to discontinue the case. He told the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaah Asare -Botwe, that after scrutinising the case and evidence on record, he realised that the case would not succeed. According to him, the case was likely to suffer a similar case against Mr Ayariga by the Special Prosecutor, which was thrown out by the Accra High Court after it upheld a submission of no case. In that particular case, Mr Ayariga was charged by the former Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu together with six others, including a former Municipal Chief Executive for Bawku, Hajia Hawa Ninchema, for allegedly engaging in procurement breaches over the purchase of an ambulance. Case against Ayariga Mr Ayariga was dragged to court by Mr Amidu, and accused of using public office for private benefit. According to the then Special Prosecutor, Mr Ayariga allegedly used his position as MP to evade taxes by paying GH6,062.86, instead of GH36,591.15, to clear some vehicles at the port. He was charged with four counts of fraudulent evasion of customs duties and taxes, using public office for private benefit, dealing in foreign exchange without licence and transfer of foreign exchange from Ghana through an unauthorised dealer. A second accused person, Kendrick Akwasi Marfo, a car dealer, was also charged with one count of fraudulent evasion of customs duties and taxes. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video " " A Thai woman leaves offerings of food and drink and prays at a downtown riverside shrine during Asanha Bucha Day, a public holiday in Thailand marking the day when Buddha delivered his first sermon. David Silverman/Getty Images The Western concept of karma usually means instant retribution for bad behavior. If you steal money from your elderly grandma to buy a new car and immediately get in a wreck, that's karma catching up with you. In Buddhism, karma is the universal law of "morally valenced" cause and effect [source: Jaffe]. Karma, in Sanskrit, means "action." Each of our actions, whether good or bad, carries a consequence. Some of the consequences of our actions are felt in this lifetime, although perhaps not as dramatically as the car example above. And other actions trigger consequences that, thanks to the continual cycle of death and rebirth, will ripple across lifetimes. Advertisement The Buddha understood karma not only as action, but the intention behind the action. Good or "skillful" actions are motivated by compassion, generosity, sympathy, kindness and wisdom, while bad or "unskillful" actions are driven by hatred, greed and delusion [source: BBC]. That's why there's such a strong emphasis in Buddhist teaching on mindfulness. Only by being fully aware of our motivations can we condition ourselves to act only on our best intentions and let negative thoughts simply pass by. The karmic effects of our actions fall into two categories: psychological and universal [source: Jones]. Since reincarnation or transmigration is often a difficult concept for modern man to grasp, Buddhists tend to focus on the psychological consequences of karma. Treating people with kindness and generosity has the effect of lifting our spirits, while acting out of greed and envy darkens our minds and mood. In that way, the law of karma can certainly impact us in the here and now. Traditionally, though, Buddhists understand karma as the universal law that determines the form that transmigration will take. It's our actions and decisions, not the divine judgment of a cosmic being, that determine where will be born among the six realms or planes of existence. While Buddhists don't believe in an eternal "soul" or "I" that continues from one like to the next, they do believe that our "patterns of mind" persist beyond death [source: Goldstein]. According to the rules of karma, you will be reborn in the plane that best matches your pattern of mind. Truly despicable intentions could land you in one of the lowest realms of suffering, while perfect mindfulness and compassion could qualify you for the heavenly planes, or at least being born into a wealthy family. The rest of us will be reborn as animals or imperfect humans trying our best to move up, or at least not down, the karmic ladder. " " Indigenous Peoples Day honors the history of the continent's original inhabitants as well as the living culture of modern Native Americans. Library of Congress/Getty Images Accused of crimes ranging from slave-trading to genocide of indigenous peoples, Christopher Columbus has lost favor with many Americans. In 1977, just five years after Columbus Day became a national holiday in the U.S., participants at the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas proposed Indigenous Peoples Day as a replacement. It took some years to catch on. In 1990, South Dakota became the first state to ditch Columbus Day for a holiday honoring Native Americans, and in 1992, the famously progressive city of Berkeley, California became the first to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in protest of the 500th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the New World. Advertisement Now, at least 14 states (plus Washington, D.C.) and more than 130 American cities have either dropped Columbus Day entirely or co-celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday in October. (Hawaii calls it Discoverers Day and honors the Polynesian discoverers of Hawaii.) In 2021, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day. It was the first time a U.S. president had commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day. But what is Indigenous Peoples Day exactly, and how can Americans both honor the troubled history of the continent's original inhabitants while celebrating the living culture and contributions of modern Native Americans? We spoke with Renee Gokey, an education specialist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., about the opportunity that Indigenous Peoples Day gives all Americans to not only take an honest look at Native American history, but also to celebrate today's diverse Native cultures through their art, literature, film and food. (Gokey is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and is also Shawnee, Sac and Fox Nation, and Myaamia from her paternal grandparents.) Here are some of her suggestions: Look for Histories That Includes Native Voices Growing up, many Americans learned about Native Americans only in history class. Starting with Columbus, history lessons in school typically took on a Eurocentric perspective of "discovery" and Manifest Destiny, not the violent colonization and forced removal experienced by Native peoples. One of Gokey's projects at the National Museum of the American Indian is Native Knowledge 360, an interactive educational resource for teachers and students that explores key moments in U.S. history from an indigenous perspective. For example, what does it mean to remove a people? Or were treaties meant to last forever? "Teaching more accurate and complete narratives that include these different perspectives is key to rethinking our history," says Gokey. "But we rarely hear Native perspectives in media, classrooms and books. The silences speak loudly and they really discount the incredible resilience and innovation of Native cultures." " " Helen Keller (L) in 1888 at age 8 with her tutor Anne Sullivan on vacation in Brewster, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Wikimedia Commons By the time Helen Keller arrived at the Perkins Institution in 1888, she already had begun a friendship with her teacher and tutor, "miracle worker" Anne Sullivan, that would last for almost 50 years. Together, they shattered society's expectations for what deaf, blind people can achieve. But when the young Helen first met Sullivan Helen was only 6 at the time, and Sullivan just 20 nothing came easily. The student was a handful, often physically attacking others, including her teacher. She had been deaf and blind (what's now known as deaf-blind, or deafblind) since an illness struck her at 19 months old. Her world was a dark and scary place. "We know that, when things did not go Helen's way, she would throw things, she would hit people," says Martha Majors, the education director of the deafblind program at the Perkins School for the Blind. "She didn't have a way to say, 'I want hot chocolate instead of tea,' or 'I don't want to do this activity.' So her first response was to be assertive in a negative way. We would call that low aggression." Soon, though, Helen and her teacher bonded. They remain, today, the preeminent example for deafblind learning and teaching. Advertisement How Helen Keller Learned to Communicate Sullivan, a valedictorian at Perkins, was dispatched to Helen's Alabama home by the school's director, Michael Anagnos. After patiently gaining Helen's trust, Sullivan began Helen's education using techniques practiced decades earlier by Samuel Gridley Howe, the first director of the Boston-area school. Howe had famously taught English to a young deafblind girl, Laura Bridgman, by labeling objects with raised letters, finally jumbling these letters and having Bridgman rearrange them to spell the object's name. " " Helen Keller with actress Patty Duke, who portrayed Keller in both the play and film "The Miracle Worker," in 1962. Wikimedia Commons Similarly, Sullivan "fingerspelled" into Helen's hand the name of separate objects. It wasn't until, famously, the teacher spelled "w-a-t-e-r" into Helen's hand, while running water over her hand that the connection between letters and words and objects was made, and the idea of language was revealed. It was just weeks after Sullivan had arrived in Alabama. From "The Story of My Life," by Keller and Sullivan: I did nothing but explore with my hands and learn the name of every object that I touched; and the more I handled things and learned their names and uses, the more joyous and confident grew my sense of kinship with the rest of the world. The two left Alabama for Perkins that winter and spent many subsequent winters at the school, where Helen, for the first time, communicated (through fingerspelling) with other children her age. As she got older, and with Sullivan constantly by her side, Keller learned other methods of communication, including Braille and a method known as Tadoma, in which hands on a person's face touching lips, throat, jaw and nose are used to feel vibrations and movements associated with speech. Keller, too, learned to speak, though it was one of the great sadnesses of her life that she was never able to speak as clearly as she would have liked. Advertisement How the Deafblind Communicate Today The Perkins School for the Blind is one of a handful of schools throughout the United States that offers a program for deafblind students. Perkins' deafblind program teaches students from ages 3-22, incorporating a philosophy of total communication basically, whatever is necessary to facilitate learning. The deafblind, it should be noted, are not necessarily totally deaf or totally blind. As the National Center on Deaf-Blindness explains, a child is considered deafblind when a combination of hearing loss and loss of sight causes "such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness." Educators who specialize in teaching the deafblind now might include sign language or visual aids for those students with some vision. Several different types of hearing aids, not available in Keller's time, can facilitate learning for students with some hearing. Fingerspelling on hands (often called tactile fingerspelling), tactile sign language, and Braille are still often used. (Tadoma is not utilized nearly as much today, Majors says, partially because it is such an invasive way of communication.) "The toolbox has changed quite dramatically," Majors says. "The population of children who are deafblind is dramatically different. Our job is to always change what we know to meet the communication needs of our children. "Because our children are very, very individualized, our children come with different levels of vision and hearing loss, and most of it is directly related to what happened to them at birth. If you are, sadly, an adult that has speech and hearing, and then you become incapacitated ... you learn very differently. You already know what things look like and you already know what things sound like. That's a very different model." Not every deafblind child learns the same, which makes the individualized attention highlighted by the student-teacher relationship so important. Not every student can be as successful at learning as Helen Keller, either. Still, as Keller showed and as educators around the world continue to prove, every willing student, with the help of a good educator, can learn. "Every single person who's deafblind can learn," Majors says. "It's our responsibility to figure out how to help them learn. And we must start with relationships and communication." Now That's Interesting A collaborative effort headed by the National Center on Deaf-Blindness found that about 10,000 children and youth are considered deafblind in the United States. According to the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Children and Adults, people aged 55 and over with combined hearing and vision loss make up the largest group of people who are deafblind in the U.S. At least 14 million people worldwide are deafblind, according to the World Federation of the Deafblind. Advertisement Originally Published: Jan 8, 2020 Chef Elizabeth Haigh. (PHOTO: YouTube screenshot) SINGAPORE - British publisher Bloomsbury has withdrawn the cookbook penned by former MasterChef UK contestant Elizabeth Haigh for sale, after Singaporean cookbook writer Sharon Wee accused her of plagiarism. Haigh, 33, is a Singapore-born chef who competed on MasterChef UK in 2011. She went on to become a relatively well-known figure in the London culinary scene, winning awards and accolades for Singaporean street food restaurant called Mei Mei in central London, hosted a BBC Radio 4 programme, and even won a Michelin star for her work at east London restaurant Pidgin. Earlier this year, she released her book "Makan: Recipes from the Heart of Singapore". Fifth-generation Nonya Sharon Wee wrote and published her book "Growing up in a Nonya kitchen" in 2012. She grew up in Singapore, worked in a global chocolate company in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai before settling down in New York to raise her family. The book started as a small photocopied binder for her family and evolved into a memoir that provides an insightful peek into the daily life of a Peranakan family heritage and culture from Wee's point of view and memories, as well as techniques and recipes from her mother and the other matriarchs in her family. Wee alleged that there were striking resemblances between the two titles specifically 15 recipes and anecdotes from her work. A post by Wandering Chopsticks on Facebook highlights some of the resemblances. For example, in the 2012 book, Wee writes: 'It faced many challenges along the way. It first started with converting her handwritten recipe measurements from katis to tahils (Old Chinese measurements) and learning the different daun (herbs) and rempah (spice pastes). Recipe testing in New York could be challenging. Shopping for ingredients necessary for our cuisine often entailed trekking down to Chinatown by subway...' Haigh's one reads: 'I faced many challenges along the way. It began with my having to translate hard-to-read handwritten notes, or convert measurements, and moved on to learning about the different daun (herbs) and rempah (spice pastes). Techniques aside, ingredients were hard to find, but thankfully I was just a bus ride away from Chinatown in central London.' Story continues Responding to the alleged plagiarism, Wee has released a statement via Facebook. We have reached out to Wee for comments. However, she is unable to disclose further details related to the matter due to legal reasons. Meanwhile, if you'd like to support a local writer, Wee's "Growing up in a Nonya kitchen" can be found on Kindle for the soft copy and Kinokuniya for the physical copy. Our editorial team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Prices were correct at the time of publication. Subscribe to Yahoo Singapore Telegram and visit Yahoo Shopping for first dibs on shopping deals Credit: CC0 Public Domain Amid a week of horror and heartbreak, outrage and demands for greater accountability, many Californians couldn't help but question all the other oil platforms that have rusted and churned for decades just a few miles offshore. Take Platform A, perhaps the most notorious rig of them all: On the morning of Jan. 28, 1969, this looming complex of metal off the Santa Barbara coast had ruptured the seafloor and boiled the sea black. Thousands of birds, drenched in oil, struggled to take flight. Sea otters flailed in the water. The spill became the "environmental shot heard round the world"galvanizing the nation and forever sealing California's distaste for offshore drilling. Now, more than 50 years later, memories may have faded but this platform has not. Platforms A, B and C, along with more than a dozen other rigs, continue to operateoften under questionable oversight and circumstances that would seem shocking to most. Experts and environmental advocates say this aging infrastructure will likely spark more disasters in the years aheadas oil companies face an uncertain future, are reluctant to invest in upgrades, and hand off assets to smaller and smaller companies. While industry officials reject this narrative, the damage unfolding from the Orange County spillthe cause of which has yet to be determinedis a harrowing reminder of what's at risk when our beaches become fouled with oil. "How is it that we have the 1969 oil spill and a major environmental revolution, and here we are in 2021 dealing with the same platforms and the same accidents?" said Maggie Hall, senior attorney for the Environmental Defense Center, a nonprofit environmental law firm that was created in response to the 1969 Santa Barbara spill. "Surely we've learned our lesson by now. ... Continuing to operate these antiquated platforms poses unacceptable risks to our marine environmentespecially at a time when we're in a climate crisis." As California increasingly transitions to cleaner energy, its remaining offshore oil derricks might seem like relics of a fossil fuel age whose days are numbered. Yet these oil rigs are unlikely to be capped and dismantled any time soon. Oil companies have an incentive to keep them operatingin part because the costs of decommissioning are so highor to offload them to smaller companies. "Off the coast of California, it's been interesting because there has been a push for all the small operators to take over," said David Valentine, a UC Santa Barbara scientist who led major research efforts into the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and 2015 Refugio spill. "So most of the big oil companies left California a long time ago because it is an inhospitable business environment for them ... and the situation or prognosis to me is even worse because [the smaller companies] don't have the deep pockets to deal with incidents or with decommissioning." With little financial or regulatory incentive to shut down these structures, this hodgepodge of lesser-known corporations now operating the majority of platforms and pipelines is seemingly dug-ineking out the last remaining oil and gas from wells that are past their prime. These antiquated platforms have continued operating in large part, many say, by a long-held framework that dates to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953: The law essentially allows offshore drilling leases, once granted, to continue in perpetuity so long as the drilling operations continue. "So basically it's a waiting game until the leases expire, and they don't expire until drilling production stops," Hall said. "And it doesn't have to be operating at a certain amount. The standard is just: The leases are continued as long as they are operating." Ben Oakley, manager of the California Coastal Region for Western States Petroleum Assn., pushed back on the notion that the age of platforms and infrastructure was problematic. Oakley compared California's decades-old platforms to the Golden Gate Bridge, which dates to 1933. "It's an old structure but it's maintained," Oakley said, arguing the lifespan of pipelines "is forever provided they are maintained properly and the [government] agencies are seeing to it that they are maintained." Oakley also pointed out that small owners are subject to the same oversight and rules as corporate giants. "The standards don't change," he said. According to a 2020 report contracted by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, it would cost more than $1.6 billion to decommission the 23 platforms in federal waterswhich includes capping the wells, dismantling the platforms and pipelines, and disposing of the waste. Overall, that's a 11.5% increase in cost from the bureau's 2016 estimate. These numbers may be an underestimate; Decommissioning Platform Holly, a rig constructed in 1966, is expected to cost $350 million. In the case of Platform A, which is operated by DCOR, LLCa small oil and gas company with headquarters in Oxnard and Dallasthe cost is estimated to be around $49.6 million. As for Ellythe platform associated with the recent spill and operated by Long Beach-based Beta Operating Co.that number is $34.4 million. According to experts, the brunt of decommissioning generally falls on the companies that originally built the structures; however, any updates, improvements or changes made to the original structure are covered by the operator. By way of example, Valentine noted that after the 2015 Refugio spillwhich was caused by a corroded pipeline off the Gaviota coastPlatform Holly, which was owned by the now-bankrupt oil company Venoco Inc., had to stop production. Because of the busted pipeline, which Venoco did not own, the company was unable to transport oil. "When the oil company couldn't start producing again, they just went belly up. They gave up," Valentine said. "They didn't sell their assets, they just handed it all over to the state of California and walked away." Chevron Corp., the original developer of the platform, ultimately bore the brunt of decommissioning costs. However, it noted in a 2018 consent motion filed with the U.S. Department of the Interior that the company's obligations did not pertain to wells drilled after April 1999, when the company sold the platform to Venoco. "Companies accrue decommissioning obligations when they drill a well, install a platform, pipeline or other facility," said Kristen Monsell, ocean legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Amplify Energy Corp., the owner of the Elly platform whose damaged pipeline was the source of the recent oil spill off Huntington Beach, is the type of small-scale operator many in California worry about. The Beta Fieldwhere Elly and the two other platforms owned by Amplify operatewas discovered by a consortium led by Shell Oil Co. in 1976, but pumping out of the vast deposit didn't begin until the infrastructure was completed in 1981. In 1997, a limited liability company called Aera Energy purchased the operation and later brought on a partner, Noble Energy, according to documents obtained by The Times. In 2007, Pacific Energy Resources purchased all rights to the pipeline and sold it to Rise Energy Beta and SP Beta Properties in 2009, with Rise Energy Beta taking over SP Beta Properties in 2015. Rise Energy Beta itself had been acquired by Memorial Production Partners in 2013. That company declared bankruptcy in 2017, emerging months later as Amplify Energy after eliminating $1.3 billion in debt through restructuring, according to a release from the company. Federal investigators have issued 125 noncompliance violations to Beta Operating, including two that resulted in fines due to injuries to workers. Valentine, who's a professor of geochemistry and microbiology at UC Santa Barbara, noted that the situation in California reminds him of the shallower waters off the Gulf of Mexicowhere hundreds of aged platforms remain. What's happening, he explained, is the major oil companies have moved out of California and the shallower nearshore waters in the Gulf, and into deeper waters where there are still giant reservoirs of oil to be discoveredand money to be made. "That's the way the big money in the industry is goingthey want those major discoveries that small companies are excluded from going after because the cost is so high to do the drilling in these deep environments," he said. "Really only the majors can afford it. And the payoff is huge for them. "So that's where you see a lot of the really bright and shiny platforms and infrastructureand newer technologies. And in places like the coast of California, what you see is the same infrastructure that was there 40 years agojust rustier." And the rust is showing. In just the last year, more than 200 suspected oil spills have been captured by satellites in the Gulf of Mexicoranging in size from roughly .01 to 190 square kilometersand more than a dozen in the Pacific and around 60 in the Atlantic, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration database. Juan Velasco, lead scientist for NOAA's Satellite and Information Service's oil spill monitoring desk, said he sees a lot of spills, for instance, around Texas and Louisiana, where "the oil infrastructure is a little older." He said there is clear link between the aging infrastructure and spill frequency, noting that even abandoned and capped wells are prone to leak as they age. "There might have been a company that went bankrupt in the past and left their structure in place that eventually ages and leaks. That's happened," he said. "They're sealed. But you know, in time, things rust and start to leak. Could be a well head, could be pipelines." It's a problem, said both Valentine and Richard Steiner, an Anchorage-based oil spill expert, that is only going to get worse. "As we make this transition to a low-carbon economy, the oil companies know this, so they are a little less motivated to reinvest in replacement of infrastructure and upgrades," said Steiner, a former professor of marine conservation at the University of Alaska. "We're a little afraid of them running to failure." Valentine agreed: "I think they see the handwriting on the wall and know it's all going to go away and they are going to cease to exist, so why spend a bunch of money they can give to their shareholders? So, yeah. It's going to be tough." Charles Lester, former executive director of the California Coastal Commission, said another danger of the old platforms changing hands is the state's ability to track who is responsible. "Who knows what kind of arrangements have been passed on to others?" said Lester, who now heads UC Santa Barbara's Ocean and Coastal Policy Center. "Partly the challenge is to now go look at these existing arrangements and find out who is responsible." For the companies that have remained in California, they haven't given up: In 2014, federal regulators quietly rubber-stamped at least 51 permits for offshore hydraulic fracturing and acidizing, a technique that involves pumping acid to lengthen the useful life of a well. The industry calls these less conventional methods of oil production "enhanced recovery" or "well stimulation techniques." "They're basically trying to get the last drop of oil out of these wells," said Hall, whose nonprofit organization is in the midst of a lawsuit challenging these permits. "If they're not allowed to do these newer risky practices, they wouldn't be able to operate for as long." Exxon Mobil Corp. and DCOR, LLCwhich operates on Platform A and many of the remaining platformshave intervened in that case. In declarations to the court, top company officials stated their need for these enhanced recovery methods to continue operations. "The ability to pursue permits to utilize Well Stimulation Techniques to improve potential productivity of the wells at these platforms is vital to DCOR's efforts to fully develop these investments," DCOR Manager Alan C. Templeton said in a 2017 court record. "An injunction would severely restrict DCOR's plans to develop its existing ... leases." Explore further Oil spills have marred the California coast and shaped its politics 2021 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Demonstrators in Montreal take part in the global climate strike on September 24, 2021. Energy exporter Canada on Monday promised tough action against methane, a major contributor to climate change, as momentum builds for an ambitious global deal in Glasgow next month. Twenty-four more nations pledged action against methane in a virtual meeting led by the United States and the European Union, which earlier announced a joint initiative on the potent gas. Canada will aim to reduce methane from its oil and gas sector by at least 75 percent by 2030 from 2012 levels, becoming the first country to back a goal by the International Energy Agency, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said. "A 75 percent target is an important goal, and we encourage other oil- and gas-producing nations to adopt it," he said. "As we like to say in Canada, we certainly get it." The methane promise is in line with promises by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he won a third term in elections last month. Wilkinson said the methane effort was part of Canada's overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45 percent by 2030 from 2005 levelsa target announced in April by Trudeau that is less ambitious than that of much of the developed world. Methane, emitted by oil and gas production and agriculture, spends less time in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but is far more potent and is seen as a key area where the world can take action. A joint initiative launched last month by the United States and European Union called for global methane reductions of 30 percent by 2030 from 2020 levels. At Monday's meeting, philanthropic institutionsincluding that of former New York mayor Mike Bloombergtogether promised $223 million to boost efforts on reducing methane. The COP26 summit in Glasgow aims to raise the global fight on climate change as evidence mounts that the world is off track, with the planet setting record temperatures and experiencing increasingly severe fires and storms. "It's clear that we're in a race against time. It is far, far, far more expensive to be dealing with the problems of the climate crisis over time than it is to deal with it now," said John Kerry, the US climate envoy. "Hopefully that all changes in the next weeks," he said, adding he was "encouraged" by recent promises. Explore further Canada to hasten efforts to reduce carbon footprint: report 2021 AFP Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new study by Charles Darwin University (CDU) academics explores the extent and impact of contract cheating in the global academic community during COVID-19. CDU Associate Professor in Education Dr. Jon Mason and Senior Business Law Lecturer Dr. Guzyal Hill have recently published their research into the scope and extent of contract cheating. Contract cheating can be defined as students paying for a third party to complete their assessments. The study results show contract cheating is an increasing challenge for the global academic community, especially during COVID-19, transitioning from ghost-writing to ghost-studying. Adopting a form of action research, one of the researchers went undercover as a student and sought a variety of web-based services from global contract cheating providers. The method allowed them to analyze some of the most popular providers and to identify the scope of contract cheating services made easily accessible to university students. For example, a Google search of the term 'assignment help' returns more than 300 million results in 2021. The researchers also aimed to alert lecturers and universities to the diversification and prominence of this dangerous practice on a global scale. Associate Professor Jon Mason said COVID-19 had exacerbated the problem as more students were tempted to cheat the online system while learning digitally. "COVID has led to a whole lot of new services made available to people. It has been a catalyst for so many changes in formal education, creating new experiences for teaching and learning online at universities and schools," Assoc Prof Mason said. "But it has also become a trigger for new players in the space. It's an open frontier and a new marketplace for contract cheating. We are interested in knowing what's happening in terms of online behavior and what the online environment allows to happen." Co-author and senior lecturer in business law, Dr. Hill, said there was no winner in contract cheating, a race to the bottom. "Once the students get into the profession, they cannot perform tasks because they missed out on learning the knowledge and skills, so the professional community is also suffering," Dr. Hill said. "There are also many cases where students who were promised a plagiarism-free assignment by ghost writers, but that did not deliver. They could not complain due to fear of being reported to the university. The purpose of our study is not to catch particular students, but to identify solutions to the issue." As Dr. Hill explains, the study suggests contract cheating is a global issue, and multi-level solutions involving academics, universities and the global community are required. "It's not a single university's fault or sole responsibility. Lecturers and academics often rely on plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin, but research finds there are smarter devices that can outsmart these tools," she said. "So there needs to be a model of collaboration to address this problem. We all have a responsibility to try to identify and help solve the issue." Explore further A new law to tackle contract cheating and Essay Mills? More information: Guzyal Hill et al, Contract cheating: an increasing challenge for global academic community arising from COVID-19, Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning (2021). Guzyal Hill et al, Contract cheating: an increasing challenge for global academic community arising from COVID-19,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s41039-021-00166-8 Credit: CC0 Public Domain The innovative Mires on the Moors project has made significant breakthroughs in the quest to identify where peatlands, found on the Moors across the United Kingdom's South West, have been damaged by drainage, peat cutting and burning. The long-term collaboration, underpinned by a series of high-profile research studies, has not only established what condition these peatlands are in, but also how they can be restored to function more naturally. The significant findings include demonstrating peatland restoration can bring substantial and meaningful changes, almost immediately, to increasing water storage. This, in turn, can bring positive changes to water quality and greenhouse gas losses to the atmosphereresulting in more carbon being locked up in peatlands. Crucially, the project has also shown that peatland restoration need not impact negatively on upland farming across the regiona significant outcome not just for the farmers directly, but also for water companies and society as a whole. The Mires on the Moors project is delivered in partnership with a range of organizations, including the University of Exeter, South West Water, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Historic England, Dartmoor National Park and Exmoor National Park. The findings of the collaborative project can be found in a special report. Professor Richard Brazier, Director, Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW), said, "The Mires on the Moors report is the culmination of a decade of research into the impacts of moorland restoration on the hugely important landscapes of Dartmoor and Exmoor. "As the report and the peer reviewed papers which underpin it demonstrate, restoring healthy functioning peatlands is critical in the fight against climate change, as healthy peatlands lock up carbon by forming more peat. They also release cleaner water, reducing treatment costs and less water in times of heavy rainfall, which reduces flood risk downstream. "The research has been made possible not only by funding from SWW, but also via support from a wide range of organizations, who have come together to demonstrate the positive environmental progress that can be made from genuine partnership working. "It has been a real highlight of the work to engage with so many people who understand the value of our natural resources and the importance of not just preventing further degradation, but actually enhancing our landscapes for future generations." Peatlands are a type of wetland that store more organic carbon than any other type of land ecosystem in the world. Due to waterlogged conditions, dead plant materials do not fully decay and carbon accumulates in peatlands over thousands of years. Therefore, natural peatlands help to cool the climate by capturing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and trapping carbon in soils. However, artificial drainage of peatlands for agriculture aerates the soil and enhances the decay of organic matter, rapidly releasing carbon into the atmosphere. This degraded state of UK peatlands has been recognized as a critical problem in the UK's bid to meet its targets of carbon storage and Greenhouse Gas Removal. The South West peatlands of Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor are potentially huge carbon stores, with equal potential to store water at times of heavy rainfall and release cleaner water during times of drought. The Mires on the Moors project, therefore, was launched to help understand the way in which these peatlands are structured, how they function and how they might respond to restoration practices. Highlighting the success of the project, more than 27 km of peatland have been restored following methods specifically developed for Exmoor and Dartmoor. Restoration of deeper peatlands increased the permanent deep-water storage in the soil and increased average water tables, while also significantly altered rainfall runoff regimes in restored catchments. In deeper peatlands, raised water tables significantly reduced respiration of the peat store and initially increased methane emissionsboth processes indicative of a return to more natural functioning in the longer term. Dr. David Smith, South West Water's Natural Resources Team Manager, said, "When Ofwat, the water industry regulator, agreed to South West Water undertaking catchment management on land it did not own back in 2009, they also asked that we measure and understand the benefits to water customers. This report begins to do just that, in the headwaters of the catchments where South West Water has invested over 4 million pounds in peatland restoration over the last 10 years. "The report sets out the impacts so far on water quality, flow and storage, greenhouse gases, biodiversity and farming. A really amazing achievement and one that validates our work to set up the monitoring program with the University of Exeter and Professor Brazier back in 2010." Explore further Substantial carbon dioxide emissions from northern peatlands drained for crop cultivation More information: The report on project findings is available as a PDF at The report on project findings is available as a PDF at www.exeter.ac.uk/media/univers oors_report_2020.pdf During the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991, large quantities of ash particles were ejected into the stratosphere. The eruption's impact on the climate lasted for years. Credit: Dave Harlow, USGS The more water is dissolved in the magma, the greater the risk that a volcano will explode. A new ETH study now shows that this simple rule is only partially true. Paradoxically, high water content significantly reduces the risk of explosion. Volcanologists have long been troubled by two questions: When exactly will a volcano erupt next? And how will that eruption unfold? Will the lava flow down the mountain as a viscous paste, or will the volcano explosively drive a cloud of ash kilometers up into the atmosphere? The first question of "when" can now be answered relatively precisely, explains Olivier Bachmann, Professor of Magmatic Petrology at ETH Zurich. He points to monitoring data from the Canary Island of La Palma, where the Cumbre Vieja volcano recently emitted a lava flow that poured down to the sea. Using seismic data, the experts were able to track the rise of the lava in real time, so to speak, and predict the eruption to within a few days. Unpredictable forces of nature The "how," on the other hand, is still a major headache for volcanologists. Volcanoes on islands such as La Palma or Hawaii are known to be unlikely to produce huge explosions. But this question is much more difficult to answer for the large volcanoes located along subduction zones, such as those found in the Andes, on the US West Coast, in Japan, Indonesia, or in Italy and Greece. This is because all these volcanoes can erupt in many different ways, with no way to predict which will occur. To better understand how a volcano erupts, in recent years many researchers have focused on what happens in the volcanic conduit. It has been known for some time that the dissolved gases in the magma, which then emerges as lava at the Earth's surface, are an important factor. If there are large quantities of dissolved gases in the magma, gas bubbles form in response to the decrease in pressure as the magma rises up through the conduit, similar to what happens in a shaken champagne bottle. These gas bubbles, if they cannot escape, then lead to an explosive eruption. In contrast, a magma containing little dissolved gas flows gently out of the conduit and is therefore much less dangerous for the surrounding area. What happens in the run-up? Bachmann and his postdoctoral researcher Razvan-Gabriel Popa have now focused on the magma chamber in a new study they recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience. In an extensive literature study, they analyzed data from 245 volcanic eruptions, reconstructing how hot the magma chamber was before the eruption, how many solid crystals there were in the melt and how high the dissolved water content was. This last factor is particularly important, because the dissolved water later forms the infamous gas bubbles during the magma's ascent, turning the volcano into a champagne bottle that was too quickly uncorked. The Nisyros volcano in the Aegean is one of those volcanoes that have erupted in very different ways over the last few tens of thousands of years. The striking caldera in the centre of the island was formed during a major eruption more than 50,000 years ago. Credit: R.G. Popa / ETH Zurich The data initially confirmed the existing doctrine: if the magma contains little water, the risk of an explosive eruption is low. The risk is also low if the magma already contains many crystals. This is because these ensure the formation of gas channels in the conduit through which the gas can easily escape, Bachmann explains. In the case of magma with few crystals and a water content of more than 3.5 percent, on the other hand, the risk of an explosive eruption is very highjust as the prevailing doctrine predicts. What surprised Bachmann and Popa, however, was that the picture changes again with high water content: if there is more than about 5.5 percent water in the magma, the risk of an explosive eruption drops markedly, even though many gas bubbles can certainly form as the lava rises. "So there's a clearly defined area of risk that we need to focus on," Bachmann explains. Gases as a buffer The two volcanologists explain their new finding by way of two effects, all related to the very high water content that causes gas bubbles to form not only in the conduit, but also down in the magma chamber. First, the many gas bubbles link up early on, at great depth, to form channels in the conduit, making it easier for the gas to escape. The gas can then leak into the atmosphere without any explosive effect. Second, the gas bubbles present in the magma chamber delay the eruption of the volcano and thus reduce the risk of an explosion. "Before a volcano erupts, hot magma rises from great depths and enters the subvolcanic chamber of the volcano, which is located 6 to 8 kilometers below the surface, and increases the pressure there," Popa explains. "As soon as the pressure in the magma chamber is high enough to crack the overlying rocks, an eruption occurs." If the molten rock in the magma chamber contains gas bubbles, these act as a buffer: they are compressed by the material rising from below, slowing the pressure buildup in the magma chamber. This delay gives the magma more time to absorb heat from below, such that the lava is hotter and thus less viscous when it finally erupts. This makes it easier for the gas in the conduit to escape from the magma without explosive side effects. COVID-19 as a stroke of luck These new findings make it theoretically possible to arrive at better forecasts for when to expect a dangerous explosion. The question is, how can scientists determine in advance the quantity of gas bubble in the magma chamber and the extent to which the magma has already crystallized? "We're currently discussing with geophysicists which methods could be used to best record these crucial parameters," Bachmann says. "I think the solution is to combine different metricsseismic, gravimetric, geoelectric and magnetic data, for example." To conclude, Bachmann mentions a side aspect of the new study: "If it weren't for the coronavirus crisis, we probably wouldn't have written this paper," he says with a grin. "When the first lockdown meant we suddenly couldn't go into the field or the lab, we had to rethink our research activities at short notice. So we took the time we now had on our hands and spent it going through the literature to verify an idea we'd already had based on our own measurement data. We probably wouldn't have done this time-consuming research under normal circumstances." Explore further Caldera collapse increases the size and duration of volcanic eruptions More information: Razvan-Gabriel Popa et al, Explosive or effusive style of volcanic eruption determined by magma storage conditions, Nature Geoscience (2021). Journal information: Nature Geoscience Razvan-Gabriel Popa et al, Explosive or effusive style of volcanic eruption determined by magma storage conditions,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-021-00827-9 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A massive prospective spill from a deserted oil tanker in the Red Sea could lead to catastrophic public health effects in war-torn Yemen and neighboring countries unless urgent action is taken, according to a study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The FSO Safer (pronounced with a short "a"), located approximately 5 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen, contains 1.1 million barrels of oilmore than four times the amount spilled in 1989 by the Exxon Valdez. Abandoned since 2015 due to the conflict in Yemen, the dilapidated vessel is increasingly likely to leak oil due to deterioration of its hull, or to catch fire through the buildup of volatile gases or through a direct attack. Currently, the Safer is under the control of the Houthis, an insurgent group of Islamists from northwestern Yemen. Despite the impending emergency, negotiations between the United Nations and the Houthis to inspect and repair the Safer have stalled indefinitely, and no long-term solutions, such as offloading the oil, have been publicly proposed. "Most people can easily imagine how a massive spill might affect the environment, but the effects on public health, especially in a region undergoing a humanitarian crisis like Yemen, are harder to grasp, so we modeled it," said Benjamin Huynh, a graduate student in biomedical informatics at Stanford. "Our hope is that by characterizing the public health threat the vessel poses, we can more accurately convey the urgency of the situation, and thus help push international parties to come to a solution." Their simulations revealed that air pollution from a full spill would increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations by 5.8% to 42%, depending on the duration of the spill and the presence of smoke from combustion. Cleanup workers and other individuals directly exposed to the oil could experience a 530% increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations due to inhalation of fine particulate matter. These potential health effects are likely underestimated, given that oil spills are known to cause neurological, hematological, dermatological and psychiatric symptoms, according to the researchers. "We knew of course that there would be some negative impacts of an oil spill, but were surprised by how many people would be impacted in the majority of our scenarios," said David Rehkopf, ScD, an associate professor of epidemiology and population health, and co-director of the Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences. "We hope that puts more pressure on the international community to offload the oil and prevent this disaster." A paper describing the study will be published online Oct. 11 in Nature Sustainability. Huynh is the lead author, and Rehkopf is the senior author. Port closures may jeopardize aid Major oil spills are known to have wide-ranging environmental and economic consequences. The looming danger that the Safer poses to the Red Sea's unique ecosystem has been documented, but until now, the immediate public health impacts of a prospective spill from the oil tanker had not been clear. The researchers modeled the Safer spilling oil under a variety of weather conditions, taking into account past wind patterns, currents, sea temperature, salinity and seasonal and daytime fluctuations in weather. Thousands of simulations covered a wide range of possible spill durations and trajectories, consistently pointing to catastrophic effects. Their estimates showed that it would take six to 10 days for the oil to reach Yemen's western coastline, impacting Yemen's ports within two weeks and the port of Aden, located outside the Red Sea, within three weeks. The spill and subsequent port closures could disrupt the delivery of critical supplies, exacerbating shortages from an ongoing sea and air blockade of the country. (The blockade is led by Saudi Arabia as part of its intervention in Yemen's civil war.) Clean water supply to millions of people would be threatened due to contamination of desalination plants. In addition, 8.4 million people might not receive food aid, and all of Yemen's Red Sea fisheries would be at risk. Approximately 38% of Yemen's fuel needs could be disrupted, causing fuel prices to spike. "Yemen is very fuel-dependent, so losing fuel means shutting down things like hospitals and water systems," Huynh said. "The main takeaway I want audiences to have is that this environmental disaster would also be a severe humanitarian disaster, and that a massive oil spill can substantially harm human health." Making the Safer safer Another dire prediction from the study is that cleanup attempts would likely be futile, even under extremely optimistic conditions. The model assumed that cleanup would begin immediately, combine burning and dispersants with a highly efficient skimmer, and occur under ideal weather conditions. The simulations revealed that a six-day cleanup effort would not be more effective than letting the oil simply evaporate. Either way, nearly 40% of the oil would remain floating in the water. "I hope audiences won't learn about this issue and see it as a foregone conclusion or something that we can reasonably address after it happens," Huynh said. "Our models show that cleanup efforts won't be very helpful. The only real solution is to get the oil off the vessel, and there's still time to do it." Other Stanford co-authors are Mathew Kiang, ScD, an instructor of epidemiology and population health; Elizabeth Chin, a graduate student in biomedical informatics; and Pascal Geldsetzer, MD, Ph.D., an assistant professor of primary care and population health. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley; Harvard University; Massachusetts General Hospital; the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation; Imperial College; the University of Toronto; Heidelberg University; and the University of California, San Francisco, also contributed to the study. More information: Benjamin Huynh, Public health impacts of an imminent Red Sea oil spill, Nature Sustainability (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00774-8 Journal information: Nature Sustainability Benjamin Huynh, Public health impacts of an imminent Red Sea oil spill,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00774-8 Esther Duflo, who won the economics prize in 2019, was only the second woman in history to be awarded the prize after Elinor Ostrom in 2009. The Nobel Economics Prize on Monday wraps up a Nobel season characterised by surprising picks, with a number of women in with a chance of scooping the traditionally male-dominated prize. Macroeconomics, health and labour markets are some of the favourite topics ahead of the announcement, according to experts interviewed by AFP. The final prize of the year, officially the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden's central bank) Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, will be announced at 11:45 am (0945 GMT). This Nobel season, only one woman has wonPhilippine journalist Maria Ressa who won the Peace Prize on Fridaywhile the economics prize has so far only been awarded to two women in history, Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019. American Anne Krueger, formerly the number two and briefly the managing director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as a former Vice President for Economics and Research at the World Bank, is one possible winner. At 87, she is also "getting older, which usually isn't a handicap when it comes to winning Nobel Prizes", Micael Dahlen, a professor in marketing at the Stockholm School of Economics, told AFP. Her compatriot Claudia Goldin, whose research has focused on inequality and the female labour force, is another favourite to become the third woman to receive the prize. Other potential female winners are fellow American Janet Currie, known for her work on the impact of government anti-poverty programmes on children, or Belgian labour economist Marianne Bertrand and American microeconomist Susan Athey, who was the first woman to win the prestigious John Bates Clark Medal in 2007. Hundreds of candidates However, as with any of the Nobels, accurately predicting the winner is a challenge as there is a plethora of economists for the committee to choose from. "There are around 250-300 serious candidates," Hubert Fromlet, an affiliated professor with the Linnaeus University in Sweden, wrote in a paper predicting potential winners. Given that the entire selection process, including nominations, has taken place during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dahlen said it would also be "very topical" to focus on an economist like Paul Slovic. Slovic is a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon who has looked into how people weigh risk, and introduced the concept of "psychic numbing", the indifference that can set in when people are confronted with an overwhelming calamity. It could also be time to shine a spotlight on the field of macroeconomics, especially given the economic fallout of the pandemic, and the historical zero-interest policies of central banks around the world even before Covid-19. For Dahlen, a frontrunner would be Roger W. Garrison. According to Clarivate, which maintains a list of potential Nobel Prize winners, other potential macroeconomists that could be honoured are Japan's Nobuhiro Kiyotaki and his at-times writing partner John Moore of the UK. In the context of financial crises, American Douglas Diamond has also been cited as a potential candidate. Another oft-mentioned economist believed to be in the running is Israeli-American Joshua Angrist, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who is an expert on labour economics and the economics of education and who has also made contributions to the field of econometrics, potentially together with Canadian labour economist David Card. 'False Nobel' French economists Olivier Blanchard, former chief economist at the IMF, and Thomas Piketty, who rose to prominence with his book "Capital in the Twenty-First Century," have also attracted attention. But given disagreements about Piketty's conclusions he would be a "controversial choice", according to Fromlet. Last year, the honour went to US economists Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson for their work on theories of auctions as well as inventing new auction formats. The economics prize was the only prize not among the original five set out by the will of Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896. It was instead created through a donation from the Swedish central bank in 1968, and detractors have thus dubbed it "a false Nobel". The prize will close the 2021 Nobel season, which so far has seen the peace prize awarded to Ressa, who is also a US citizen, and fellow journalist Dmitry Muratov of Russia. The literature prize was won by Tanzanian-born novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah. The medicine prize, which opened the week, went to US scientists David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for discoveries on receptors for temperature and touch. The chemistry prize went to Germany's Benjamin List and Scottish-American David MacMillan for their work on catalysts. For the first time, the physics prize went to two climate scientists, Japanese-American scientist Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann of Germany, with the second half of the prize going to Giorgio Parisi of Italy. Explore further Nobel panel to reveal 2021 prize for physics 2021 AFP Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In 2016, dozens of diplomatic staff at the U.S. and Canadian embassies in Havana began experiencing a sudden onset of health troubles with no apparent cause. They reported a variety of symptoms, including vertigo, nausea, vision and hearing difficulties, memory loss, and headaches. Many said they felt something pressing or vibrating around them or heard noises just before the symptoms appeared, leading some to suspect they had been exposed to a high-intensity burst of energy or sound waves. Known as Havana syndrome, today, there are at least 200 CIA, State Department, and Pentagon personnel stationed overseas who have been affected. (President Biden signed a bill on Friday providing financial help to victims.) Intelligence agencies have been unable to determine what's behind the incidents, although some officials believe they are the result of attacks by a U.S. adversary. Now, a recent flurry of high-ranking U.S. diplomats, spies, and security aides have been treated for Havana syndrome, possibly signaling an escalation of some sort, intelligence analysts say. "Perhaps this is a message sentthat nobody is immune to this," said former CIA senior operations officer Marc Polymeropoulos during a Harvard Kennedy School talk last week with Paul Kolbe, director of the Belfer Center's Intelligence Project, and Adam Entous, staff writer at The New Yorker, who started reporting on the topic in 2018. The most recent victims include a U.S. diplomat in Serbia who was evacuated by the CIA last month, according to a Wall Street Journal report, and an aide traveling with CIA Director William Burns in India who developed symptoms. In August, Vice President Kamala Harris' trip to Vietnam was delayed after two officials at the U.S. embassy in Hanoi became ill. The CIA replaced its Vienna station chief for failing to adequately respond to reports of Havana syndrome-like symptoms by two dozen intelligence officers and diplomats this summer. Police in Vienna are investigating the incidents. The cause of these illnesses has not been identified, but one theory is high-intensity microwaves may be to blame. Russia has a well-documented history dating back to Josef Stalin of using microwaves against the U.S. to disrupt intelligence operations. An assessment of Havana embassy victims by the National Academies of Science in 2020 said "directed, pulsed Radio Frequency energy" was the "most plausible" primary source of those injuries. Private companies sell weapons systems that use directed energy to knock out drones. "This is not newfound technology," said Polymeropoulos, a 26-year counterterrorism specialist who believes he was attacked during a trip to Russia in late 2017. "I think we know what it is." As the CIA's deputy chief of operations for Europe and Eurasia, he went to Moscow to meet with the U.S. ambassador and embassy officials, as well as his counterparts in Russian security services. Though the Russians were "not thrilled" to see him and he was surveilled and hassled by authorities, there had been nothing alarming about the trip to that point, said Polymeropoulos. Then one night, he woke up in his hotel room with vertigo-like symptoms. "The room was spinning. I had a blinding headache; I had ringing in my ears; I felt like I was going to be physically sick," said Polymeropoulos. "This was pretty alarming and frankly, a scary incident, because I'd lost control." Back in the U.S., he sought help for what he first thought were lingering effects of severe food poisoning. From neurologists to infectious disease specialists, none were able to offer a conclusive diagnosis, and his health grew worse throughout 2018. "I lost my long-distance vision. I couldn't drive. I could barely go to work. I was pretty incapacitated," he said. Victims say the U.S. government, which calls Havana syndrome a "possible anomalous health incident," has been slow to see a connection between those affected, to label the incidents as attacks, or to even acknowledge victims suffered from a physical illness. A 2018 FBI report on the Havana embassy victims declared their conditions psychologically-driven, most likely due to stress. That "undermined" the efforts of those stricken, including Polymeropoulos, to get U.S. intelligence to take seriously Havana syndrome and the national security threat it posed, said Entous. Still experiencing debilitating symptoms with no relief in sight, Polymeropoulos retired in 2019. Frustrated by the CIA's inaction, he took his story public last year. In January he was admitted to the traumatic brain injury program at Walter Reed National Intrepid Center of Excellence, where he was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia. Traumatic brain injury is now the most common diagnosis, said Polymeropoulos, who has spoken to many other victims. "Largely guessing' Though President Donald Trump publicly accused Cuba, "the suspicion right from the very beginning of the Trump administration was that the Russians or the Chinese were responsible," said Entous. "And that was based on who's got the technological capabilities, who's got the ability to project force in these parts of the world." Some Obama officials also believed Russia could be to blame. The Russians were very unhappy about the U.S. role in the Maidan Revolution in 2014 and other efforts to pull Ukraine closer to Europe. They also may have gotten wind of secret diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Cuba that had begun in spring 2013 and progressed well into 2014. President Barack Obama's speech during his historic visit to Cuba in March 2016 had been well received, perhaps further irritating the Russians, said Entous. But no one knew for sure. "American officials were largely guessing," said Entous. "I remember John Bolton, the national security adviser, was split 50/50 between China and Russia being the most likely culprit. When it happened in China [April 2018], he decided it must be Russia because he doubted the Chinese would do it in their own backyard. So that gives you a sense of the grasping-at-straws nature of this, rather than these assessments being based on concrete intelligence." Though not enough to establish "high confidence," there is circumstantial evidence that points to Russia. U.S. intelligence has cellphone data of Russian military intelligence officers who were in the vicinity of Americans at the same time they fell victim to Havana syndrome. Many of the officers have been part of other Russian operations, said Polymeropoulos. The attacks fit the Russian government's penchant for outlandish acts of aggression on foreign soil, including the 2006 poisoning in London of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian Federal Security Service officer, with a radioactive isotope; the 2018 attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England with a military nerve agent; and the 2019 shooting death of a Chechen separatist at a Berlin park in broad daylight, said Kolbe. And the elements of the attacks fit "all the parameters" of hybrid warfare"profoundly asymmetric," not attributable or very hard to trace, extremely disruptive, and deniable, he added. It's a combat style the Russians, among others, favor. A suite of measures The quickening tempo of attacks and close proximity to Harris and Burns has escalated the sense of urgency in intelligence circles to positively identify the perpetrator and formulate an effective U.S. response. "This has been an ongoing source of tension within the intelligence community, our reluctance to respond to these provocations as they're happening," said Entous. During the final days of the Trump administration, some ideas for how to respond were discussed by Pentagon officials but they "didn't go anywhere" because many thought Russia was merely doing it as a "provocation," he said. Now that Burns has put counterterrorism experts out front, Polymeropoulos said he's "confident" we'll find out "soon" who is behind the attacks. "There's going to be a lot of pressure to take some relatively severe action," perhaps even "a suite of measures," he said. But whether the U.S. will finally respond consequentially remains an open question. "Are we going to be able to do enough to 'detect, disrupt, deter'? That's sacrosanct language in the counterterrorism community," he said. "Those policy recommendations are what we're all going to be looking at, because that is how this is going to be stopped." Explore further Biden administration investigating mysterious ailments striking government personnel This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. Avshalom Davidesko from the Israel's Antiquities Authority examines a jar in a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years in Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Israeli archaeologists said the complex includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars. Credit: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov Israeli archaeologists on Monday said they have unearthed a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years. The complex, discovered in the central town of Yavne, includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars, they said. Israel's Antiquities Authority said the discovery shows that Yavne was a wine-making powerhouse during the Byzantine period. Researchers estimate the facility could produce some 2 million liters (over 520,000 gallons) of wine a year. Jon Seligman, one of the directors of the excavation, said the wine made in the area was known as "Gaza" wine and exported across the region. The researchers believe the Yavne location was the main production facility for the label. "This was a prestige wine, a light white wine, and it was taken to many, many countries around the Mediterranean," he said, including Egypt, Turkey, Greece and possibly southern Italy. Seligman said wine was not just an important export and source of enjoyment in ancient times. "Beyond that, this was a major source of nutrition and this was a safe drink because the water was often contaminated, so they could drink wine safely," he said. The antiquities authority said the complex was uncovered over the past two years during excavations being conducted as part of the development of Yavne, a town located south of Tel Aviv. An aerial picture taken by a drone shows a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years in Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Israeli archaeologists said the complex includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars. Credit: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov Israel Antiquities Authority employees work in a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years in Yavne, central, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Israeli archaeologists said the complex includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars. Credit: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov An Israel Antiquities Authority employe holds a jar from a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years in Yavne, central, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Israeli archaeologists said the complex includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars. Credit: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov An aerial picture taken by a drone shows a massive ancient winemaking complex dating back some 1,500 years in Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Israeli archaeologists said the complex includes five wine presses, warehouses, kilns for producing clay storage vessels and tens of thousands of fragments and jars. Credit: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov Explore further Ancient pottery factory unveiled in Israel 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A couple of trainee astronauts walk in their spacesuits during a training mission for planet Mars inside the Ramon Crater in Mitzpe Ramon in Israel's southern Negev desert. Inside a huge crater in Israel's sun-baked Negev desert, a team wearing space suits ventures forth on a mission to simulate conditions on Mars. The Austrian Space Forum has set up a pretend Martian base with the Israeli space agency at Makhtesh Ramon, a 500-metre (1,600-foot) deep, 40 kilometre (25 mile) wide crater. The six so-called "analogue astronauts" will live in isolation in the virtual station until the end of the month. "It's a dream come true," Israeli Alon Tenzer, 36, told AFP. "It's something we've been working on for years." The participantsfrom Austria, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spainall had to pass gruelling physical and psychological tests. During their mission, they will conduct tests including on a drone prototype that functions without GPS, and on automated wind- and solar-powered mapping vehicles. The mission will also aim to study human behaviour and the effect of isolation on the astronauts. "The group's cohesion and their ability to work together are crucial for surviving on Mars," said Gernot Groemer, the Austrian mission supervisor. "It's like a marriage, except in a marriage you can leave but on Mars you can't." Technicians assist a trainee astronaut to suit up in a spacesuit. Six members from Portugal, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Israel will be cut off from the world for a month. 'Largest voyage ever' The Austrian Space Forum, a private organisation made up of aerospace specialists, has already organised 12 missions, the most recent in Oman in 2018. The Israel project is part of mission Amadee-20, which was expected to kick off last year but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The forum has partnered with Israeli research centre D-MARS to construct the solar-powered base. German astronaut Anika Mehlis, the only woman on the team, told AFP how happy she was to be part of the project. "My father took me to the space museum when I was little," she said. "When I saw that the forum was looking for analogue astronauts, I told myself I had to apply." Mehlis, a trained microbiologist, will study a scenario where bacteria from Earth infect potential life forms that may be found on Mars, saying this "would be a huge problem". The simulated Mars base where the team will live, in the Ramon Crater in Israel's southern Negev desert. An astronaut from the team enters the sealed habitat, to be supervised by a Mission Support Center in Austria. The team will test a robotic rover during their mission, the Amadee-20 Mars simulation. Visually, the surrounding desert resembles the Red Planet with its stony wilderness and orange hues, though thankfully not in terms of atmospheric conditions. "Over here, we have temperatures of about 25-30 degrees Celsius, but on Mars the temperature is minus 60 degrees Celsius and the atmosphere is not fit for breathing," said Groemer. The interior of the base is austere, with a small kitchen and bunk beds. Most of the space is reserved for scientific experiments. NASA envisions the first human mission to Mars will launch in 2030. "What we are doing here is preparing a large mission, the largest voyage our society has ever taken, as Mars and Earth are 380 million kilometres apart at their extreme point," said Groemer. "I believe the very first human to walk on Mars is already born and we are the ship-builders to enable this journey." Explore further Preparing for a human mission to Mars 2021 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain Crack! Lightning strikes are bright and loudviolent enough to shake your bones and light up the sky. Now, a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that these powerful events may also alter the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere, even affecting Earth's all-important ozone layer. The results, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, shed new light on what it means to live on a planet rife with lightning. "You have about 1,800 active thunderstorms across the globe at any given time, generating about 50 flashes per second," said Robert Marshall, a coauthor of the new study and assistant professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. All that flashing may have a broader impact on the atmosphere than scientists once thought, he said. The research hinges on a complicated phenomenon called lightning-induced electron precipitation, or LEP. Whenever lightning strikes, Marshall explained, the bolt shoots off a pulse of electromagnetic energy that can spread all the way around the Earth and into space. There, that energy interacts with the radiation belts that surround our planet, rattling loose some of the electrons trapped insidewhich then rain back down toward Earth. Picture it like shaking a tree branch to knock off wet snow. In their new study, he and colleagues tracked the fallout from three thunderstorms over the last decade that stretched from Nebraska to the Caribbean. Based on their calculations, these individual storms may have kicked off a chemical chain reaction in the atmosphere that caused the ozone layer to shrink in certain locations by as much as 5%a loss that potentially lasted for up to 12 hours. Humans have lived with lightning for a long time, so those fluctuations in ozone likely don't threaten peoples' safety. But, Marshall said, the team's findings hint thatwhen spread over dozens of storms all happening at oncelightning could have a surprisingly big influence on what happens in the air above our heads. The researchers are hoping to study just how sizable that global influence is next. "A single lightning strike has a minor impact on the atmosphere," Marshall said. "But over thousands of lightning strikes, it may be much more significant. We don't know yet." Lightning crashes It can also be something to behold. In October 2015, for example, Hurricane Patricia made landfall in Texas and Mexico. The storm brought some rain and flooding to the regionnot to mention more than 33,000 lightning strikes over the span of just two-and-a-half hours. In their latest research, Marshall and his colleagues used detailed computer simulations to follow what happened in the atmosphere after that wild eventplus a similar storm in the Caribbean in May 2017 and one more than roiled the skies above Nebraska in August 2013. "These storms are triggering electrons to be removed from the radiation belts," Marshall said. "It dumps energy into the atmosphere, and we're asking what is that energy input doing to the atmosphere?" Here's what happened: As the storms progressed, the electron energy raining down to Earth began to react with gasses high in Earth's atmosphere, roughly 30 to 70 miles above the surface. Concentrations of certain molecules in the air, including hydrogen oxides and nitrogen oxides, shot up almost at once. Nitrogen oxides, for example, increased by as much as 150%. On their own, these gasses can't do much harm. But, Marshall said, they may mix deeper into the atmosphere, eventually reaching the ozone layeran important boundary that sits less than 20 miles above the ground and helps to shield life from the sun's radiation. "The increase in nitrogen oxides can last for 24 hour or more, and those gasses will slowly descend in altitude where they can destroy ozone," Marshall said. The team doesn't expect that destruction to spread far away from the area just above the storm, creating a short-lived thin patch in the ozone layer. But the loss in ozone is comparable to what scientists have observed during other major atmospheric disturbances, including the aurorae, or Northern Lights, that make the sky glow at high latitudes. Going forward, Marshall and his colleagues intend to keep an eye on those dark and stormy nights. "In this study, we're looking at the effect of individual storms," he said. "The next step is to say what's the global, cumulative effect of lighting on the upper atmosphere." Explore further Under the northern lights: Mesospheric ozone layer depletion explained More information: Wei Xu et al, Chemical Response of the Upper Atmosphere Due to LightningInduced Electron Precipitation, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (2021). Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres Wei Xu et al, Chemical Response of the Upper Atmosphere Due to LightningInduced Electron Precipitation,(2021). DOI: 10.1029/2021JD034914 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain By now, it's clear the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly unkind to communities of color and low-income populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ties these disparities to disproportionate representation of nonwhite populations in essential worker roles, discrimination, lack of healthcare access, wage gaps, housing factors, and more. But new research from the San Francisco Estuary Institute, the Nature Conservancy, and the University of Illinois suggests less access to nature may contribute as well. "Our research shows a stark example of how the COVID-19 pandemic can exacerbate existing inequity. The inequality in access to nature in U.S. cities has been shown to have many health effects, and now it looks like it also has had significant health implications during the COVID-19 pandemic," says Erica Spotswood, lead scientist for the Urban Nature Lab at the San Francisco Estuary Institute and principal author on the Nature Sustainability paper. Further, and more surprisingly, the analysis links nature access with COVID-19 rates regardless of racial and socioeconomic identity. In other words, being around trees and other natural elements may offer a protective effect against becoming sick, full stop. "We were surprised to find greenness is associated with lower rates of COVID-19, even after controlling for race, income, and a host of other factors. An increase of 0.1 in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a common measure of greenness, was associated with a 4.1% decrease in COVID-19 incidence rates," Spotswood says. The research team emphasizes that although their analyses are statistically sound, they only demonstrated a correlation between nature and COVID-19 incidencenot cause and effect. However, as experts in environmental psychology, they have some ideas. "There's actually a very clear possible explanation for nature having a protective effect against COVID," says Ming Kuo, associate professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at U of I and co-author on the paper. "We know spending time in parks or woods boosts our 'Natural Killer cells' our body's troops for fighting viral infectionsand that the greener a person's residential area, the less likely they are to come down with viral infections of various kinds. Basically, when we're exposed to a virusany virusour Natural Killer troops try to squash it immediately, before it turns into a full-blown case or causes symptoms. "This is true for all viruses we've studied, so it would be no surprise for this to be true of the virus underlying COVID, as well. Plus, scientists have discovered a whole host of other ways in which nature helps fight diseaseby reducing stress, etc. So, it would actually be more puzzling if we found nature didn't have a protective effect against COVID." The study, funded by Google's Ecology Program, is the first of its kind to quantify the relationship between nature exposure and COVID-19 case rates using detailed spatial data for 17 U.S. states. To understand how COVID-19 interacts with sociodemographic data and nature access, the research team zoomed down to the ZIP-code scale in urbanized areas. They found ZIP codes primarily populated by nonwhites had nearly twice as many COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people compared to white-majority ZIP codes. And significantly less green space, including parks. "These results underscore that communities of color face a double burden during the COVID-19 pandemic: greater COVID-19 case rates, which has made social distancing more essential, and less nature nearby to ease the mental strain of social distancing," says Rob McDonald, lead scientist for the Nature Conservancy and co-author on the paper. Exposure to green space doesn't just lower stress and activate our immune responses. Trees and other natural elements also decrease air pollution and temperature, both of which have been linked to COVID-19 rates in other studies. Finally, it may be that people living in proximity to parks and other green spaces are more likely to socialize outdoors where COVID-19 transmission is drastically reduced. Regardless of the underlying reasons, the research team recommends short-term actions to overcome barriers to nature access during the pandemic. For example, municipalities should commit to keeping urban parks open, safe, and accessible. "In the long term, we need to redress inequity through tree planting and other greening interventions in the lowest income neighborhoods," Kuo says. "All indications are that greening would have substantial public health value well beyond the pandemic. And since these interventions cost significantly less than healthcare, they're good value." The article, "Nature inequity and higher COVID-19 case rates in less green neighborhoods in the United States," is published in Nature Sustainability. More information: Erica Spotswood, Nature inequity and higher COVID-19 case rates in less-green neighbourhoods in the United States, Nature Sustainability (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00781-9 Journal information: Nature Sustainability Erica Spotswood, Nature inequity and higher COVID-19 case rates in less-green neighbourhoods in the United States,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00781-9 Sheik Goni Muhammad Saad Ngamdu, an Islamic leader in Maiduguri, records a message at the Kanem FM studios at the University of Maiduguri about Islamic tenets of forgiveness. In the message, he enjoins Muslims to accept repentant former members of Boko Haram who are returning home, in for research described in Trusted authorities can change minds and shift norms during conflict published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, October 11 2021. Credit: Graeme Blair Thousands of former Boko Haram militants and abductees in Nigeria left the group this summer and asked to return to their homes. If they are not allowed, they could return to fighting. A randomized evaluation in the Nigerian city where Boko Haram beganand where many of its victims now livefound that messages from a Muslim religious leader focused on ideas about forgiveness from the religion increased listeners' willingness to accept former fighters back into the community, providing a path toward peace. Demobilized Boko Haram militants facing reintegration might be helped by supportive messaging from religious leaders, according to a study released today. The study, conducted in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram is estimated to have killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, found that radio-style messages from a respected local Muslim religious leader focusing on forgiveness significantly increased community members' willingness to accept demobilized fighters back home. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, comes as thousands of Boko Haram fighters and abductees who have defected from Boko Haram are awaiting reintegration. Researchers sought to understand how to improve community acceptance in an area deeply affected by the conflict; 67 percent of study participants had had a relative abducted or killed by Boko Haram and many had witnessed killing or been tortured themselves. "We need to stop armed conflict in so many places," explained study co-author Rebecca Littman of the University of Illinois-Chicago, "but the question becomes what happens to a fighter when they lay down their weapons and want to go home? Would you welcome someone like that back into your neighborhood? We simply don't have a lot of evidence on what to do." With support from the research non-profit Innovations for Poverty Action, researchers Graeme Blair, Rebecca Littman, Elizabeth R. Nugent, Rebecca Wolfe, Mohammed Bukar, Benjamin Crisman, Anthony Etim, Chad Hazlett, and Jiyoung Kim worked with the international humanitarian and development agency Mercy Corps to implement the study. In neighborhoods and camps for internally displaced persons in the city of Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram, researchers randomly offered community members the chance to listen to one of two simulated radio broadcasts. Participants either heard a respected Muslim sheik talking about the importance of forgiveness in the Islamic tradition, announcing that he would forgive, and calling on listeners to do the same, or an informational broadcast on health and hygiene. Later, when they were asked about a hypothetical former fighter who wanted to return to their community, 70 percent of those who heard the forgiveness messaging said they were willing to have him return to their community compared to 60 percent of those who had heard the other message, a significant difference of 10 percentage points. "It's difficult to change attitudes, particularly in such charged areas," said co-author Mohammed Bukar of Mobukar Consultancy Services in Maiduguri, "but we asked a number of different questions, and found even though the forgiveness messaging didn't make feelings like anger and fear go away, it still changed people's willingness to accept them back and interact with them which is crucial." The researchers found that the forgiveness messaging changed people's willingness to allow former members to stay in the community, trade with them, marry into their families, and participate in politics. "This seems like a promising start tackling a very difficult problem," according to Radha Rajkotia, Chief Research and Policy Officer of Innovations for Poverty Action. "And it comes at a critical time. If we want to successfully wind down protracted conflicts, we need programs like these." Sheik Goni Muhammad Sa'ad Ngamdu, who made the recording used in the study, suggested the findings also point to a role for religious leaders like himself in promoting peace: "I urge religious leaders to look at these findings [and] think about how they'd benefit the region. How they could help bring about an end to the conflict. It is their duty to use their platforms and spread the word that reintegration, done the right way, could finally bring lasting peace back to the region." Explore further Cholera outbreak in northern Nigeria kills at least 23: UN More information: Trusted authorities can change minds and shift norms during conflict, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Trusted authorities can change minds and shift norms during conflict,(2021). doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2105570118 Provided by Innovations for Poverty Action Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Perched high above the waves about nine miles off the coast of Huntington Beach, the oil processing platform known as Elly looks like an industrial eyesorea tangle of hard metal surfaces, cranes and pipes. But plunge 30 feet beneath the waves, and you enter a psychedelic wonderland of undulating marine life. Mussels, anemones and brittle stars coat the platform's thick steel pilings, sea lions frolic between its beams and tens of thousands of fish dart between its supports. Neon nudibranchs (small sea slugs) wander among the other life. Sponges, scallops and corals are all part of the mix. No wonder the Elly platform is one of the most beloved dive sites in Southern California. "It's my No. 1 favorite dive," said Paige Zhang, a graduate student in marine biology at UCLA who spent a day diving Elly just a few weeks ago. "And that's why I was so shocked and sad about this spill. It's so crazy to think that this happened on something I dove before." Details about the scope of the recent oil spill in Orange County are still murky, but officials say as much as 144,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from a 17.7-mile pipeline that runs from the Elly platform to the Port of Long Beach. Exactly how this leak occurred is still being determined. Scientists and environmental groups rushed to protect the diverse animal populations in the region's marshes and wetlandsdeploying booms to keep oil from flooding and rescuing birds who are already exhibiting obvious signs of oil damage. As of now, nobody knows for sure how the oil spill will affect the abundant marine life living on the rig itself. Oil is lighter than water, so the good news for these creatures, who live tens and hundreds of feet beneath the waves, is that the vast majority of it has probably risen to the surface. But there's bad news too: Even trace amounts of oil can be deadly. "I don't know if the platform itself or all the organisms that have attached to it have been coated with oil, but we know that even small concentrations of oil in the water can have toxic effects," said Andrea Bonisoli Alquati, a biologist at Cal Poly Pomona who studied the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. "It doesn't take a lot of oil to kill these small organisms." It's not a surprise that animal life has congregated on the submerged infrastructure of Elly, said Milton Love, an ichthyologist (fish scientist) at UC Santa Barbara who studies how rigs function as fish habitat. "There are always more invertebrate larvae drifting around looking for a place to settle on then there are places to settle on," he said. "And then here is this humongous structure with 1,200 feet of steelthat's a lot of stuff to settle on." Over the years, he's discovered that organisms aren't always picky about where they make their homes. Lobsters have been known to live in submerged toilet bowls, while sarcastic fringehead fishes (yes, that's their real name) have been found living in beer bottles that landed on the ocean floor, he said. "You can take an old inner tube and throw it right off of Long Beach in 80 feet of water, and in a couple of days there will be three brown rockfish staring at the tire," Love said. "They are attracted to stuff. They don't care what the stuff is." As more offshore platforms are likely to be decommissioned in the next few years, both in Southern California and elsewhere, there has been discussion about leaving the underwater parts intact because of their value as artificial reefs. As a scientist, Love said he's neutral on the issue. As a human being, he's not. "Pulling out a platform means killing huge numbers of marine life, and I don't think that's moral," he said. "That has nothing to do with being a biologist. That's just my moral stance." The abundance of life around all these structures is so notable that a 2014 paper in Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences declared oil platforms off California one of the most productive marine habitats globally. Still, Love said there is something particularly special about Elly and the rig sitting right next to it, known as Ellen. "The people in my lab and myself have been around almost all the platforms in California, and Elly and Ellen have an unusually high diversity of fishes around them," he said. "They are just great." Shawn Wiedrick, who until recently worked as an assistant curator of invertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, described his first dive around the Elly rig as "surreal." "There were organisms on top of organisms, it was so thick," he said. "I was tasked with going down and sampling things, but there was so much there, it was almost overwhelming to say 'What should I sample?'" It's that vast diversity of life that makes the rig so enticing to local divers, said Kevin Lee, an underwater photographer who has dived the Elly site more than 30 times. "It's such a beautiful ecosystem," Lee said. "The life is outstanding out there, and it's much more colorful than what you would see on shore. For some local divers it's their favorite dive site." Ashley Arnold, owner of Jade Scuba Adventures, who works out of Huntington Beach and Port Orchard, Washington, remembers seeing strawberry sea anemone, spiky acorn barnacles, and a dazzling array of nudibranchs, some with spikes shooting off their soft bodies. On a dive trip to Elly and Ellen in January, she captured video of four types of bioluminescent jellyfishalien-looking life forms that floated through the water. She also saw a wide variety of fish, including bright orange garibaldi, blue-and-silver halfmoons and several types of rockfish. "It's an oasis in the middle of an ocean desert," she said. "You've got nothing but deep-water ocean surrounding it." Arnold said rig diving is best for experienced divers: Having good buoyancy control is critical to staying safe when swimming among the pilings and supports, and the ocean currents can be volatile. Sometime there's no current; other times "it's super crazy ripping." "It's completely unprotected out there," she said. To get to the rig, divers generally charter a boat from Long Beach or San Pedro. It can take 45 minutes to an hour and a half to get to the site, depending on the speed of the boat. Divers also need to get permission from the rig's operator before they head out. "They are active rigs and working the entire time we're diving, but if they have a crew coming out to do work on the structure we don't want to be in their way," Arnold said. Norbert Lee, a dive instructor and marine biologist who works for L.A. County Sanitation, said that before the spill, he tried to do day trips to the rigs three or four times a year. "We usually go between Ellen and Elly, and Eureka, which is a rig that's a lot deeper," he said. His strategy is to quickly descend to the maximum depth of the dive and then slowly make his way up to shallower waterharvesting scallops to eat, and playing with sea lions along the way. "Those scallops are super tasty," he said. "It's one of the best dive sites, to be honest." Lee is hopeful the cleanup efforts will be effective enough that he'll be able to dive the rig again someday, but said "it's hard to hear that it came out of a place that you dive so much, not to mention all the ecological impacts it has on the wetlands. It kind of broke my heart." Zhang said she and her dive friends immediately started texting back and forth when they heard about the spill. "You hear about oil spills all the time on the news, and you feel like they are so far from your life, but this one is so close to all of us," she said. She worries about the millions of stationary animals on the rig who are unable to swim away from oil slicks. She wonders how she can help with the cleanup. And she thinks about when she'll be able to get back into the water, and where. Zhang got more serious about diving during the pandemic, and, as with many frequent divers, it's now an essential part of her life. "Once I'm down there, I just feel like my head is cleared, I don't think about work, I don't think about anything," she said. "You are totally in the moment. It's gotten to the point where I have trouble sleeping if I don't dive for more than a week." Though not enough information has been released yet to make a prediction on when the waters around the rig will be safe for divers again, Love said there is reason to be optimistic that the animals that make their home on Elly will survive this ecological disaster. Ten miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, another oil platform called Holly is situated among large natural seeps of oil and gas. Essentially, it is bathed in oil almost all the time, he said. But when Love looked to see whether this platform could support marine life, he was stunned to discover it was covered in thriving sea creatures. "We didn't see a dead nudibranch or a dead anything," he said. Love thinks the animals were spared because all the oil had risen to the surface. And he's hopeful the same will be true for the vast, diverse and beautiful life living on Elly. Explore further Has the oil leak been stopped? What we know about the origin of the massive Orange County spill 2021 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Tracks in the sand: One of over 50 footprints of predecessors of early humans identified in 2017 near Trachilos, Crete. Dating techniques have now shown them to be more than six million years old. Credit: University of Tubingen The oldest known footprints of pre-humans were found on the Mediterranean island of Crete and are at least six million years old, says an international team of researchers from Germany, Sweden, Greece, Egypt and England, led by Tubingen scientists Uwe Kirscher and Madelaine Bohme of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tubingen. Their study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. The footprints from fossilized beach sediments were found near the west Cretan village of Trachilos and published in 2017. Using geophysical and micropaleontological methods, researchers have now dated them to 6.05 million years before the present day, making them the oldest direct evidence of a human-like foot used for walking. "The tracks are almost 2.5 million years older than the tracks attributed to Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) from Laetoli in Tanzania," Uwe Kirscher says. This puts the Trachilos footprints at the same age as the fossils of the upright-walking Orrorin tugenensis from Kenya. Finds connected with this biped include femurs, but there are no foot bones or footprints. The dating of the Cretan footprints therefore sheds new light on the early evolution of human perambulation more than six million years ago. "The oldest human foot used for upright walking had a ball, with a strong parallel big toe, and successively shorter side toes," says Per Ahlberg, professor at Uppsala University and co-author of the study. "The foot had a shorter sole than Australopithecus. An arch was not yet pronounced and the heel was narrower." Six million years ago, Crete was connected to the Greek mainland via the Peloponnese. According to Professor Madelaine Bohme, "We cannot rule out a connection between the producer of the tracks and the possible pre-human Graecopithecus freybergi." Several years ago, Bohme's team identified that previously unknown pre-human species in what is now Europe on the basis of fossils from 7.2 million-year-old deposits in Athens, just 250 kilometers away. The study furthermore confirms recent research and theses of the Bohme team, according to which six million years ago the European and Near East mainland were separated from humid East Africa by a relatively brief expansion of the Sahara. Geochemical analysis of Crete's six-million-year-old beach deposits suggests that desert dust from North Africa was transported there by wind. The team arrived at an age of between 500 and 900 million years before present when dating dust-sized mineral grains. These time periods are typical for North African desert dust, the authors said. Recent research in paleoanthropology also suggested that the African ape Sahelanthropus could be ruled out as a biped, and that Orrorin tugenensis, which originated in Kenya and lived 6.1 to 5.8 million years ago, is the oldest pre-human in Africa, Bohme says. Short-term desertification and the geographic distribution of early human predecessors could therefore be more closely related than previously thought. On the one hand, a desertification phase 6.25 million years ago in Mesopotamia could have initiated a migration of European mammals, possibly including apes, to Africa. On the other hand, the second-phase sealing off of the continents by the Sahara 6 million years ago could have enabled a separate development of the African pre-human Orrorin tugenensis in parallel with a European pre-human. According to this principle, called "desert swing" by Bohme, successive short-term desertifications in Mesopotamia and the Sahara caused a migration of mammals from Eurasia to Africa. Explore further Research team traces ten million years of climate history in the Arabian Peninsula More information: Uwe Kirscher et al, Age constraints for the Trachilos footprints from Crete, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Uwe Kirscher et al, Age constraints for the Trachilos footprints from Crete,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98618-0 Quantum-circuit black hole lasers. Scientists from Hiroshima University proposed black hole lasers using quantum Josephson metamaterial transmission lines. Solitons play the role of resonators in laser devices. Credit: Hiroshima University The fundamental forces of physics govern the matter comprising the universe, yet exactly how these forces work together is still not fully understood. The existence of Hawking radiationthe particle emission from near black holesindicates that general relativity and quantum mechanics must cooperate. But directly observing Hawking radiation from a black hole is nearly impossible due to the background noise of the universe, so how can researchers study it to better understand how the forces interact and integrate into a "Theory of Everything?" According to Haruna Katayama, a doctoral student in Hiroshima University's Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, since researchers cannot observe Hawking radiation, Hawking radiation must be brought to the researchers. She has proposed a quantum circuit that acts as a black hole laser, providing a lab-bench black hole equivalent with advantages over previously proposed versions. The proposal was published on Sept. 27 Scientific Reports. "In this study, we devised a quantum-circuit laser theory using an analog black hole and a white hole as a resonator," Katayama said. A white hole is a theoretical partner of a black hole that emits light and matter in equal opposition to light and matter a black hole consumes. In the proposed electric circuit, a metamaterial engineered to allow faster-than-light motion spans the space between horizons, near which Hawking radiation is emitted. "The property of superluminal speed is impossible in a normal medium established in an ordinary circuit," Katayama said. "The metamaterial element makes it possible for Hawking radiation to travel back and forth between horizons, and the Josephson effectwhich describes a continuous flow of current that propagates without voltageplays an important role in amplifying the Hawking radiation through the mode conversion at the horizons, mimicking the behavior between the white and black holes." Katayama's proposal builds on previously proposed optical black hole lasers by introducing the metamaterial that allows for superluminal speed and exploiting the Josephson effect to amplify the Hawking radiation. The resulting quantum circuit induces a soliton, a localized, self-reinforcing waveform that maintains speed and shape until external factors collapse the system. "Unlike previously proposed black hole lasers, our version has a black hole/white hole cavity formed within a single soliton, where Hawking radiation is emitted outside of the soliton so we can evaluate it," Katayama said. Hawking radiation is produced as entangled particle pairs, with one inside and one outside the horizon. According to Katayama, the observable entangled particle bears the shadow of its partner particle. As such, the quantum correlation between the two particles can be determined mathematically without the simultaneous observation of both particles. "The detection of this entanglement is indispensable for the confirmation of Hawking radiation," Katayama said. However, Katayama cautioned, the lab Hawking radiation differs from true black hole Hawking radiation due to the normal dispersion of light in the proposed system. The components of light split in one direction, like in a rainbow. If the components can be controlled so that some can reverse and bounce back, the resulting lab-made Hawking radiation would mirror the same positive frequency of true black hole Hawking radiation. She is now investigating how to integrate anomalous dispersion to achieve a more comparable result. "In the future, we would like to develop this system for quantum communication between distinct spacetimes using Hawking radiation," Katayama said, noting the system's scalability and controllability as advantages in developing quantum technologies. Explore further Thermal analog black hole agrees with Hawking radiation theory Credit: CC0 Public Domain A class of materials that once looked as if it might revolutionize everything from solar cells to frying pansbut fell out of favor in the early 2000scould be poised for commercial resurrection, findings from a University of Michigan-led research team suggest. Published in Nature Communications, the study demonstrates a way to make much larger quasicrystals than were possible before, without the defects that plagued past manufacturers and led quasicrystals to be dismissed as an intellectual curiosity. "One reason why industry gave up on quasicrystals is because they're full of defects," said Ashwin Shahani, U-M assistant professor of materials science and engineering and chemical engineering and a corresponding author on the paper. "But we're hoping to bring quasicrystals back into the mainstream. And this work hints that it can be done." Quasicrystals, which have the ordered structure but not the repeating patterns of ordinary crystals, can be manufactured with a range of alluring properties. They can be ultra-hard or super-slippery. They can absorb heat and light in unusual ways and exhibit exotic electrical properties, among a host of other possibilities. But the manufacturers who first commercialized the material soon discovered a problemtiny cracks between crystals, called grain boundaries, that invite corrosion, rendering quasicrystals susceptible to failure. Commercial development of quasicrystals has been mostly shelved ever since. But new findings from Shahani's team show that, under certain conditions, small quasicrystals can collide and meld together, forming a single large crystal with none of the grain boundary imperfections found in groups of smaller crystals. Shahani explains that the phenomenon came as a surprise during an experiment designed to observe the formation of the material. "It looks like the crystals are healing themselves after collision, transforming one type of defect into another type that eventually disappears altogether," he said. "It's extraordinary, given that quasicrystals lack periodicity." The crystals start as pencil-like solids measuring a fraction of a millimeter, suspended in a molten mixture of aluminum, cobalt and nickel, which the team can observe in real time and in 3D using X-ray tomography. As the mixture cools, the tiny crystals collide with each other and meld together, ultimately morphing into a single large quasicrystal that's several times larger than the constituent quasicrystals. After observing the process at Argonne National Laboratory, the team replicated it virtually with computer simulations. By running each simulation under slightly different conditions, they were able to identify the exact conditions under which the tiny crystals will meld into larger ones. They found, for example, that the tiny pencil-like crystals must face each other within a certain range of alignment in order to collide and coalesce. The simulations were conducted in the lab of Sharon Glotzer, the John Werner Cahn Distinguished University Professor of Engineering and a corresponding author on the paper. "It's exciting when both experiments and simulations can observe the same phenomena happening on the same length and time scales," Glotzer said. "Simulations can see details of the crystallization process that experiments can't quite see, and vice versa, so that only together can we fully understand what's happening." While commercialization of the technology is likely years off, the simulation data could ultimately prove useful in developing a process to efficiently produce large quasicrystals in production-scale quantities. Shahani anticipates the use of sintering, a well-known industrial process where materials are melded together using heat and pressure. It's a far-off goal, but Shahani says the new study opens a new avenue of research that could one day make it happen. For now, Shahani and Glotzer are working together to understand more about quasicrystal defects, including how they form, move and evolve. The paper is titled "Formation of a Single Quasicrystal Upon Collision of Multiple Grains." The research team also includes Brookhaven National Laboratory. Explore further Khatyrka meteorite found to have third quasicrystal More information: "Formation of a Single Quasicrystal Upon Collision of Multiple Grains." Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications "Formation of a Single Quasicrystal Upon Collision of Multiple Grains."(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26070-9 In this Sunday, July 5, 2020, file photo, an offshore drilling rig is seen in the waters off Cyprus' coastal city of Limassol as a boat passes with a skier. A climate change conference will underscore to policymakers in the Middle East and the east Mediterranean that the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is needed urgently because greenhouse gas emissions are helping to drive up regional temperatures faster than in many other inhabited parts of the world. Credit: AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, File A climate change conference will underscore to policymakers in the Middle East and the east Mediterranean that the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is needed urgently because greenhouse gas emissions are helping to drive up regional temperatures faster than in many other inhabited parts of the world. George Zittis, a scientist at the Cyprus Institute's Climate and Atmosphere Research Center, said that although this "can't happen overnight" because of the region's heavy dependency on fossil fuels for energy production, governments have to make the switch within the next two decades to avert potentially "irreversible effects" such as desertification. "We need to completely decarbonize, even go negative," in greenhouse gas emissions, Zittis told The Associated Press on Monday in an interview before this week's 2nd International Conference that focuses on the east Mediterranean and Middle East, which together are recognized as a global "climate change hot spot." The conference is organized by the Cyprus government and brings together 65 top scientists, diplomats and policymakers from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Greece to present the results of a two-year study compiled from contributions by 220 experts and to present policy recommendations to countries in the region. Former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, Jordanian Prince El Hassan bin Talal, U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network President Jeffrey Sachs and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades will address the conference. Zittis said regional governments should take heed and expedite the move to renewables because the accelerated temperature rise combined with reduced precipitation could mean extended heat waves that would ramp up energy costs for greenhouse gas-spewing desalination plants and electricity-hungry air conditioning units. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel that could act as a transitional source of energy for the region until renewables such as solar and wind come online on a mass scale, Zittis said. A hotter region would also mean less moisture in the soila key ingredient to keeping air temperatures cooler once that moisture evaporates. The growth of cities in the Middle East and east Mediterranean also means a loss of arable land that could hold such moisture. Zittis said temperatures in urban settings are on average two to four degrees Celsius higher than outside cities. The east Mediterranean and Middle East now emit almost as much greenhouse gasses as the entire European Union, Zittis said. Scientists will also urge policymakers to ensure that new houses, buildings and vehicle engines are as energy efficient as possible. Experts will also need to come up with strategies on how countries will need to adapt to a changing climate in order to get a handle on the higher expenditures that will flow from that. Zittis also said that scientists are warning of possible mass migrations from countries in the Middle East as water gets more scarce and temperatures rise. Explore further Ignoring climate change will lead to unprecedented, societally disruptive heat extremes in the Middle East 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Dr John Healy, Queensland Museum A donation of an extensive and scientifically important shell collection to Queensland Museum has led to the discovery of a new species of mollusk by a museum curator. Amoria thorae, a new species of the carnivorous volute family of marine snails, was named in honor of long-time Brisbane resident Mrs. Thora Whitehead, whose collection was recently donated to the museum. The new species is so rare, scientists have yet to see a live specimen. Presently it is known from only a handful of specimens, all just empty shells, trawled in the 1970's within a narrow distribution area from northern News South Wales to south east Queensland. Queensland Museum Curator Marine Environments (Mollusks) Dr. John Healy said he long knew of a possible new species of carnivorous marine snail from the mid-eastern coast of Australia. "I'd seen a shell of this marine snail illustrated in a book, but not officially described, so you can imagine my delight when photographing this new collection, I found not one, but two specimens of this potentially new species," Dr. Healy said. "They were trawled off Cape Moreton at 110 meters depth and after further research I discovered a further two specimens cataloged under another species name at the Australian Museum. These four specimens formed the basis for the description of the new species, Amoria thorae. This species is extremely rare, and my hope is that one day the living animal will be found, photographed and studied so we may better understand its biology and relationships." The Thora Whitehead Collection is one of the largest and most comprehensive private collections of marine shells in Australia and contains thousands of species, including numerous rarities and foreign species many collected by Thora herself. Over the past three years, Dr. Healy has been working with the Whitehead family to acquisition these shells into the State Collection. Dr. Healy said the Whitehead Collection will contribute not only to the expansion of the museum's mollusk collection, but also assist the international scientific community with research. "Much of the material was collected by Thora over 50 years from localities around the Australian and especially Queensland coastlines, from habitats as diverse as mangroves, surf beaches, shell beds, rock platforms and coral reefs" Dr. Healy said. "Thora's collection will continue to provide the basis for public education and future research projects for decades to come and that should always be the yardstick by which any collection of scientific merit (such as this one) is measured." Queensland Museum Network CEO Dr. Jim Thompson said with more than 200,000 specimens, the collection was significant. "We are grateful to Thora Whitehead and her family for this significant donation to the State Collection," Dr. Thompson said. "Thora has been recognized by the scientific community for her contribution to malacology (the study of mollusks) and has co-authored a number of publications on the subject and has close to a dozen species of mollusks named in her honor, including the most recent species from her collection." The new species was published in the Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. Explore further Huge ancestors of squid once littered England's beaches More information: et al, A new species of Amoria (Gastropoda, Volutidae, Amoriinae) from the mid-east coast of Australia, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum - Nature (2020). et al, A new species of Amoria (Gastropoda, Volutidae, Amoriinae) from the mid-east coast of Australia,(2020). DOI: 10.17082/j.2204-1478.62.2020.2019-02 Provided by Queensland Museum Water quality impairments across Long Island during the summer of 2021. Credit: The Gobler Laboratory at Stony Brook University Scientists at Stony Brook University have completed their assessment of water quality in Long Island's estuaries in 2021 and the news is not good. During the months of June through October, every major bay and estuary across Long Island was afflicted by toxic algae blooms and oxygen-starved, dead zones. Excessive delivery of nitrogen from onsite wastewater has been cited as the cause of these disturbing events. The news was announced on October 7 at the Patchogue waterfront by Christopher J. Gobler, Ph.D., Endowed Chair of Coastal Ecology and Conservation at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University. "It began with mahogany and brown tides in June and ended with a harmful rust tide that continues today across eastern Long Island," said Gobler. "In between, a record-setting two dozen low oxygen dead zones were identified from Great Neck to East Hampton, over 20 lakes and ponds were affiliated with toxic blue-green algae blooms, and fish kills across another half dozen sites. This has become the new normal as Long Island deals with a dual assault of climate change and excessive nitrogen loading." The summer of 2021 stood out as having nearly double the average rainfall total, with more rainfall coming during each individual storm. This may be the new normal as scientists predict Long Island will experience more precipitation in total in the future due to climate change. This excessive rainfall brings more nitrogen loading from land to sea, fueling harmful algal blooms and dead zones. For example, following tropical storms Henri and Ida, a mild rust tide expanded and intensified all across the east end of Long Island and the dead zones expanded across Long Island Sound and elsewhere. Excessive nitrogen coming from household sewage that seeps into groundwater and ultimately, into bays, harbors, and estuaries or, in some cases, is directly discharged into surface waters, is a root cause of these maladies. Suffolk County and Nassau County completed 'subwatershed studies' last year that identified wastewater as the largest source of nitrogen to surface waters. Excessive nitrogen stimulates toxic algal blooms that can, in turn, remove oxygen from bottom waters as they decay. Policies to mitigate nitrogen loading such as upgrading onsite septic systems are, therefore, the best defense against these impairments, explained Gobler. The outbreaks of blue-green algal blooms in 2021 are a concern for both human and animal health. For the past six years, Suffolk County has had more lakes with blue-green algal blooms than any other of the 64 counties in New York State, a distinction that is likely to be repeated in 2021. Blue-green algae make toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals and have been linked to dog illnesses and dog deaths across the US and on Long Island. Of equal concern is the widespread nature of dead zones across Long Island. Dead zones are regions of low or no oxygen. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation indicates that marine waters should never have less than three milligrams of dissolved oxygen per liter to allow fish to survive. Through the summer, more than two dozen sites across Long Island did not meet this criterion, and in several cases, fish kills occurred. "The data reveals that many sites are not suitable habitats for sustaining fish and shellfish," added Gobler. The occurrence of these events such as brown tide and rust tide, have led to the collapse of critical marine habitats such as seagrass, major fisheries on Long Island such as scallops and clams, and the coastal wetlands that help protect waterfront communities from the damaging impacts of storms. Groups such as The Nature Conservancy have been working for more than a decade to revive and restore these habitats and shellfish but have been challenged by algal blooms such as those witnessed during the summer of 2021. "It has gotten to the point that we have to watch News 12 each week to see where it is safe to swim or fish," said Carl LoBue, Senior Scientist for the Nature Conservancy. "The research findings are conclusive. We know how to fix this and it's time to act. The longer we wait to fix our water quality problems, the longer it will take and the more expensive it will be." The report on the 2021 summer was compiled by Dr. Gobler, whose lab group has been monitoring and sampling Long Island's waters on a weekly basis every summer since 2014. Data was also generated by the Long Island Sound Study which is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. A map generated by the Gobler Laboratory shows precisely where on Long Island various algal blooms and low oxygen zones developed during the summer of 2021. Events depicted include algal blooms caused by Prorocentrum causing harmful mahogany tides, rust tides caused by the algae Cochlodinium, brown tides caused by Aureococcus, a red tide caused by Dinophysis, and toxic blue green algae blooms commonly caused by Microcystis. The map also depicts hypoxic or low oxygen zones which are dangerous to marine life. Explore further Image: Baltic blooms This undated photo provided by the MIT Department of Economics shows Joshua Angrist. A U.S.-based economist won the Nobel prize for economics Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Canadian-born David Card of the University of California, Berkeley, was awarded one half of the prize for his research on how minimum wage, immigration and education affect the labor market, while the other half was shared by Joshua Angrist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dutch-born Guido Imbens from Stanford University for their framework for studying issues that can't rely on traditional scientific methods.Credit: Photo courtesy of the MIT Department of Economics via AP A U.S.-based economist won the Nobel prize in economics Monday for pioneering research that transformed widely held ideas about the labor force, showing how an increase in the minimum wage doesn't hinder hiring and immigrants don't lower pay for native-born workers. Two others shared the award for developing ways to study these types of societal issues. Canadian-born David Card of the University of California, Berkeley, was awarded half of the prize for his research on how the minimum wage, immigration and education affect the labor market. The other half was shared by Joshua Angrist of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dutch-born Guido Imbens of Stanford University for their framework for studying issues that can't rely on traditional scientific methods. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the three "completely reshaped empirical work in the economic sciences." Together, they helped rapidly expand the use of "natural experiments," or studies based on observing real-world data. Such research made economics more applicable to everyday life, provided policymakers with actual evidence on the outcomes of policies, and in time spawned a more popular approach to economics epitomized by the blockbuster bestseller "Freakonomics," by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt. In a study published in 1993, Card looked at what happened to jobs at Burger King, KFC, Wendy's and Roy Rogers when New Jersey raised its minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.05, using restaurants in bordering eastern Pennsylvania as the controlor comparisongroup. Contrary to previous studies, he and his late research partner Alan Krueger found that an increase in the minimum wage had no effect on the number of employees. Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Goran K Hansson, center, announces the 2021 Nobel prize for economics, flanked by members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Peter Fredriksson, left, and Eva Mork, during a press conference at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, in Stockholm, Sweden, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. From left on the screen above are the winners David Card of the University of California at Berkeley; Joshua Angrist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Guido Imbens from Stanford University. Credit: Claudio Bresciani/TT via AP Card and Krueger's research fundamentally altered economists' views of such policies. As noted by the Economist magazine, in 1992 a survey of the American Economic Association's members found that 79% agreed that a minimum wage law increased unemployment among younger and lower-skilled workers. Those views were largely based on traditional economic notions of supply and demand: If you raise the price of something, you get less of it. By 2000, however, just 46% of the AEA's members said minimum wage laws increase unemployment, largely because of Card and Krueger. Their findings sparked interest in further research into why a higher minimum wouldn't reduce employment. One conclusion was that companies are able to pass on the cost of higher wages to customers by raising prices. In other cases, if a company is a major employer in a particular area, it may be able to keep wages particularly low, so that it could afford to pay a higher minimum, when required to do so, without cutting jobs. The higher pay would also attract more applicants, boosting labor supply. In this photo provided by Stanford University, Guido Imbens poses for a portrait at his home in Stanford, Calif, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, after learning he shared in winning the Nobel prize in economics. The U.S.-based economist won for pioneering research that transformed widely held ideas about the labor force. Two others shared the award for developing ways to study these types of societal issues. Credit: Andrew Brodhead/Stanford University via AP Their paper "has shaken up the field at a very fundamental level," said Arindrajit Dube, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. "And so for that reason, and all the following research that their work ignited, this is a richly deserved award." Krueger would almost certainly have shared in the award, Dube said, but the economics Nobel isn't given posthumously. Krueger, Imbens said, co-authored papers with all three winners. Krueger, who died in 2019 at age 58, taught at Princeton for three decades and was chief Labor Department economist under President Bill Clinton. He also was Obama's chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Card and Krueger's paper made a huge impact on other economists. Lisa Cook, an economics professor at Michigan State University, said their paper was "a revelation" that helped crystallize her thinking for her research on racial violence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and how it inhibited patent filings by Black Americans. In this photo provided by Stanford University, Guido Imbens takes a congratulatory call at his home in Stanford, Calif, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, after learning he shared in winning the Nobel prize in economics. The U.S.-based economist won for pioneering research that transformed widely held ideas about the labor force. Two others shared the award for developing ways to study these types of societal issues. Credit: Andrew Brodhead/Stanford University via AP Card's research also found that an influx of immigrants into a city doesn't cost native workers jobs or lower their earnings, though earlier immigrants can be negatively affected. Card studied the labor market in Miami in the wake of Cuba's sudden decision to let people emigrate in 1980, leading 125,000 people to leave in what became known as the Mariel Boatlift. It resulted in a 7% increase in the city's workforce. By comparing the evolution of wages and employment in four other cities, Card discovered no negative effects for Miami residents with low levels of education. Follow-up work showed that increased immigration can have a positive impact on income for people born in the country. Angrist and Imbens won their half of the award for working out the methodological issues that allow economists to draw solid conclusions about cause and effect even where they cannot carry out studies according to strict scientific methods. David Card, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in economics, sits in his office in Berkeley, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Card, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, received the award for his research on minimum wages and immigration. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Card's work on the minimum wage is one of the best-known natural experiments in economics. The problem with such experiments is that it can be difficult to isolate cause and effect. For example, if you want to figure out whether an extra year of education will increase a person's income, you cannot simply compare the incomes of adults with one more year of schooling to those without. That's because there are many other factors that might determine whether those who got an extra year of schooling are able to make more money. Perhaps they are harder workers or more diligent and would have done better than those without the extra year even if they did not stay in school. These kinds of issues cause economists and other social science researchers to say "correlation doesn't prove causation." Imbens and Angrist, however, figured out how to isolate the effects of things like an extra year of school. Their methods enabled researchers to draw clearer conclusions about cause and effect, even if they are unable to control who gets things like extra education, the way scientists in a lab can control their experiments. David Card, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in economics, stands for a portrait in Berkeley, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Card, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, received the award for his research on minimum wages and immigration. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Imbens, in one paper, used a survey of lottery winners to evaluate the impact of a government-provided basic income, which has been proposed by left-leaning politicians in the U.S. and Europe. He found that a prize of $15,000 a year did not have much effect on a person's likelihood to work. Card said he thought the voice message that came in at 2 a.m. from someone from Sweden was a prank until he saw the number on his phone really was from Sweden. He said he and his co-author Kreuger faced disbelief from other economists about their findings. "At the time, the conclusions were somewhat controversial. Quite a few economists were skeptical of our results," he said. Imbens' wife, Susan Athey, is also an economist and president-elect of the AEA, and Imbens said they sometimes argue about economics in front of their three children. Winner of the Nobel prize for economics Joshua Angrist arrives at his home Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Brookline, Mass. Angrist, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shared the prize with David Card of the University of California at Berkeley and Guido Imbens from Stanford University. Angrist and Imbens won for their work on methods that allow economists to draw conclusions about cause and effect where studies cannot be carried out according to strict scientific methods. Credit: AP Photo/Josh Reynolds David Card, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in economics, walks through University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Card received the award for his research on minimum wages and immigration. Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger Winner of the Nobel prize for economics Joshua Angrist speaks to a reporter with his granddaughter Bella, and wife Mira Angrist, a professor of Hebrew at Boston University, from his home Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Brookline, Mass. Angrist, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shared the prize with David Card of the University of California at Berkeley and Guido Imbens from Stanford University. Angrist and Imbens won for their work on methods that allow economists to draw conclusions about cause and effect where studies cannot be carried out according to strict scientific methods. Credit: AP Photo/Josh Reynolds Winner of the Nobel prize for economics Joshua Angrist speaks to reporters at his home Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Brookline, Mass. Angrist, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shared the prize with David Card of the University of California at Berkeley and Guido Imbens from Stanford University. Angrist and Imbens won for their work on methods that allow economists to draw conclusions about cause and effect where studies cannot be carried out according to strict scientific methods. Credit: AP Photo/Josh Reynolds "This means, I hope, they'll learn that they need to listen to me a little bit more," he said. "I'm afraid it probably won't work out that way." At home in Brookline, Massachusetts, Angrist said: "I can hardly believe it. It's only been a few hours and I am still trying to absorb it." He also missed the call from Nobel officials and awoke to a torrent of texts from friends. Fortunately, he said, he knew enough other Nobel Laureates that he got a callback number from them. As a youth, Angrist dropped out of a master's program in economics at Hebrew University in Israel, although he did meet his future wife, Mira, there. He has dual U.S. and Israeli citizenship. "I did have sort of a winding road," he said. "I wasn't a precocious high school student." The award comes with a gold medal and 10 million Swedish kronor (over $1.14 million). Unlike the other Nobel prizes, the economics award wasn't established in the will of Alfred Nobel but by the Swedish central bank in his memory in 1968, with the first winner selected a year later. It is the last prize announced each year. Explore further Nobel panel to reveal 2021 prize for physics 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. CAMBRIDGE Almost four years after it was removed for preservation, the green footbridge at Varak Park is back in place. Local officials, volunteers for the project, and Cambridge Central School alumni celebrated Saturday morning with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The bridge, which spans the Owl Kill in front of the former Jerome B. Rice Seed Co. complex, was installed in 1890 for seed company workers who walked to work from Main Street, said local historian Ken Gottry. At the time, the only other access to the complex was a dirt road for freight vehicles, and Rice didnt want his employees coming in muddy, Gottry said. Rice hired local architect Florans Hoxie to design and construct the bridge. In classic Victorian fashion, Hoxie included fancy wooden shingles on the roof, decorative woodwork and benches along both sides where people could sit and enjoy the sight of the water gliding beneath them. However, weather, vandalism and deterioration of the stone walls lining the brook took their toll. Gottry said the village fire department narrowly kept the bridge from washing away during a flood 15 years ago. Varak Park is a privately owned commercial complex and its land includes the bridge. In December 2017, as the current continued to undermine the walls around the bridge, the owners donated the bridge to the village. Chris Badaloni and Lee Foster removed it and took it to the nearby village Department of Public Works where they and other volunteers could start the restoration. The Cambridge Community Partnership secured a $15,000 grant from the New York State Main Street Program, said Sarah Ashton, the partnerships director. That paid for lumber and wooden shingles. Jeff Goldstone, Mark Kanonik and Philip Bell donated architectural, engineering and landscape architectural services, respectively. Dave Clark, of Dave Clarks Excavation, and his crew repaired the brook side walls, poured new, higher concrete abutments, and, on Friday, set the bridge in place. All equipment and labor was donated, Ashton said. Some work remains on the bridges foundation, and the slate walkways need to be replaced, so the bridge isnt yet open for traffic, Bogle said. Bell has drawn up plans to remove the brooks retaining walls and replace them with a meandering bed to slow the water. The restoration of the local landmark shows how important collaboration is, Bogle said. White Creek Town Supervisor Jim Griffith noted that the bridge is 130 years old. Now well have the bridge another 130 years, he said. Its awesome to have this in the community. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Fran Kuhn, executive director of the Atlantic County Workforce Development Board, shared similar beliefs. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I do think its a combination of several different components, Kuhn said. Part is that people are still uncomfortable and anxious about getting back out there and exposing themselves and their families to the risk (of COVID-19) that is there. And a lot of people had the opportunity to evaluate their own situations and have done that comfortably because of the unemployment benefits, but some of them are in a position to decide whether they want to continue on a certain career path. Kuhn said the lack of interest in job fairs held by some of the resorts casinos speaks to the way the pandemic has changed peoples perspective when it comes to the unpredictability of the hospitality and tourism industry. Pre-pandemic, Hard Rock would have thousands of people lined up on the Boardwalk to get the interview, Kuhn said. In the same situation now, you see 120 people lined up for way more than 120 jobs. It seems like there is a lack of real enthusiasm to pursue the hospitality tourism jobs ... also, that industry, while its a staple, is one of the lower paying wages in a lot of respects. When officers entered through the front of the house, they found a deceased female on the landing of the stairs, court documents say. Both Enders and Pitoy suffered massive stab wounds and loss of blood, according to court documents. Investigators also observed additional injuries consistent with possible blunt force trauma. When detectives interviewed Enders friend John Gofus, he told police Heffernan was a real estate agent who was upset Enders wouldnt allow her to sell the 2,500-square-foot home, which features six bedrooms and four bathrooms, court documents say. Enders told Gofus he amended his will within the past month and neither of his daughters was included in it. Through a search of Motor Vehicle Commission records, police found that Heffernan drove a 2003 Ford Winnebago. Footage from various surveillance cameras was gathered by detectives and showed a white RV seen heading east on the bridge into Long Beach Island at 4:48 a.m. Sept. 29. At 4:58 a.m., a Ring doorbell camera captured the RV approaching the Enders home, and at 5:49 a.m., the vehicle is seen driving east on Seventh street with its headlights off, according to a court affidavit. A spokesperson for the multinational food and beverage company said in an email that the company is facing "high demand for labor" and "logistics challenges." Mondelez believes it is "relatively well-positioned to face the marketplace challenges and will continue to keep a close eye on things" to get products to retail customers and shoppers on time. The company also did not say how many retailers received limits on such items, but said "we prepare communications which our sales team has the ability to use, as appropriate, as they engaged with their customers." Unilever told a distributor in an email on Sept. 14 that "labor shortages continue to drive a limited ability to meet demand" and it was de-prioritizing production on certain products including Ben & Jerry's Cold Brew Caramel Latte and Ice Cream Sammie flavors, Breyers vanilla fudge twirl ice cream and Firecracker popsicles "until we are able to return to a supply steady-state." The company said it would instead "focus labor hours on our top-selling items." "Like many sectors, at times there are challenges in getting all our product to stores, for a variety of reasons related to supply and distribution," a Unilever spokesperson said in an email. Packaging issues also continue to be a problem. For example, some seasonings are in tight supply due to challenges procuring glass bottles. For the 2020 fiscal year, Deere & Co. net income totaled $2.751 billion, according to the company. For 2021, income is projected to be $3.6 billion to $4 billion. We were not being recognized as the contributor to that, another union worker said. I'd like to see the record profits, quarter after quarter, show some of the same love in which they show the shareholders. Office workers receive better treatment and more acknowledgement and appreciation for their work, while production workers are treated as second-class citizens, they said. Any past appreciation, like parties or gifts for exceptional employees, have disappeared. Retirement plans were also cut back for new employees, the employee said. Those hired before 1997 have a full pension and health care plan when they retire. Those who joined the company after 1997 have a smaller pension and a 401K, but no health care. Under the contract voted down Sunday, those hired on or after Nov. 1 would only have a 401K. "Right now they're trying to get us to basically cut the throat of the next generation coming in behind us, where they won't even have the retirement which we have," the employee said. "And we're not happy with what we've got." We are reporting once again from the intersection of the news media, policy and politics. From here, we can see how and why government really works and mainly how and why it too often fails to work the way it should. Its the place where all the vehicles of governance converge and collide: the executive, legislative and judicial branches plus those of us in the news media. For better and worse, we play an undescribed, but always understood, role in shaping policy agendas and priorities by what we cover and what we ignore. Now this: Weve just seen some astonishing breaking news. Astonishing because it was good news. Yet, there it was, announced but barely noticed, smack in the middle of this glob of godawful news. But if you care about finally fixing a longtime problem in which your governments bureaucracy has been shafting hardworking public servants, the news that was announced last week by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was your kind of good news. And well get to it. But we must begin by reminding you what first happened back at the intersection. After racial justice protests gripped the country and politicians pledged progress, Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni felt confident in his paragraph-long pitch for lawmakers to boost diversity at the states governors schools. The bill, HB2305, was less muscular than an earlier two-and-a-half page version that never got a hearing. But when Del. Roslyn Tyler, D-Sussex, brought forward the effort to disrupt a pipeline to the elite public magnet schools that historically has shut out Black, Latino and economically disadvantaged students, debate quickly soured. Lawmakers locked in talks that centered on the Thomas Jefferson High School for Sciences and Technology in Fairfax County ended up at odds over whether the admissions process even needs to be changed. You had a school that was the number one rated high school in America," said state Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, who voted down the proposal. The measure would have laid the groundwork for wholesale change but stopped short of requiring it; instead it asked the Virginia Board of Education to craft guidelines on the importance of increasing access to Governor's Schools for historically underserved students." Qarni had hoped the state would begin untangling the interwoven challenges blocking children from accessing potentially life-changing education. Virginia has a long history of local control leading to inequitable outcomes in education. And while incremental reforms to selection processes for elite programs have begun in some places, Qarni sees more room for movement. The patchwork methods local school districts and governing boards have been using to identify and advance gifted students aren't working if they're leaving huge groups of children behind, he said. Its fragmented. Theres not robust guidelines on how gifted education should be done, how we should accept children, [or] how children should enter and get the programs, he said. And then what is the true purpose of gifted education? In some cases, feeder school systems next door to one another have different rules for picking students who ultimately go on to attend the same school. Advocates for equity frustrated with the legislature's inaction have sharpened their focus on the governing body that oversees that states public primary and secondary schools, the Virginia Board of Education. I was definitely disappointed because I felt like it was a common sense, equity and inclusion bill, said Makya Little, a Black alumna of Thomas Jefferson. Qarni, a cabinet-level appointee of Gov. Ralph Northam, welcomes the scrutiny. This three-part series, produced as part of reporter Kenya Hunters participation in an Education Writers Association mentorship program, examines the lack of diversity at the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and others across the state. The investigation found that white children were nearly four times more likely to gain admissions to the school over 20 years; that Black youth who were selected felt isolated and unsupported; and that local and state-level responses to the pipeline problem have largely failed to yield wholesale change. *** Black children make up 22% of the states public school enrollment. Rarely are they represented in proportion to the overall population at the states magnet schools. State data shows that Black students account for less than 10% of enrollment at 12 of the states 19 governors schools, and less than 5% at 8. About 7% of freshman entering Thomas Jefferson this year are Black an improvement from just over 1% the year prior. The schools makeup dominated pointed discussions last February of HB2305, which was drafted by Qarni after the formation of a task force launched to examine access issues at governor's schools. The group found that economically disadvantaged students are largely locked out of opportunities to attend the elite schools, whose graduates often go on to attend Ivy League colleges. But when it came time to chip away at those barriers, Petersen and state Sen. Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, and a majority of the Senate Education and Health committee, had concerns. Saslaw, who did not return an interview request, ultimately moved to spike the bill. Petersen joined in voting it down, saying it had anti-Asian undertones (more than 70% of students who attend TJ are Asian). There was this assumption that somehow the system was not working, that somehow it was defective, Petersen said in an interview. His comments at the time, along with Saslaws, earned a slam from the states legislative Black Caucus, who deemed their pronouncements racist. We must fervently and consistently reject any suggestion that these educational inequities - particularly for Black, Latinx, and low-income students - are the result of inherent intellectual inferiority or a lack of hard work. These false narratives must finally be put to an end, the caucus said in a statement. The reality is that the status quo prevents and excludes Black and Latinx students from effectively accessing equitable admission to Virginias Governors Schools. The African American Superintendent's Advisory Council, which advises State Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane on equity issues for the state's Black students, held a meeting within 10 minutes of the bills demise, Little said. I basically was like If we stay silent on this issue, I dont know why we have this council, Little recalled. It was designed to advocate for students who look like us. If we stay silent, to me, its pointless. The council wrote the Virginia Board of Education to demand action, which it can take without legislative direction. Consistent inequities in access make the development of guidance for the governance of Governors Schools to increase access for historically underserved students imperative, the council wrote. Many other individuals likewise sent in public comments, urging the Board to take up the work. A spokesperson said the board is working on regulations - but they wont be done until at least next year. Anne Holton, a board member and former Virginia Secretary of Education, said theres a need for action, but its unclear what kind. I definitely think the state could play a role, said Holton, speaking on her own behalf. But whether it should be regulatory, which would mean the board, or whether there is the power of the bully pulpit that the secretary could exercise more, or are there other levers of influence? But certainly the ideal way to fix it the issue [is] the boards of these institutions. *** The Maggie L. Walker Governors School, which occupies a building that housed an all-Black high school during legal segregation, has been slow to change. While the freshman class is more diverse than in recent years, white students who apply have been admitted to the school at a rate nearly four times that of Black students over the past 20 years, data provided by the Governor's school shows. The school is the subject of an open federal Office of Civil Rights complaint filed in 2013 by a group including Paul Fleischer, a retired Richmond Public Schools gifted and talented teacher and Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor who studies segregation and sat on Qarnis task force. In it, they allege that the Governors school's admissions process "shows clear evidence of persistent bias against Black and... Latino students." The problems persisted even after a 118 page study of the school done by the University of Virginia offered various policy recommendations on its admissions and recruitment processes. The board had, for a long period of time, a number of policy recommendations, and chose to do nothing, Siegel-Hawley said of the complaint. The complaint predates the tenure of Maggie Walker's current director, Bob Lowerre, who says he is adamant about attempting change at the Governor's school, including its admissions process and school culture. His administration has since created a strategic plan that aims to be more welcoming to historically underserved populations at the school. He is also adamant that the school is not "lowering standards," as many detractors of diversifying governor's schools have claimed. Lowerre ultimately doesn't control who gets accepted into the school. Maggie Walker owns the application materials, but local school districts select which students they'll send. Qarni credits individual localities and schools that have taken steps to build equity into their processes. Chesterfield County Public Schools, for example, just recently sent its most diverse class yet to Maggie Walker after switching from a county-wide to a two-phase selection process, which starts at individual schools. But an earlier proposal Qarni crafted for the legislature would have required swifter movement across the state. A draft targeted changes to admissions at Thomas Jefferson and Maggie Walker in the form of a pilot program. If passed, the bill would have required schools to strike course requirements not directly related to the schools mission (for example, no need to have taken Algebra I to attend a government affairs magnet program). It also would have eliminated admissions tests to the schools for three years. The unpublished copy, obtained by The Richmond Times-Dispatch, sought to bolster economically disadvantaged students chances of attendance. Students who are living in concentrated poverty, they have all these missing resources. All they need is a little bit of scaffolding and support, so they can thrive, he said of the potential score increase for economically disadvantaged students. He also noted that the more poor students a school might have, the likelihood that their resources get more and more thin. *** State research found that economically disadvantaged students made up 18% of governors school enrollment in the 2018-2019 school year while making up 40% of Virginias public school population. State data also shows that economically disadvantaged students are more likely to be Black and Latino. I think that us as human beings have to realize that everybody's coming from different situations, he said. Other [families]... their children are going to school, the reason they get financial support is because their parents cannot afford that. We have to understand that we have to empathize that each individual has different needs. Lamont Bagby, who chairs the legislative Black Caucus and also once served on the Henrico County School Board, said he liked the more stringent proposal. I would have loved to support it, Bagby said in an interview. Its sort of attempting to level the playing field for that student that doesnt have all the resources, but is still showing up. The proposal targeted busting up pipelines in competitive districts that see many selected candidates come from a single middle school, with a rule limiting each middle schools share of attendees to 5% of the cohort (unless the locality only has one middle school). An open enrollment analysis of Richmond Public Schools found that many who apply for specialty programs in the district come from two middle schools, Albert Hill and Binford middle schools, and private schools. In one lawsuit challenging the Fairfax County School Board's new admissions policy for TJ in Fairfax, families said that the new policy, which set aside a certain number of slots for every feeder middle school, would hurt Asian American families clustered in a handful of middle schools that send a large number of students to TJ. Sometimes, the problems seem intractable, said Siegel-Hawley. New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio just announced that the school system would be phasing out their gifted enrollment program, with two months left on his term. Siegel-Hawley said she isnt sure abolishing gifted programs altogether is the answer, but that wholesale change is needed. I have serious questions about whether or not they should continue to exist if the persistent racial inequities in access continue, she said. I think thats absolutely fair game to call them into question." The governing board of Maggie L. Walker is slated to consider a revamp of their admissions policies later this month. READ PART ONE OF THE SERIES One building, two schools: The legacy of segregation at Maggie Walker In a partnership with the Education Writer's Association, the Richmond Times-Dispatch examined the lack of diversity at the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School and others across the state in a three-part series. READ PART TWO OF THE SERIES The most contentious topic of Mondays meeting was a debate over whether Harris had verbally resigned from the commission when she left abruptly on Friday. Del. Les Adams, R-Pittsylvania, asked that the commissions attorneys draft an opinion about whether her statements on Friday amounted to a resignation. Im not aware of any reason that a verbal resignation is not effective in Virginia, he said. I think we need to have some sort of legal discussion about that and see where we are. Prior to moving forward with any votes. Harris on Friday had said: Regrettably, I am done. So, thank you very much for the opportunity to serve. But I will remove myself from the commission at this point. On Monday, Harris clarified that she meant she was removing herself from the meeting at that moment, not from the commission. In an email to the Richmond Times-Dispatch and to legislative aides on Friday, Harris confirmed she had not resigned. Some Democrats on the commission accused Adams of partisanship in suggesting that Harris had imperiled her seat on the commission. The Appalachian region typically never has a poor or average year of fall colors. Its either good, better or best, Seiler said. The diverse range of trees in the region keeps the colors bold and vivid, such as the oaks, maples and hickories that Seiler looks for. If one tree is hurt by hot weather in the summer, he said other trees will likely not suffer. Our mountains offer constantly changing elevations and aspects, which lead to a higher biodiversity, which leads to a greater mixture of fall color, he said. Leaves are expected to be at their peak between Oct. 11 and Oct. 28, according to Seiler, as well as the Farmers Almanac. So plan trips accordingly, especially when the sun is out because the colors look a lot better when theres sunshine, he said. The Virginia Department of Forestry reported this week that the highest elevations of Southwest Virginia have already seen about half of the trees begin to change color. All in all, its a great weekend to check out the mountains, the department said. Learning to save money is one of the earliest lessons we receive from our parents alongside virtues like sharing and so forth. As school children, we save up every sen left after spending our allowance until we have accumulated enough to buy something we want. Then, as we get older, we learn to grow our savings with compound interest. There are many ways to do this from putting your savings in fixed deposit accounts to investing. Popular in Malaysia, Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) currently manages 16 unit trust funds comprising both variable price funds and fixed price funds. To better serve its 14.5 million customer base in Malaysia during the pandemic, ASNB has introduced additional features to digitally onboard users through the myASNB app. Investors can easily access ASNB funds and monitor transactions from the safe comfort of their home or office through the myASNB app. Lets find out how you can invest online conveniently with myASNB! Stay Home and Invest With myASNB Even before the pandemic, financial technology has been gaining traction among investors yearning for easier and real-time access to their data and activities. The adoption of contactless digital touchpoints had been further accelerated by the pandemic as movement restrictions were enforced. As part of ASNBs digitalisation journey, the company launched its myASNB online portal in 2018 and mobile app in 2019 to allow Malaysians to invest and monitor their wealth anytime and anywhere. Subsequently, it launched the mobile registration and onboarding feature within the app to enable all Malaysians to register with ASNB remotely without having to visit any of ASNBs branches or agents. Hence, you can now enjoy a suite of functions on the myASNB app from registering and investing to monitoring your transactions conveniently. Simple Equals Consistent Savings Its tempting to put off saving especially when youre in the early days of your career and budgets can get quite tight. But we know its important to start early and that the more you save, the easier it becomes to accumulate additional savings. With the myASNB app, you can easily access your account which might encourage more frequent savings. In just a few clicks, you can safely and conveniently view holdings and perform online transactions anywhere. There are various services provided in the myASNB app which include subscription purchasing or topping up ASNB unit trust funds online. Extra Features For Educated Investments To help users make informed decisions, the myASNB app also suggests products or funds to users based on a simple assessment which consists of 6 questions. Investors who utilise digital investment platforms like the robo-advisors will be familiar with such features. The assessment in the app will assess your suitability for products belonging to categories including the aggressive variable price, moderate variable price, conservative variable price, or fixed price. This is an additional feature that will further enrich users investing experience as they now have more information about the suitability of products for them according to the apps suggestions. For those who want to find out more about investing in unit trust funds, you can also head to the learning centre on the website. Entry Costs as Low as RM10 Having been in the industry for 40 years, ASNB has a total of 16 funds with a total value of funds of RM267.12 billion as at 31 December 2020. Aside from being a reputable unit trust management company, it is known for having a low entry requirement with a minimum initial investment of only RM10. ASNB currently manages 16 fixed and variable funds to suit all investor appetites and needs. Now that investors are no longer required to visit ASNB branches or agents for identity or phone number verification, you can simply set up your myASNB account via the mobile app within minutes and start investing immediately. But thats not all! ASNB also runs contests from time to time so users will have a chance to win some great prizes. From now to 30 November, you can invest a minimum of RM500 and stand a chance to win an iPhone 12 Pro, subject to the terms and conditions. *** During the pandemic, there has been a rise of digital retail investors across markets worldwide, including here in Malaysia. This is an unsurprising event given the increased interest in investing and the need for more digital touchpoints during the pandemic. In line with the drive towards digitalisation, ASNB has unveiled additional features on its myASNB app so you can easily register, invest, and monitor your transactions within the safe comfort of your home. So, if you have always been thinking about investing with ASNB, why not sign up online today? Download the myASNB app via Apple App Store or Google Play Store today! 0 0 votes Article Rating SHARE Find out more about myASNB today! Click here In October 2019, she proposed banning the Confederate flag from the school dress code, kickstarting a debate that made national headlines. The board passed the ban 6-0 eight months later. David had his own landscaping business before the 2008 recession spurred him to return to school and successfully pursue a medical degree. He works in Martinsville as a primary care physician. Blue was consistently one of the most cautious school board members during the first school year affected by COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for strict social distancing protocols and virtual classes when that couldnt be adhered to. David says thats what motivated him to run, asserting some children were made more vulnerable to abuse and neglect when kept out of school. Some of these kids do not have an adult set eyes on them other than a teacher or an administrator, he said. Blue frames it all as a matter of safety. Just because I buy a car with an airbag and put on my seat belt and do the speed limit doesn't mean I'm driving in fear. Im driving, based on what the science says I need to do, she said. When it comes to children in the school system, the first goal is to educate, but you do it in safety. For various reasons, it was put on the back burner, Smith said. Some work has been done on the trail since it was first announced in 2017. Last year, Franklin County hired consulting firm A. Morton Thomas and Associates Inc. of Christiansburg to design the path of the trail through the Westlake area. While designs could change, the original plan for the trail is a 2-mile loop with a shorter spur connecting to trails at Booker T. Washington National Monument. It will be 10-feet wide with a surface of crushed gravel cinder and possibly paved in some areas. Prefabricated bridges will be installed at stream crossings along the trail. The trail is expected to pass by the Runk & Pratts senior living communities, the Westlake Towne Center and the Carilion Wellness Center in Westlake. Smith said parking for the trail may be at or near the wellness center. I want this project completed for the citizens of Franklin County, and more specifically, my constituents, Smith said. Lisa Cooper, principle planner/long-range planning for Franklin County, said the trail is 50% planned so far. She said work is expected to continue planning the trail while the county waits to see if the VDOT grant is awarded to the county. In a world full of egocentric activists and would-be change-makers, Leigh Middleditch proved that power didnt have to be blatant to be effective. Middleditch, who died last week at age 92, was effective by sharing power, building coalitions and hewing to a centrist philosophy that encouraged people to find common ground. Such an example is all the more striking today because it is so rare. Middleditch helped found institutions that will continue to benefit Virginians for decades to come. They include what is now the Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, first established in 1993 with the partnership of local businessman Michael Bills. The institutes very purpose exemplifies the cooperation and centrism for which Middleditch was known: Our non-partisan mission is to strengthen and enhance the quality of government at all levels throughout Virginia. ... At the heart of every Sorensen program are three central themes: ethics in public service, the power of bipartisanship, and a concentrated study of public policy issues. Alumni include 27 current members of the General Assembly, plus the states governor, Sorensons website says. " " Glycerine soaps are soaps that contain glycerine, a component of fat or oil. They are recognizably different from other soaps because they are translucent. John W Banagan/Getty Images Sometimes a chemist comes up with a really cool compound that can fix one or two really important problems, and other times somebody discovers a material that has literally a gajillion uses. Glycerine, also known as glycerol, has about a gajillion uses and that's not really an exaggeration. Glycerine was first discovered in 1779 by a Swedish chemist named Carl Wilhelm Scheele the same guy who first described the attributes of oxygen and a bunch of other elements like hydrogen, barium and chlorine. The late author and biochemist Isaac Asimov referred to him as "hard-luck Scheele," due to the fact that he was scooped by other scientists in publishing some of his most important findings, thereby losing full credit for these discoveries. Scheele discovered glycerine accidentally while boiling together olive oil and lead monoxide, and he called the resulting material "the sweet principle of fat," because of its slightly sweet taste. Later, the French chemist Michel-Eugene Chevreul named it glycerine (from glykys, the Greek word for sweet). Glycerine is a non-toxic, transparent, viscous, water-soluble liquid with a high boiling point that can be found in both vegetable and animal fats. Chemically, it acts like an alcohol, in that it can be reacted in some situations, but it's generally stable. Here are a few of the gajillion uses for this miraculous stuff: Advertisement 1. Soap Glycerine is an ingredient in many soaps, but strangely enough, soapmaking is also a way to produce glycerine. Chemists sometimes even formulate industrially-manufactured soap as a means to produce glycerine, which is the commercial name for glycerol. Glycerine is produced through the saponification process, which creates soap by converting oil or fat into soap and glycerine by heating the lipids and adding an alkali like sodium hydroxide, or lye. "Melt and pour" soaps that are molded into fun shapes generally have a high glycerine content. Advertisement 2. Hair and Skin Care Products Because glycerol is a humectant, meaning it can attract and bind moisture to it, it's a common ingredient in beauty products meant to moisturize, like lotions, conditioners and shampoos. Glycerine in haircare products can keep hair from overdrying and splitting and is used in shampoos that treat dandruff and itchy scalp. Lotions and skin care products use glycerine for the same reasons hair care products use them: They attract and chemically hold onto moisture. Lotions, for instance, generally contain three main ingredients: a humectant; an emollient, which smooths cellular rough spots; and an occlusive, which provides a protective barrier over the skin so moisture doesn't escape. Glycerine is the most commonly used humectant in skin care because it pulls moisture to the surface of the skin from the air and from deeper layers of the skin, leaving your complexion looking dewy. Advertisement 3. Food Glycerine is useful as a food additive, as it serves scads of different functions. It's a sugar alcohol, so it can act as a sweetener, although it's around 60 to 75 percent as sweet as sugar. It's generally preferred over other sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol because it's less likely to have a laxative effect when eaten. Because of glycerine's moisture binding properties, it helps preserve breads, cakes and energy bars, preventing them from drying out. Its viscous texture can add thickness and smoothness to liquids. Because it's such a jack-of-all-trades, glycerine can be found in drinks, condiments, cake icings, soft candies, canned soup, marshmallows and chewing gum. " " Glycerine is used as a low-emission fuel to power the generators that provide electricity for the cars on the Formula E racing circuit. Edward Wong/South China Morning Post/Getty Images Advertisement 4. Pharmaceuticals Because glycerine is naturally sweet, it's used to make medicines like cough syrups and lozenges more palatable. But its sweetness isn't the only benefit of glycerine in medicines it's a great thickener for topical ointments. Glycerine suppositories attract water out of the colon to move things along in the digestive system. Otherwise, glycerine is used as an excipient just a neutral vehicle for the active ingredients in things like eye drops, ear drops and gel capsules. Glycerine is also used as a medium for freezing things like sperm, red blood cells and other living tissues. Advertisement 5. Paints, Inks and Plastics Glycerine has lots of industrial applications. For instance, it used to be the main ingredient in antifreeze, but it's largely been replaced by other chemicals that don't taste as sweet, and therefore don't attract and kill animals when it's spilled on the ground. Glycerine is an important building block of paints and resins used for coating things like wires. It's also used as a softener in plastics, and is used extensively in food wrappers because it's nontoxic and can prevent shrinkage. Advertisement 6. Vaping Liquid Vegetable glycerine is a common base in many vaping fluids for e-cigarettes, which some vapers prefer because high glycerine content makes for a very visible aerosol. Now That's Interesting More than 200 million pounds (91 million kilograms) of glycerine are made in North America every year. " " Researchers from University of California, Santa Cruz determined modern humans share much of their DNA with ancient Neanderthals and Denisovans. Yulia Serova/Shutterstock Have you ever looked at an ad for a DNA test and wondered: What were my ancestors like? Who were these people that gave me their genetic code? Perhaps you pictured a group of shepherds, diligently tending their flock. Perhaps you imagined merchants selling spices from elaborate jars, or hunters tracking down a towering elk. Did you picture a Neanderthal? Maybe you should have. New research from the University of California, Santa Cruz, suggests that only between 1.5 and 7 percent of the modern human genome is "uniquely human." "It's kind of interesting that it's such as small amount of the genome," says lead author Nathan Schaefer. In the paper, published July 16, 2021, in Science Advances Genetics, Schaefer and his co-authors describe the genetic evidence that shows how our ancestors swapped DNA with other ancient hominins, like Neanderthals and Denisovans. However, "multiple bursts of adaptive changes specific to modern humans" make us distinct from those other contemporaneous species. So, who were our mysterious human and nonhuman ancestors? Let's take a closer look. " " This side by side comparison shows how a Neanderthal skull (foreground) looks next to a modern day human skull. Petr Student/Shutterstock Advertisement An Ancient Family Reunion Our oldest ancestors came from Africa. Current models suggest that anatomically modern humans radiated out from the Great Rift Valley, which runs through modern-day Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan, some 200,000 years ago. Neanderthals were an ancient group of hominins human ancestors that lived alongside early modern humans until about 40,000 years ago. They were shorter and stockier on average than humans, with broad noses and a prominent brow ridge. Like us, they made use of fire, created paintings and jewelry, and lived in shelters (which they apparently kept quite tidy). Some paleoanthropologist even believe that Neanderthals buried their dead. The first Neanderthal fossil was identified in 1856 in the Germany's Neander Valley (although an earlier 1829 find was subsequently recognized as belonging to Neanderthal). They were found throughout Europe, where they apparently interbred with humans regularly. Today, most people of European descent have some Neanderthal genes. The Denisovans are a less well-recorded group compared to Neanderthals. First found in 2008, these hominins were also contemporaries of early modern humans, disappearing sometime between 30,000 and 15,000 years ago. Not much is known about the Denisovans except, of course, for their entire genome, which was sequenced from a single pinky bone discovered in a Siberian cave. Scientists do have evidence that the Denisovans occupied much of the area that is now east Asia, Siberia, Indonesia and New Guinea. People with ancestry in these areas are likely to carry both Denisovan and Neanderthal DNA. But how do we know what's in our DNA or for that matter, where it came from? " " People with ancestry in east Asia, Siberia, Indonesia and New Guinea are likely to carry both Denisovan and Neanderthal DNA. Wikimedia/(CC BY-SA 2.0) Advertisement How'd You Get All That in Those Genes? A genome is a complete genetic map of an organism's DNA every single gene, functional or not. Before the early 2000s, nobody had recorded the entire genome from a human being; all scientists had were snippets of individual gene sequences, like displaced puzzle pieces. That changed in 2003 when the Human Genome Project, a 13-year multinational effort to map all 3.2 billion base pairs in human DNA, was finally completed. Genetic sequencing technology has undergone a Renaissance since then. Today, one lab can sequence hundreds of individual human genomes in a year. And scientists been able to map the genes of other species, including Neanderthals and Denisovans. "Genomes are very useful for two reasons," says Omer Gokcumen, an evolutionary anthropologist with the University at Buffalo. One reason is that genomes record ancestry. Every human inherits half of their genes from each of their parents in the form of tightly coiled chromosomes. Each parent, in turn, inherited half of their genes from their parents, and so on back down the line. "So you are actually carrying a population of genomes," Gokcumen says. That means that a particular version of a gene can be traced all the way back to the ancestor who first carried it. The other thing that makes genomes interesting is mutations. DNA naturally accumulates tiny mutations over time. Not all of them get passed down to the next generation, but they do build up at a roughly steady rate. This allows scientists to measure the percent difference between two genomes to determine when they diverged from one another a technique called "DNA dating," or "molecular clocks." Some of those clocks are easy to spot when experts compare two genomes. Scientists sometimes find a chunk of genetic sequence, Schaefer says, and it becomes clear that "it's just a linked set of mutations that were all inherited together from Neanderthals." " " Comparison of modern human, Neanderthal and Denisovan skulls. Cell/Maayan Harel Advertisement So What Makes Us Uniquely Human? "The idea of what it means to be human is kind of complicated given how much mixing has happened between us and these other species," Schaefer says. But to tackle that complicated question, Schaefer and his co-authors did something interesting. A lot of contemporary research has looked at the places where human DNA aligns with the DNA of Neanderthals and Denisovans. "And we flipped it around and said, 'Well, where in the genome do you see neither of those?'" he says. Shaefer and the study authors narrowed it down to a handful of genes, which could be traced back over 600,000 years, before our very earliest modern ancestors. "Even though this is a relatively small amount of the genome, it statistically contains a lot of genes and sequences that might be functional," Schaefer says. Even more interestingly, most of these genes seem to have something to do with brain development. At the end of the day, we are beautiful puzzles made up of all of these pieces: Neanderthal, Denisovan and distinctly human. And our differences are just as important as our similarities. "Biological variation is part of what makes us human," says Gokcumen, "and that is actually kind of cool." Now That's Interesting A recently re-discovered fossil, nicknamed "Dragon man," may be the first known skull belonging to a Denisovan. Or, it might be a new species of hominin altogether. " " This 2020 concept of a moon village created by XTENDdesign is located on the rim of Shackleton crater on the lunar south pole. The Moon Village Association (MVA) is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) whose goal is to create a permanent global forum for stakeholders interested in the development of the Moon Village. NASA If you're of the Elon Musk mindset and think that humans, to survive, will have to become a multiplanetary species, we're going to need a place to live and work. Out there. In space. On other planets. We're going to need somebody a lot of somebodies, really to build us houses and apartment buildings and offices and space Walmarts and modes of transportation to haul us between all those places. Heck, we're going to have to build a lot of places to do everything we do here on our rapidly decaying home planet. We'll need architects. A lot of them. We'll need a different type of architect, to be sure, for our ventures into space. We'll need ... space architects. Luckily, that's already a thing. Advertisement The Idea Behind Space Architecture Olga Bannova doesn't carry a business card that reads "Space Architect," though she admits that would be pretty awesome. Instead, Bannova's title (or one of them) is director of the Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture (SICSA) it's been a thing since the late 1980s in the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering. SICSA is home to the world's only space architecture graduate program. A diploma nets you a Master of Science in Space Architecture. It's not a huge program yet, churning out only a few graduates every year. It is, like much of the whole idea of multiplanetary expansion, an emerging field. But for those who believe that our very existence relies on someday moving to a different galactic neighborhood, space architecture has us covered. It is, in a very real way, simply the latest exploratory mission away from Mother Earth. "You can't stay in your house forever and think that somehow everything else will be the same ... everything is changing, including our Earth, including us, including the solar system, including the galaxy. It's all changing and moving," Bannova says. "That's why it's important. It's mostly about understanding more about ourselves." " " Team SEArch+/Apis Cor won first place in the Phase 3: Level 4 software modeling stage of NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge for deep space exploration. Team SEArch+/Apis Cor/NASA Advertisement What Is Space Architecture, Really? Space architecture, really, is just what it sounds like. Bannova heads an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) committee, the Space Architecture Technical Committee (SATC) that concentrates specifically on the field. The SATC, on the site spacearchitect.org if it has an internet site, you know it's a thing describes it like this: Space Architecture is the theory and practice of designing and building inhabited environments in outer space (it encompasses architectural design of living and working environments in space related facilities, habitats, and vehicles). These environments include, but are not limited to: space vehicles, stations, habitats and lunar, planetary bases and infrastructures; and earth based control, experiment, launch, logistics, payload, simulation and test facilities. Space architects, then, are charged with designing buildings and houses and offices and a whole bunch of other stuff that humans need to survive those interstellar Walmarts, perhaps both here and in space plus devising ways to get between them. All this, not for nothing, while dealing with problems that Earthbound architects don't even dream about. Don't need to dream about. Maybe can't dream about. Say, for example, a lack of oxygen or atmosphere. Weather patterns that make our current climate-change problems look like a calm day at a sunny beach. A lack of sunlight. Too much sunlight. Microgravity. A lack of material to build what you need. Or no way to ship material that you need to where you need it. Or no way to get it there in a timely way, considering the vast distances between points in space. It's not hard to imagine the problems that space architects will face, now and in the future. It's not hard to imagine, either that we can't even begin to imagine some of the challenges they'll be up against. Carving out a space in space for our species to continue is a huge undertaking, perhaps the most audacious ever for mankind. It must be what the possibility of flying to the moon of human flight at all must have felt like to Galileo. But, yeah, we knocked those out, didn't we? " " Team AI. SpaceFactory of New York also participated in NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, and won second place for its space factory habitat on Mars. AI SpaceFactory/NASA Advertisement The Challenges Ahead Identifying the multitude of challenges in our move into space, thinking them through, and realizing that so many have yet to be recognized is a sizable part of what space architects now, and space architects in the future, must do. The field cries out for critical thinkers who have an understanding (if not necessarily a doctorate-level degree) in a multitude of specialties; not only architecture and its different branches, but the different areas in engineering (industrial, aerospace, systems and aeronautical, to name a few), physics, geometry, mathematics, logistics, computer science, human biology and many more. In meta terms, architecture embraces both art and science. It addresses how we build, how we live, in the space we inhabit. You don't build a library without figuring out how we move about it, where the books go, where the light comes in. If our living space is to become outer space a habitable space that humans have been learning about, up close, for at least 20 years well, we better start cracking the books. What's a habitat on Mars to look like? How do winds there affect what you build? What about gravity? How do you construct a farm, if one can be built, with the radiation of another planetary body beaming down? How do we build living quarters on a ship that may take decades to get where it's going? How can we make sure that a flying habitat flies? What can we learn by building these habitats on some of the less-hospitable areas of Earth? How can what we learn help us while we're still here? You want to be a space architect? Get yourself a planet-sized toolbox. "Space architecture is not for the technically timid. To play this game, one needs to educate oneself about the harsh realities of life beyond Earth, and the science and technology for fashioning habitable bubbles in deadly environments," Theodore Hall, a former chairperson of the SATC and an extended reality software developer at the University of Michigan, said back in 2014. "Only then is one prepared to stand toe-to-toe with the engineers and strive for architectural aesthetics that treat the human as more than a deterministic biochemical subsystem of a soulless machine." Those still interested in space architecture and, again, we're going to need a lot of forward-thinkers to sign up shouldn't be intimidated, though. Plenty of problems are there to be faced, certainly, and it will take all kinds to determine how our species can best live away from home. But we have cellphones now that are more powerful than the computers that sent men to the moon. We've been on the International Space Station for 20 years and counting. We're exploring Mars and other deep-space outposts at this very moment. Problems in finding a new home among the stars? Space architects are on the job. "It's impossible to predict everything, in space especially. It's hard to design some close-to-perfect habitat even on Earth," says Bannova, who carries an undergraduate degree from the Moscow Architectural Institute, dual masters degrees (in architecture and space architecture, both from UH) and a doctorate from Sweden's Chalmers University of Technology. "We have more questions than answers. It's the nature of the profession. But it gives you an opportunity to see and decide for yourself where your passion is." " " This rendering shows another view of Team SEArch+/Apis Cor's Mars habitat. The unique shape allows for continuous reinforcement of the structure, and allows light to enter through trough-shaped ports on the sides and top. Team SEArch+/Apis Cor/NASA NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Architects and industrial engineers, according to the AIAA, have been part of the aerospace industry since the 1960s. One of the first examples of their work: An industrial designer convinced NASA to include a window in the Skylab space station in 1973. FLORENCE, S.C. Visitors attending the Pecan Festival in early November may not be able to open carry at the event. The Florence City Council voted unanimously Monday afternoon to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would ban the open carrying of weapons at events permitted by the city and would also prohibit open and concealed carry of weapons on the citys properties. Florence Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin and Mayor Pro Tempore George Jebaily indicated that a called city council meeting is being planed to approve the ordinance before the Pecan Festival on Saturday, Nov. 6. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The proposed ordinance has been developed in response to a new law passed by the South Carolina General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster that allows residents of the state to carry certain firearms openly if they have taken an appropriate safety course. The new law provides cities and towns with the ability to restrict the open carrying of firearms on public properties during and at events permitted by the city or town. The list of events where the open carrying of firearms includes protests, rallies, parades, fairs and festivals. Kelly says their subs are packed with high quality meats and cheeses, sliced while you wait, and served on a variety of store baked breads to choose from. Kelly has a team of approximately 25 employees, which include full time and part time as well as high school and college students. He said finding enough people to hire was a concern and the scariest part of opening, but he said he had no problem finding people to be a part of his team. He said hires started telling their friends about Jersey Mikes, and they came in to apply. The restaurant is dine-in, take-out and delivery. It has an inside seating capacity for approximately 25 people and picnic tables for outdoor dining, Kelly said. Kelly said he is still young and thought joining the chamber would be a good way to connect with the community and fellow business professionals. I want to become a part of the community; I want to make a difference, Kelly said. I grew up in New Jersey, graduated high school there and moved to Charleston to attend college, Kelly said. He said his immediately family still resides in Charleston. Jersey Mikes hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days per week. End of an Era: Ste. Michelle's Parent Is Dumped by the Marlboro Man Part 2 By Ronald Holden Over time, Ste. Michelle grew to become the nation's third largest producer of fine wine, farming nearly 30,000 acres across Washington, Oregon, and California and selling wines under labels including Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Erath, Intrinsic, and Patz & Hall. Its corporate name evolved along the way, from Ste. Michelle to Stimson Lane Wine & Spirits to SMWE [Ste. Michelle Wine Estates]. To finance this astounding growth, it called on the resources of its longtime parent company, a family-owned marketer (the Bantle family) of "smokeless" tobacco (Copenhagen, Skoal) in Connecticut called U.S. Tobacco. Until, in 2008, UST itself was inhaled by the Marlboro Man. Marlboro and Philip Morris were owned by an outfit called Altria. Was it a deal with the devil? The tobacco industry once spent billions to polish its image, then had to pay billions more to settle claims it lied about the dangers of smoking. (Or chewing, in UST's case.) In 2008, Altria acquired Bantle's company along with its odd duck, Ste. Michelle, and for the next decade, Altria left the winery alone. Deal with the devil? Ted Baseler, the marketing whiz who spent the better part of a decade as Ste. Michelle's CEO, doesn't see it that way. "We were able to build the Washington wine industry with UST's money," he told me shortly before he retired. Ted Baseler at Chateau Ste. Michelle But then things took a turn for the worse. Altria began to look at Juul and other smokeless alternatives to tobacco just as Ste. Michelle needed a new round of investment. One of the things a big company does that a mom & pop cannot (or won't) do: make tough decisions dispassionately. Even on the most evident local scene, a multi-unit operator like Tom Douglas can read the balance sheets and close a once-popular place (Palace Kitchen, for example). Starbucks has no problem dropping (or temporarily closing) stores that don't live up to expectations. And a global business like Altria has no compunction sending a corporate hit-man (Jim Mortenson) across the country with a tough assignment: to write off close to half a billion dollars in contracts with grape growers around the Northwest. Contracts entered into during more optimistic times, when SMWE was expanding rapidly and foresaw the need to lock in a deep supply of grapes. (CEO Ted Baseler was seen as something of a visionary for taking this road.) But even before COVID put the brakes on the hospitality industry (and SMWE's thriving on-premise sales), it was clear that the company had made commitments beyond its capacity. Jim Mortenson at Chateau Ste Michelle Selling surplus juice on the bulk market, should it come to that, might have seemed like a good idea (to someone, years earlier), but Mortenson and the bean-counters in Connecticut were in no mood to test that market; they needed an immediate solution: dump the contracts. It's doubtful that Baseler, had he still been around, would have let them do it; he would have argued that now, more than ever, the entire northwest wine industry was looking to its tent-pole, SMWE, to do the right thing by the growers. But Baseler, it could also be argued, had gotten over his skis when he signed those long-term contracts. In any event, he opted for "early retirement" and took himself out of the picture. Sales sank substantially, to roughly $700 million, until COVID hit, then took a nosedive. Profits? Down 50%. Heads rolled; high-priced talent (winemaker Bob Bertheau, consultant Bob Betz, comms Senior VP Kari Leitch) found themselves on the curb. And then Mortenson himself was out, replaced by David Dearie, who had run multi-unit winery operations in Australia. If Mortenson had been brought in to fix a sputtering engine, Dearie was hired to spiff up the once-proud old jalopy and get her ready for a shining moment in the spotlight. Bob Bertheau at Chateau Ste Michelle And so, despite its investment of hundreds of millions of dollars building Ste. Michelle's brand (and its stable of stand-alone wineries), rumors began to float that SMWE might be for sale. Domestically, it would be a big bite for entities of a similar size (probably not Gallo, which is huge, but the parent companies of brands like Mondavi or Almaden), or a South American or Australian wine company seeking to expand its share of the US market (Concha y Toro out of Chile, Wolf Blass out of Australia, or even some ad hoc investor group out of Argentina). In the end, the phone call came from outside the house: a mid-size ($10 billion) private equity firm in Manhattan with no previous holdings in the wine business called Sycamore Partners. Their investments so far are in fashion (Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant) and office supplies (Staples), nothing remotely connected to wine, food, agriculture, or hospitality. The price was $1.2 billion, a figure so low that it must have seemed Altria was getting, ahem, anxious about the wine business. Even when compared to its costly tobacco alternatives, Altria was increasingly eager to unload its odd duck. Are there clunkers lurking under the duck's feathers? Perhaps, but some golden eggs as well: Erath, one of Oregon's premier producers of pinot noir, has been part of SMWE since 2006; production has doubled, and every drop gets sold. Similarly, Stag's Leap in California, the winery that knocked the world on its ear at the Paris tasting in 1976. Founder Warren Winiarski sold his baby in 2007 to a partnership of SMWE and Italy's Marchesi Antinori. And the Antinori venture in Washington, Col Solare atop Red Mountain, remains the state's priciest and most sought-after wine. Similarly, 14 Hands is the leading brand in on-premise, by-the-glass sales. Its "value" brand, Columbia Crest, remains wildly popular. It boasts prestigious relationships and special bottlings with leading winemakers in Italy, France, and Germany. Even its faux-chateau headquarters is a hit with visitors and locals alike, and the summer concerts on its lawn have become an essential stop for touring musicians. But by chopping up and segmenting the wine market, SMWE has not solidified its position as an industry leader; rather, it could be accused of losing focus. The pandemic didn't help, of course, as sales slipped badly across a swath of brands and market segments. Warren Winiarski, Napa Back in the vineyards of eastern Washington, Dick Boushey keeps an eye on the wine business from his vantage point as the state's most savvy grape grower. "I think Altria wanted out bad," he told me in an email last month. "I know Erath and Stags Leap are selling everything and are cash cows for the company." But not enough cash for the Marlboro man. So how does he view the price tag of $1.2 billion? "Compared to other sales it seems like a bargain." Now, with David Dearie at the helm, the company says it has a plan in place "to return the company to profitable and sustainable growth." In other words, Dearie wrote a prospectus designed to highlight SMWE's potential to an investor (a naive investor at that), and Sycamore went for it. SMWE spokesperson Ryan Pennington calls Sycamore's purchase "a tremendous vote of confidence in our team and our plans for the company." David Dearie at the opening of The Blend By Ste Michelle in Kirkland Private equity typically chops its acquisitions into smaller pieces and sells them off to finance the purchase. What might that entail? A piece-meal sell-off of the crown jewels? A vineyard here, a winery there? Freestanding "value" brands like 14 Hands sourcing cheaper grapes from, gulp, California? Is SMWE worried that this marks the beginning of the end? Hardly, officially at least. Pennington calls it "a tremendous vote of confidence in a very bright future for the entire Washington wine industry." Dearie says, "The idea was to find an owner that would work with the management team to execute against the vision that we laid out for the future." But that vision no longer includes the excitement of building an industry in the arid desert of eastern Washington, or showing off the region's unique potential, of winning wine competitions around the world. Now, it's just a giant agri-business like Ore-Ida potatoes; it's a production business like Campbell soup; it's a distribution business like Coca-Cola; it's a commodity business like, well, Gallo. Instead, to many of those who rode the rocket to Ste. Michelle's stunning success, it appears that its glory days are over, the dance is done, the spotlight has moved on. October 2021 Click here to read part 1 of this story. Ronald Holden, a longtime contributor to seattledining.com, is a local restaurant critic, food blogger, and author of FORKING SEATTLE. Prison Policy Initiative briefing highlights disproportionate role of Native peoples in US criminal justice systems | Main | "Fatalism and Indifference The Influence of the Frontier on American Criminal Justice" Mark Holden and Jason Pye has this new Fox News commentary headlined "Trump made conservatives criminal justice reform leaders. Here's how to keep it that way." Here are excerpts: Since the signing of the First Step Act, the conservative movement has become a leader in criminal justice reform. What could be more conservative than fixing the features in our justice system that promote unequal punishment, inhibit work, waste taxpayer money and law enforcement resources? Voters, Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike, also believe in criminal justice reform and want these issues to be fixed. A survey conducted in July by Public Opinion Strategies showed that 67 percent of Iowa voters, for example, believe that too many low-level drug offenders are in prisons. The poll also reflected support for eliminating mandatory minimum prison sentences and having government resources focus more on treating those with addictions instead of prosecuting them.... We have found that harsher drug penalties do not deter use. Congress imposed five- and ten-year mandatory minimum prison sentences for heroin, but the prevalence of its use is nearly identical today as it was in 1988. These penalties have not deterred use of heroin nor expanded treatment options for those suffering from addition. This policy choice fails to solve the root causes of substance abuse and addiction in America... As conservatives, we must continue to establish ourselves as leaders in criminal justice reform. It is a proven political winner, judging from President Trump`s expanded GOP coalition, especially black voters, who cited his support for criminal justice reform as a reason for their vote. It is a proper platform to assert conservative principles. Our system is badly broken, and we can use our values of public safety, restraining costs, small government, equality and due process to help fix it. Authorities across the border have arrested two mainland Chinese men and seized a speedboat in connection with the death of a Hong Kong police officer killed during a maritime anti-smuggling operation last month. The men, aged 31 and 35, were arrested last week by members of the Guangdong provincial public security department working with information provided by Hong Kong police. One is thought to have been driving the speedboat fitted with six powerful outboard engines at the time of the incident. Senior Superintendent Tony Ho Chun-tung of the organised crime and triad bureau said authorities believed the men were part of a large cross-border smuggling ring that had seen 35 other members arrested in a crackdown that followed the death of Senior Inspector Lam Yuen-yee. 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. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Ho also revealed more details about the death of the 37-year-old officer, who was thrown overboard along with three colleagues when their vessel was rammed by the speedboat they were trying to intercept off Shau Chau on September 25. Senior Superintendent Tony Ho offered new details about the death of Senior Inspector Lam Yuen-yee at a press conference on Monday. Photo: Felix Wong Two police vessels were involved in the chase, Ho said, with Lam on the one that took the lead. The suspects ignored repeated police warnings and fled at high speed. The speedboat suddenly altered its route, rapidly turning 90 degrees to the left and intentionally ramming the front of the police vessel. The vessel therefore capsized, he said. The fierce collision left marks on the vessel, including a large hole on the right rear side. Some of the railings on the left rear section of the boat were also broken, and a large area of the hulls bottom also showed signs of a collision. He added the speedboat was travelling at 40-50 knots when it struck the police vessel in mainland waters about 300 metres outside Hong Kongs normal jurisdiction. Story continues An initial autopsy confirmed Lam was killed by drowning, Ho said, adding more arrests could still follow. While Lams three fellow officers were rescued immediately by the police vessel travelling behind them, her body was found two days later in the waters off Yi O Hau on Lantau Island after a massive search-and-rescue operation. Asked if the two suspects would stand trial in Hong Kong, Ho said no decision had yet been made and that discussions would take place with the Security Bureau and Department of Justice under mechanisms already in place. The incident has sparked a major crackdown on the triad-run, cross-border smuggling business over the past two weeks. Police stand at attention as the body of Senior Inspector Lam Yuen-yee is placed in a waiting vehicle last month. Photo: K. Y. Cheng The multi-department effort had so far led to the arrests of 365 people, aged 22 to 56, including the 35 believed to be part of the triad smuggling ring, Ho said on Monday. Mainland authorities have netted another dozen members of the same ring. Local authorities have also seized 59 speedboats along with a record 1,700 tonnes of frozen meat worth HK$500 million (US$64.2 million). In the first nine months of this year, police and customs officers have confiscated HK$730 million worth of luxury goods, frozen meat and other contraband in 61 cross-border maritime smuggling cases. In comparison, they seized just HK$490 million worth of smuggled goods in the whole of last year. Just last week, Hong Kongs Customs and Excise Department made its largest-ever smuggling bust, seizing nearly 10 tonnes of shark fins as part of a record HK$210 million haul of luxury goods and endangered wildlife products destined for mainland China. A traditional mourning ceremony to honour Lam will be held at the Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom on November 2. She will then be given an official police funeral with full honours and laid to rest at Gallant Garden, a plot at the Wo Hop Shek Public Cemetery in Fanling reserved for civil servants who lost their lives in the line of duty. Three customs officers were killed in January last year when their boat capsized in the waters off Hong Kong International Airport when chasing a smuggling boat. Two other crew members survived the accident. This article Mainland Chinese police arrest 2 suspects in connection with Hong Kong officers death during anti-smuggling operation first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2021. Singapore's State Courts seen on 21 April 2020. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) SINGAPORE A full-time national serviceman (NSF) with the Singapore Civil Defence Force was jailed for 18 weeks on Monday (11 October) after he left home twice while on medical certificate (MC). On the second occasion, Fathullah Abdul Rahman, 23, tested positive for COVID-19 after he had left home for more than 10 hours. Fathullah, who was training to be a section commander at the Civil Defence Academy, has since entered the firefighter course. He pleaded guilty to twice contravening the Infectious Diseases (Covid-19 Stay Order) Regulations 2020 by leaving his house while on MC, with two counts of a similar nature taken into consideration for his sentencing. Facts of the case On 2 September last year, Fathullah visited the Civil Defence Academy Complex Medical Centre complaining of a sore throat and vomiting. He was diagnosed with an upper respiratory tract infection and gastritis. Fathullah then underwent a nasal swab test for COVID-19 and was issued an MC for three days from 2 to 4 September last year. Fathullah was informed that that he was required by law to stay at home for the duration of the MC, and could only leave his home after receiving a negative result for his COVID-19 swab test. Fathullah returned home but left the next day, even though he had not received his swab test result. He also met a friend the next day, spending about eight-and-a-half hours outside of his residence. He only received a negative swab test result on the morning of 4 September. On 17 September, Fathullah reported sick again, complaining of a runny nose, a sore throat and a cough. He was again diagnosed with an upper respiratory tract infection. He underwent a nasal swab test and was issued another medical certificate for three days from 17 to 19 September. He was again required by law to stay home for the duration of the MC. The next day however, Fathullah again left home and spent about 10 hours outside. On 19 September, Fathullah received a positive result for his second COVID swab test and was conveyed to Changi General Hospital, where he was warded for four days from 19 to 22 September. He was then quarantined at the DResort at Pasir Ris and discharged on 27 September. Story continues A contact tracer emailed the Surveillance and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Health on 20 September to report that Fathullah had left his home during the period of his MC. A 'position of responsibility' The prosecution sought five to six months jail for Fathullah, while his lawyer Yamuna Balakrishnan sought a jail term of four months. She said that Fathullah stayed in a three-room flat with six others and slept in the hall. So when he returned home from camp, the lack of space resulted in him leaving the house. Balakrishnan added, He paid the price of his career through the change of his vocation and ability to specialise in certain selection. However, District Judge Christopher Goh noted that even though Fathullah had been selected for a "position of responsibility", he still decided to do something which, even without the pandemic, is a disciplinary offence in a uniformed service. Fathullah could have been fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed up to six months. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Amid Aryan Khans arrest in the Mumbai drug bust case, a bunch of throwback videos of Shah Rukh Khan have been resurfacing on social media. A recent one to have made its way online is Shah Rukhs Ted Talk, which he delivered in Vancouver in 2017. During his TED Talk, Shah Rukh addressed the rumours that claimed his youngest child AbRam was actually the son of his eldest child, Aryan. There is a 12-year age gap between AbRam and SRKs middle child, Suhana, and his birth was heralded by rumour and gossip. Speaking at the TED Talks in Vancouver, Shah Rukh Khan said, Four years ago, my lovely wife Gauri (Khan) and me decided to have a third child. It was claimed on the net that he was the love child of our first child, who was 15-years-old. Apparently, he had sown his wild oats with a girl while driving her car in Romania. And yeah, there was a fake video to go with it. And we were so disturbed as a family. My son, who is 19 now, even now when you say hello to him, he just turns around and says, But bro, I didnt even have a European driving license.' Aryan Khan Bail Hearing LIVE Updates: Sushant Singh Rajput Fans Gather Outside Mannat, Extend Support to Shah Rukh Khans Family Shah Rukh said this while on the topic of social media. He continued, Reality became virtual and virtual became real. I started to feel that I couldnt be who I wanted to be or say what I actually thought. And humanity at this time completely identified with me. Both of us were going through mid-life crisis. Humanity, like me, was becoming an over-exposed prima donna. Watch Shah Rukh Khans TED Talk he speaks about AbRam and Aryan at about 7.09: In the 17-minute talk, Shah Rukh also talked about his youth, growing up in New Delhi, losing both his parents by the time he was in his twenties, and then, moving to the sprawling metropolis of Mumbai, to follow his dreams of becoming a film star. Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council will be asked Monday to approve the Iowa Department of Transportation's request to annex the Highway 75/20 interchange and a 46-acre tract of land abutting it into the city. The IDOT is consolidating all of its Sioux City facilities into one new location on 50 acres on the north side of U.S. Highway 20. The location also will be home to the Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council, or SIMPCO, which plans to relocate its downtown Sioux City offices to a new office and bus storage facility on land leased from the IDOT. The property is proposed to be zoned Public Institutional upon completion of the annexation, which, if approved, is expected to occur in mid-November. Documents filed with the city state that the annexation and zoning requests are being made for several reasons: The northeast quadrant of the interchange has been used as a borrow pit under county jurisdiction for several years and has now been graded to a point where improvements can be planned for it. The IDOT and SIMPCO need access to city water and sewer services, city fire protection and other city services as they relocate. The IDOT intends to rebuild the interchange so the southerly on-and off-ramps will be similar to the ramps on the north side, which will provide additional developable area for the IDOT. Sioux City Fire Rescue and the Sioux City Police Department will respond to emergencies on the interchange itself. According to the documents, Sioux City Fire Rescue has not raised any issues about serving the proposed IDOT and SIMPCO facilities, but fire officials have expressed concerns about the "very irregular" city limits lines that have been created around the city in recent years and "strongly urge" that these be made more uniform. The Sioux City Police Department has not raised any concerns about serving the additional jurisdiction. Twenty-five notices were sent to property owners in the area of the proposed annexation. The documents state that the city received responses from two individuals inquiring about the full extent of the annexation. During a Sept. 14 Sioux City Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, a Sergeant Bluff resident, who was representing property his family owns adjacent to the proposed site, asked how construction traffic would impact Benton Avenue. Dakin Schultz, District 3 transportation planner, noted that most traffic will originate from Highway 20 and not on Benton Avenue, according to the documents. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The sealing of an Omaha divorce case involving Hollywood filmmaker Alexander Payne has some court observers and the attorney for Paynes estranged wife looking sideways. Douglas County District Judge Thomas Otepka sealed the divorce case, at the request of Paynes attorney, July 13 without providing an explanation and apparently without hearing from the attorney representing Paynes wife, Maria K. Payne. Otepka sealed the case the same day it was filed, and there is no indication of a hearing over the motion to seal. The judge retired in September. Civil and criminal cases are presumed to be carried out in public view in courts across the country, including Nebraska. The reason Alexander Paynes attorney gave for sealing Paynes divorce case was that the complaint contains sensitive information which is personal to the parties and which ought to be shielded from public light. It was unclear what sensitive information was in the complaint a copy of which was obtained by The World-Herald. It included no financial information or private personal information such as Social Security numbers, although it did contain the name of the couples child and the addresses of the couples four homes. Two of the homes are overseas, one is in California and one is in downtown Omaha. Such information is standard fare for every divorce filed. The nuts and bolts of the divorce filing also are routine it asks that the couples property, and parenting time, be equitably divided. But the case also has an international element: Two of the Paynes homes are in Greece, and court filings indicate Paynes estranged wife is there with the couples 4-year-old daughter. Less than a month after Payne filed for divorce in Nebraska, Maria K. Payne filed for divorce in California. The two married in September 2015. Alexander Payne met Maria Payne while visiting an area of Greece where his ancestors lived. Alexander Payne, 60, is 27 years older than Maria Payne, who is a native of Greece and a philologist, an expert in language in literature. Unlike in Nebraska, the California divorce case is not sealed. Records of the couples pending child custody case in Greece also are public. Nebraska apparently is the only place where the entire court docket is sealed. Payne an Omaha native and an award-winning director of several Hollywood films, including Citizen Ruth, Election, About Schmidt, Sideways and Nebraska isnt alone in trying to get cases sealed. John Friend, clerk of the Douglas County District Court, said the sealing of cases in Douglas County happens more often than (people) think. A judge must order each case to be sealed, except for rare automatic sealings required by law, such as a dismissed felony case or the appeal of a mental-health commitment. Judges also are expected to hold hearings before they seal cases. Judges have sealed certain cases when they involve someone famous or infamous, or couples who have $25 million businesses together, things like that, Friend said. I think it happens quite a bit, especially when youre talking about people arguing over millions of dollars (in a marital estate) or over business interests they want to protect. However, under state law, fear of publicity or notoriety is not a reason for an order to seal; nor is the fact that some people have more zeroes at the end of their net worths. Nationally, in the early 2000s, a California billionaire investor and heir to a supermarket chain attempted to seal his divorce case even leaning on California lawmakers to pass laws to allow him to do so. However, appellate courts struck down any privacy provisions and the California Supreme Court ruled that such cases must be open. One of the arguments presented: A less-prominent spouse can end up on the short end of the stick when divorces are barred from public view. Youve got to have this stuff open so everybody can see whats going on, an attorney involved in the case told the Los Angeles Times then. Usually the spouse with the least power may wind up not getting a fair shake. Warren Shiell, a Los Angeles attorney for Maria Payne, said cases are de facto public in California. We dont have secret courts, Shiell said. Great Britain did away with secretive Star Chambers court proceedings in the 17th century and U.S. founding fathers adopted open government and open court as the standard here. Ensuing case law has established that court business can be conducted behind closed doors only in extremely limited cases. Appeals of the civil commitments of the mentally ill are one; motions to shield the sexual history of a rape victim are another. That hasnt stopped some residents, and their attorneys, from trying to keep cases private. In Omaha, a courthouse bailiff once got a judge to seal her divorce action against a former prosecutor, though it was a run-of-the-mill divorce involving no children. A criminal defense attorney asked for and a judge granted the sealing of his case because he had represented gang members and feared the divorce file would expose where his children were living. A prominent divorce attorney got his own divorce sealed. Beyond those anecdotes, The World-Herald requested statistics of how many cases, and what type, have been sealed over the past five years. Nebraska court officials said they were having difficulty processing that request. Omaha attorney Andrea McChesney said she has succeeded in getting a judge to seal cases in two of the dozens of divorce cases she has handled. Each sealing, she said, came after a hearing and after careful consideration by the judge. Do we have courts for lay people and courts for people of privilege? Its a good question, said McChesney, who clerked for judges for nearly two decades before she became an attorney 10 years ago. Its my experience that the expectation that courts be open is taken seriously. We have an above-reproach bench who does not take sealing records lightly. Attorneys sometimes try to keep court filings quiet while bemoaning that courthouses are the worst places to try to keep a secret. The irony of Paynes efforts to seal: It is doubtful that Nebraska court observers would have noticed his divorce filing, even without the sealing. It was filed as Constantine A. Payne vs. Maria K. Payne. Payne goes by his middle name, Alexander. The World-Herald was sent a copy of the filings in the case. It is not clear who originally leaked them. As in most cases, the filings arent tawdry. Courts have long since turned to no-fault divorces, where it doesnt matter who, if anyone, was in the wrong. Both Marias filing and Alexanders filing give no reason for the divorce, other than the standard language of irreconcilable differences and the marriage being irretrievably broken. Heres where the divorce gets unusual: Paynes Omaha attorney, John Slowiaczek, wrote in court documents that he had been unable to serve notice of the divorce to Maria Payne because Maria Payne is in Greece with the couples child. COVID-19 travel restrictions have limited travel to and from Greece. Slowiaczek did not return phone calls or emails Friday. In his initial filing, Slowiaczek wrote that Alexander Payne does not expect this will be a contested matter. However, Maria Payne filed her own divorce action after Alexander Payne did. And then Slowiaczek accused Maria Payne of forum shopping trying to find a favorable court. Divorce attorneys who reviewed the case said Alexander Payne may be seeking more affordable child support guidelines under Nebraska law. Maria Payne may be seeking more favorable property division under Californias community property laws. Where the couple and their child spent the majority of their time could factor into which jurisdiction takes the case. Both sides either have filed, or are expected to file, motions requesting that either California or Nebraska or perhaps even Greece assert jurisdiction. Filings indicate Alexander Payne received a phone call requesting him to appear in a Greek court on Aug. 3. If the case becomes international, the parties may have to turn to the international Hague convention. Those jurisdictional issues could make for a long haul. In the mid-2000s, after Payne and his then-wife, actress Sandra Oh, agreed to divorce, it reportedly took two years to resolve the couples financial matters. The reason for sealing the case in Nebraska: sensitive information. Unfortunately, Slowiaczek wrote, it is not possible to exclude this information from the (divorce) complaint. The same day as the motion, Otepka issued an order prepared by Slowiaczek. The order gave no reason for the sealing, statutory or otherwise. It did provide an avenue to unseal it. It is ordered that the (court) clerk shall flag this file as sealed in the (online) Justice system so that neither the docket nor images of the pleadings are visible to the public, the order said. It is further ordered that this file may be unsealed by either party for good cause shown. Maria Paynes Nebraska attorney is expected to file a motion to unseal the case. Because the entire case is sealed, it is unclear who the new Nebraska judge is on the case, or when it might be heard. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Pedestrians in downtown Omaha found themselves dodging deck chairs, tables and bricks that were thrown from the rooftop of an Old Market apartment building over the weekend. Omahan Lisa Brauer said Monday that she barely avoided being struck by several objects thrown from the nine-story Old Market Lofts apartments at 10th and Jones streets. Brauer, 29, who works for Park Omaha, was checking parking meters about 8 p.m. Saturday when a rock landed on the ground close to her and some people who were gathered on the ground-level patio. "Someone (on the patio) yelled, 'Knock it off,'" Brauer said. "I started moving on, checking meters, when a metal table, a metal chair and grill rack all fell less than 6 inches from me." Brauer said a ceramic pot also narrowly missed her as she ran to take cover under the nearby 10th Street Bridge. She called 911 from there. A police officer found her there, badly shaken, and she ended her shift early. "I didn't know what was going on or if I was being targeted," she said. "Those things could have killed me." Jason Calvert, 50, said he lives in the building and was sitting outside on the patio when the items started to come off the roof. He said he recognized four boys he estimated are between 13 to 15 years old who live in the building throwing things from the roof. "That woman could have been killed," Calvert said. "I gave police (the teens') descriptions and told them where they live. I know that the (building) management is going over the (surveillance) video to identify them." According to a police report, a 2017 Ram 3500 pickup truck parked outside the building had about $2,000 in damage. Scratches and dents to the hood of the pickup, which belongs to a South Dakota man, were caused by projectiles from the roof, police said. An Omaha police spokesman said officers are investigating what happened. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 What do we want Nebraska's future to look like? That might be a good guiding light in choosing projects and programs that will be funded by a billion dollars in federal pandemic recovery assistance. Targeted new development at designated water resource, recreation and tourism sites; creation of a national agricultural research center at UNL's Innovation Campus focused on flooding, drought and the impact of climate change on agriculture; creation of a rural health complex at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Those might be the kind of proposed new statewide initiatives that are really designed to help shape the future. Gamechangers. Think big, Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln urged Nebraskans last week. Those proposals appear to meet that test and there may be more of them. There are plenty of other worthy ideas and proposals on the table now that would help build the state's future: increased investment for workforce development, expansion of rural broadband, funding assistance for shovel-ready construction projects and more. But they seem more like ongoing state funding priorities. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Wishart told her fellow members of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee last week. Jump out of the box; go big. * * * If Gov. Pete Ricketts ends up appointing Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha to fill a District Court judicial vacancy in Omaha, he'll then be able to appoint a successor to serve in the Legislature during the final year of his gubernatorial term. Wayne is a Democrat; you could safely bet that Ricketts would appoint a Republican successor to fill that North Omaha seat in the nonpartisan Legislature. That would increase the number of Republicans in the Legislature to 33, exactly the number required to give Republicans a filibuster-proof majority. However, not so fast: one Republican usually votes with the Democrats because of his own convictions and several other Republicans are not automatic party liners. Wayne hasn't been an automatic party-liner either. Wayne, who was a major force in negotiating legislative and congressional redistricting decisions during last month's special legislative session, was reelected to a four-year term in 2020. * * * Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has introduced legislation that would designate the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum at Ashland as "America's National Museum of the Cold War." "I'm hopeful this creates a global hub for historians of the conflict and for tourists," Fortenberry said. The 1st District congressman represents Offutt Air Force Base, which was the headquarters for the Strategic Air Command during the Cold War. * * * Finishing up: * The Nebraska Republican Party will host three 2022 gubernatorial candidate debates, one in each congressional district, prior to next May's primary election. * Fortenberry jokingly referred to the ongoing rivalry between the House and the Senate during a luncheon speech in Lincoln last week: "We call them country club; they call us truck stop." * During his remarks at last week's Platte Institute legislative summit, Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha praised the leadership of Speaker Mike Hilgers of Lincoln in driving completion of the highly partisan redistricting task during a special session of the Legislature. McDonnell is a Democrat; Hilgers is a Republican. * Relentless fundraising by candidates is the natural fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court's conclusions in its 2010 Citizens United decision that corporations are people and money is speech. Yeah, right. * Traveling with former Sen. Bob Kerrey for a story during one of his campaigns, I heard his opening pitch to prospective donors when he made fundraising calls from the car: "Hi, this is Bob Kerrey. I have bad news for you; I need money." * Yet another increasingly painful loss Saturday night, but the Huskers are at the cusp, knocking on the door, almost there. * Yankees v. Rangers: March 31. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 YikYak, the once-popular social media app that allows users to engage in anonymous discourse with others within a 5-mile radius, has reemerged as an engaging pastime for students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The app, which peaked in popularity in the early 2010s before shutting down in 2017, went live again in August after a four-year stint of inactivity. YikYak's popularity has surged in Lincoln in the months since, drawing hundreds of posts a day as users share short messages and seek "upvotes" from their peers. At least a part of the app's draw appears to be linked to its promised anonymity and constantly evolving discourse. On Friday afternoon, much of the conversation revolved around a rumor that a fraternity member won the recent Powerball jackpot, while one user confessed to using the prescription ADHD medication Adderall before a science test in a post that may or may not have been a joke. But at least one UNL student has learned the hard way that the curtain of anonymity on YikYak only extends so far. According to a search warrant filed in Lancaster County District Court, a freshman at the university is under investigation for allegedly making terroristic threats on the app. YikYak moderators alerted the UNL Police Department on Sept. 6 of a threatening post the student made, according to the court filing. The tip came only a few weeks after the app reappeared on Apple's App Store after it was removed in 2017. In the series of posts to the local message board, the student seemed to take aim at UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green, who at the time was facing intense criticism from student activists at the university protesting the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. "Just planted a 2nd B0mb the chancellors office!!! #HesMyChancellor," the student wrote on Aug. 31, according to the affidavit. The student had made approximately 10 previous threatening posts on YikYak referring to Green's "assassination," according to the warrant. "360 no scope the Chancellor," one of the posts read, according to the affidavit. The phrase originated in reference to first-person shooter video games and has become a meme of sorts in the years since. Along with an investigation, the posts prompted a warning from Assistant University Police Chief Marty Fehringer: "Don't post anything that you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the paper with your name associated with it," Fehringer told the Journal Star on Thursday, quoting advice he received as a young police officer and that he hopes to share with UNL students as one of them is investigated for an apparent joke that could net a felony charge. "That's a good life lesson to have in a lot of areas," he continued. "Don't do anything in your life that you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the newspaper." The student told police the posts were intended to net laughs and upvotes on YikYak, according to the affidavit. He consented to a digital download of his phone's contents, where police found that he told a group of his friends he'd been banned from the app for making too many "sus posts" slang for suspect or alarming according to the warrant. It's unclear if the student will actually be charged with a crime. Fehringer declined to comment directly on the case, instead speaking in generalities about what the app's prominent role on campus means for the police department and for the students who use it. Fehringer said UNL police don't monitor the app or any social media channels with any degree of regularity, in part because staff levels don't allow for it. He said they investigate threats and internet-based concerns only when they're first reported to the department. After YikYak reported the freshman's reference to a second bomb in Green's office, an investigator searched the phone number affiliated with the account in UNL's system, according to the affidavit, quickly identifying the student before using UNL's NCard access system and campus security cameras to determine where the student was when he made the post. The affidavit provides a window of insight into how seriously the campus police department is investigating the threat, though it's not clear if students realize the level of scrutiny their YikYak posts might come under. Fehringer said this investigation might serve as a warning. "There's consequences for behaviors in life," he said. "I mean, that's just a fact of life. And so, trying to understand that ahead of time so you don't make mistakes I think is huge." Part of the reason YikYak shut down in 2017 along with a decline in user engagement was growing criticism surrounding the platform's often-toxic discourse, one that featured bomb threats that prompted school evacuations. As YikYak has reemerged to the tune of instant re-popularity at UNL, it seems some of the problems that led to the site's original demise have resurfaced, too. "I hadn't even heard of it," Fehringer said. "But in talking to people, I've been told that it was around for a while, and then it fell out of favor. And now it's back at least for a period of time." Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 What makes a great character? We tend to think of the figures whose outlines are carefully filled in over hundreds of pages of a novel or dozens of hours of a prestige series, until we understand them in all their psychological complexity. But there are many ways for a character to be important. Some populate our shared cultural imagination, distilling an idea, an era, or a distinct variety of Homo sapiens down to one shared reference point. (Are you a Scrooge, a Pollyanna, or something more quixotic?) Others change the way we perceive whole communities or histories, or allow swaths of humanity to, for the first time, see themselves reflected clearly in popular culture. They can be protagonists, antagonists, or personalities on the margins. (Who has had the more enduring afterlife, Peter Gibbons or Lumbergh?) Sometimes their primary impact is on the culture business as much as on the culture itself: They inspire new archetypes, blaze trails for new genres, or milk enough cash out of customers to greenlight global cross-platform media franchises. Others reshape the real world, whether according to the artists intent or as a Frankensteins monster that slips loose from the creators grasp. There are even some who arent white male antiheroes. Advertisement We polled critics and other culture obsessives from Slate and beyond to assemble an enormous master list of influential characters. They were animated and live-action, wizard and Muggle, human and avian, fictional and based on actual persons, living and dead. They came from movies, books, TV series, video games, tweets, podcasts, comics, songs, and (in a surprise to us) more than one musical. Reflecting our franchise-driven time, many of them came from many of those media at once. The only rule was that they must have originated in a work of culture sometime in the past quarter-century, which meant no Simpsons or hobbits or diner-dwelling New Yorkers who argue about nothing. Then we ruthlessly winnowed down the list to the most crucial of those characters, the ones who have left an outsize mark on our planet circa 2019, to assemble this new pantheon. If youre worried that we forgot your favorite, let us reassure you: We didnt. They just werent important enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He knows your secrets. Hes 11 moves ahead of you on the chessboard. He can draft a contract, train a falcon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house, and fix a jury. Hilary Mantels duo of Tudor novels (soon to be a trilogy), the crowning literary achievement of the past quarter-century, reimagines Cromwell from the blunt villain of Robert Bolts A Man for All Seasons into an expert fixer, a macher, the shadowy manipulator emerging into the light. Mark Rylances soulful, watchful portrayal in the 2015 BBC version is the rare TV performance that adds dimension to a character; his Cromwell is Keyser Soze with a conscience, Michael Clayton without the gambling problem, Steve Bannon but actually as smart as he thinks he is. Together, Mantel and Rylance have created the enduring archetype of this modern vision of the exercise of power, the character every well-read person will remember when they feel the tug of the unseen puppet masters strings upon their fate. Dan Kois 24. The Babadook, from The Babadook (2014) Advertisement No recent villain has left us so shook As Jennifer Kents Mister Babadook. Horrors brand new golden age is fact. But the monsters are all so very abstract. Advertisement Advertisement Take It Follows, or Paranormal Activity: In each, the spooks only name is The Entity. In Get Out, no one dudes most menace-y; Really the foe is white supremacy. But here one soul scares the whole human race And hes more than a mask. (Sorry, Ghostface.) Even The Exorcists William Friedkin Said no film ever had him so freakin. Sure, hes a symbol, for grief and trauma; But fleshed out as one bloke who lives for the drama With a stovepipe hatyass, what a lewk! Horrors great new figure? The Babadook. Forrest Wickman 23. Mindy Lahiri, from The Mindy Project (2012) Advertisement Greater representation of minority groups tends to happen in phases: First come the role models, then the flawed characters, and finally the antiheroes. Mindy Kaling skipped a couple of steps when she created Mindy Lahiri, her alter ego on The Mindy Project. The first sitcom led by an Indian American woman, the series could be miserably uneven, but it never lost sight of who Dr. Lahiri was: a romantic heroine who, as a desi woman bigger than a size 0 with a taste for retina-searingly bright colors, looked like few others in pop cultureand whose bubbly, pathological narcissism somehow made her profoundly relatable. (The character is a constellation of Kalings influences: her OB-GYN mother, author Jhumpa Lahiri, and The Offices Michael Scott.) First appearing in 2012, Mindy Lahiri predates the Asian American boom currently bursting across our screens, but she was so ahead of her time it might be years before any other Asian American character catches up to her complexities. Inkoo Kang 22. Milkshake Duck, from the tweet by @pixelatedboat (2016) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It typically takes an artist thousands of words, hours of screen time, or buckets of paint to craft a zeitgeist-defining character. On June 12, 2016, comedian Ben Ward, aka @pixelatedboat, did it in a single tweet: The whole internet loves Milkshake Duck, a lovely duck that drinks milkshakes! *5 seconds later* We regret to inform you the duck is racist pixelatedboat aka mr tweets (@pixelatedboat) June 12, 2016 Advertisement Milkshake Duck, Wards imagined character representing how swiftly the internet can make a star and then unmask them as reprehensible, isnt as fleshed out as some of Twitters other characters. The long-running account @dril, for instance, has a more complicated persona than Milkshake Duck, about whom little is known beyond his taste in beverages and his off-the-charts racism. But the shape of the Milkshake Duck saga is all too familiar to anyone who is Extremely, or even Moderately, Online. So many people have skyrocketed to viral fame, fueled by social medias insatiable hunger for feel-good stories, only to be brought down by outrage over their anti-Semitic, misogynistic, or pregnancy pornladen pasts, that its no wonder Milkshake Duck made Oxford Dictionaries shortlist for 2017s Word of the Year. And while the bird is not the only recent pop culture figure to enter the lexiconEminems Stan, for example, gave us a noun and a verbno other character may have better or more usefully distilled the life cycles of our internet-driven era. The frappe-loving waterfowl is practically our Hero With a Thousand Faces. Matthew Dessem 21. Sarah Koenig, from Serial (2014) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who among us does not secretly believe that we would make a great detective? Yes, the appeal of this breakthrough podcast came from its unfolding nature, the sensation that each new episode might yield the one bit of information that, scrutinized by the right intellect, could clear or condemn Adnan Syed of the 1999 murder of his high school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. But much of it also came from the peculiar intimacy of the podcast medium, with its voices that, to the earbud-wearing smartphone listener, feel like theyre coming from inside your own head. Sarah Koenig was both the first great star and first great character of a fledgling medium, an amateur PI who became her listeners second self. She was Sherlock Holmes to your Watsonor, depending on how highly you rank your deductive powers, vice versa. Her search for the truth merged with your own, and her voice was the one certainty in a case swimming with shifting evidence, controversy, and unanswered questions. In the end, it was her verdict, not any courts, that mattered most. Laura Miller 20. Thomas Jefferson, from Hamilton (2015) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Lin-Manuel Mirandas Pulitzer Prizewinning, Billboard charttopping musical may have helped restore its title characters place on the $10 bill and in many Americans hearts, it threatens to make an even more dramatic impact on the way we remember his nemesis in George Washingtons Cabinet, redefining Jefferson in the cultural imagination as a villain. Onstage, Daveed Diggs entered Hamiltons second act by literally upstaging his co-stars, descending a palatial staircase to survey the nation thats been formed in his absence, but Lin-Manuel Mirandas common-born upstart sees through his swagger. He may have authored a real nice Declaration, but Jefferson hardly embodies the equality he so eloquently espouses: As Hamilton points out during their ideological rap battle, hes a slave owner who was off getting high with the French while soldiers were dying on American soil. Miranda doesnt scoff at Jeffersons ideals, and in the end, Hamilton chooses his high-minded hypocrisy over Aaron Burrs unprincipled self-advancement. But the portrayal of one of the countrys Founding Fathers as a bully and a braggart who sees no apparent contradiction in proclaiming all men equal while treating some as property is Hamiltons most enduring reframing of American history. It may not blow Jefferson off the face of Mount Rushmore, but its beginning to chip away at it: Polls show that Americans are less likely to see Jefferson favorably than they were a decade ago, with pollsters mentioning the musical as a possible influence. While historians have long taught Jefferson as the populist and Hamilton as the elitist, millions of theatergoers will now think it was the opposite. Sam Adams 19. The Rock, from the WWE (1996) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dwayne Johnson sometimes describes the Rock, the persona that catapulted him to wrestling superstardom and a future atop Forbes all-time highest-paid movie stars list, as a version of himself with the volume turned way up. That sells his own creation a bit short. Outside the ring, Johnson exudes warmth and charm. Inside it, he was a masterful trash-talker and egomaniac who spoke in the third person, could raise his right eyebrow up to the rafters, and uncorked a catchphrase per minute. (Do you smell what the Rock is cooking? It doesnt matter what your name is! The Rocks going to lay the smackdown on your candy ass!) The character gave a name to everything from WWE SmackDown to all those hopeless jabronis, but above all he gave Johnson a license to verbally vamp, without being too culturally specific or outright weird, the way his fellow WWE headliners were. Stone Cold Steve Austin was a blue-collar badass. Mankind was a deformed psychopath. By the early 2000s, the Rock was just a gamma ray of charisma, which set Johnson up to drive the Peoples Elbow through the barrier that separated pro wrestlings stars from true big-screen success. Its a signature move that grapplers from John Cena to Dave Bautista (whom you may know as Drax) have since imitated. Jordan Weissmann 18. Angel Dumott Schunard, from Rent (1996) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the strivers and artists of Jonathan Larsons musical, Angel alights like a fairy godmother, introduced in a whirl of sequins and platform pumps as she doles out cash and comfort without a whiff of selfishness. Flouting conventions of gender and tidings of death, she is an embodiment of the furious and defiant celebration of life embraced by the queer community in response to the AIDS crisis. On Broadway and in the 2005 film, Angel introduced the general public to the image of a gender-fluid person of color defined by their joy rather than their pain. In recent years, as more audiences and critics have rethought the question of who gets to tell trans and nonbinary stories, she has also come to represent the inadequacies of early gender politics. But while Angel may have been clumsily handled by her own creator, in the hands of generations of performers (from the original productions Wilson Jermaine Heredia to Rent Lives Valentina), the character is a pure expression of the strength and grace of those who thrive in their own otherness. Rae Binstock 17. Bridget Jones, from Bridget Joness Diary (1996) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breezy, female-focused, and wildly popular (a jaw-dropping 2 million copies reported sold worldwide), Helen Fieldings novel inspired both a genrethe much-maligned chick litand an archetype: the single young professional woman who is both messy and ambitious, empowered and insecure. We have Bridget in part to thank for Rebecca Bunch and Fleabag. A thirtysomething singleton in London, Bridget is a self-described feminist who also declares in her diary, Theres nothing so unattractive to a man as strident feminism. She counts calories and cigarettes, laments the scourge of male emotional fuckwittage, and is forever falling short of her goal to be skinny, sexy, and successful. Shes the original basic bitch. Not everyone thought she captured the zeitgeist: Candace Bushnell, creator of her own messy women, sniffed to the Times that Bridgets neediness and romantic desperation were 10 years out of date. But thanks in part to an impeccably cast 2001 film adaptation, Bridget remains an icon: a character who gets a happy ending not because she masters all her flaws, but because flawed people deserve happy endings too. Ruth Graham 16. Omar Little, from The Wire (2002) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That Omar (Michael K. Williams) is The Wires greatest character has been established by countless listicles, by bracket, and even by executive order. The Robin Hood of Baltimore, he has his own theme song, his own catchphrases, and some of the best lines in television history (You come at the king, you best not miss). But Omar isnt just the shows most beloved characterhe was also its most impactful. Openly gay, he revealed dimensions of black masculinity and sexuality that are vanishingly rare on screen now and were virtually unprecedented when he emerged whistling on the scene in 2002. For all that Moonlight illuminated with Chiron, its striking how much Omar explored first. Consider one moving scene: Omar sits on a stoop with his boyfriend. He kisses him, teases him (Who the man, huh?). This glimpse of casual, public same-sex affection is small yet radical: Omar subtly bucks a world that sees black men only one wayif it sees them at all. Brandon Tensley 15. Tracy Flick, from Election (1998) According to director Alexander Payne, Barack Obama twice named 1999s Election as his favorite political film. Obamas former campaign rival, Hillary Clinton, probably has a more ambivalent relationship with this Nebraska-set social satire, adapted by Payne from Tom Perrottas 1998 novel of the same name. During both of Clintons campaigns for the White House, what some perceived as her outsize ambition and Hermione-grade preparation led her to be compared often to the tightly wound and ruthlessly dedicated candidate for student body president. Reese Witherspoon, who played the high schooler with career-making ferocity, has said that when she met Clinton, the candidate told her, Everybody talks to me about Tracy Flick in Election. The alternately pitiable and impressive Tracy is a villain, a heroine, a comic buffoon, and a mystery. Shes one of those rare characters who goes on to lead an independent existence as a real-world archetype. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Election has been criticized for misogyny (to my mind, unfairly) because of its sometimes caustic portrait of a female character who desires, undisguisedly and at times excessively, to win. Twenty years after the movies release, Tracys brand of dogged persistence seems more like a feature than a bug. Dana Stevens 14. Kumar Patel, from the Harold & Kumar movies (2004) The Harold & Kumar franchise was more revolutionary than you might think. As the first major Hollywood series headed by Asian protagonists, it expanded what the archetypal cinematic stoner (Cheech and Chong, Jeff The Dude Lebowski) looked like, then took the role into even more bizarre directions, with characters romancing giant bags of weed and sharing joints with George W. Bush. But it was Kumar Patel, especially, who represented a radical new vision of Asian Americans on screen, and it was precisely his lack of ambition that made him so groundbreaking. As portrayed by Kal Penn, he was a layabout by choice, a brilliant doctor-to-be without the baggage of responsibility and social ineptitude. He seemed written to deliberately subvert all the typecasting of yesteryear, rejecting comparisons to caricatures like The Simpsons Apu and pushing the awkward, overachieving Harold into loosening up and enjoying life. The loafing, mischief-making pothead was far from a role model, and for many of us, he meant all the more for it. Nitish Pahwa 13. Sadness, from Inside Out (2015) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pixar has been a dominant creative force in the past quarter-century, revolutionizing the way childrens entertainment looks and feels, beginning with Toy Story in 1995. But the companys characters have also reflected (and influenced) the child-focused evolution of modern parenting, from the debate over exceptionalism that illuminates the Incredibles movies to the explorations of independence and disability at the center of Finding Nemo and Finding Dory. No Pixar character has taught American families more, though, than Inside Outs Sadness, voiced by Phyllis Smith. Given Pixars signature knack for making audiences sniffle, this little blue blob with glasses could serve as a kind of wry company mascot, but through her noble quest to broaden teenage Rileys emotional palette, Sadness has also helped an entire generation of kids (and parents) understand the value of mourning and the cleansing power of a good, healthy cry. Dan Kois 12. Olivia Pope, from Scandal (2012) An early scene in Scandals run encapsulates what Olivia Pope means to so many viewers. Played by Kerry Washington, the D.C. fixer strides into a meeting room with her team, and a potential client immediately assumes that the celebrated power broker shes there to see must be the white woman by Olivias side. The first black woman to lead a primetime network drama in nearly 40 years, Olivia was a vision of hypercompetence whom others underestimated at their peril. She also became one of the most influential people on earth when she helped install her on-again, off-again lover in the Oval Officeand in doing so, made Scandal the rare must-see-live series, one that almost single-handedly popularized live-tweeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its not just the White House, and one night a week on Twitter, that Olivia seized. She made Hollywood realize all sorts of audiences could identify with a powerful black woman, paving the way for an era of increased diversity on the small screen and for creator Shonda Rhimes to announce last year that she had become the highest-paid showrunnner in television. The Hollywood takeover? Its handled. Inkoo Kang 11. Edward Cullen, from the Twilight saga (2005) Ask any teenage girl (or older!) who devoured the Twilight series during its peak in the mid-2000s, and shed explain that the appeal of Stephenie Meyers novels had nothing to do with their heroine, Bella Swan, and everything to do with her love interest. Under the guise of a vampire story, Meyer introduced a generation of young female readers to the archetypal romance novel hero: handsome, brooding, utterly devoted, protective, a bit mysterious, and rich. Edwards transformation into the dominating hero of E.L. James fan fictionbased blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey was testament to the power of fandom in the age of modern entertainment, but his reincarnation shouldnt have been surprising; he already was Heathcliff, Mr. Darcy, Rhett Butler, and countless other, lesser fantasies of masculine strength and vulnerability conjured by women writers over the past 200 years. And a bit of a blank, too, sure. But how else could so many dreams be projected onto him? Laura Miller 10. Hannah Horvath, from Girls (2012) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think I may be the voice of my generation, Hannah Horvath famously said in the very first episode of Girls, or at least a voice, of a generationand she, and all the rest of us, were off to the races. Was she joking? Was she sincere? Was that the character, Hannah Horvath, speaking? Or a thinly veiled version of the woman who played her, Girls creator and controversy collector Lena Dunham? The enmeshment of Dunham and Horvathwhere did one end and the other begin?gave the HBO series its zeitgeist-grabbing cachet, at least until exhaustion set in, but it also obscured Horvaths identity as a new and genuinely challenging kind of antihero: the anti-charming antihero. More like Larry David than Tony Soprano, who wooed audiences despite his crimes, Hannah offended audiences despite her lack of crimes. She was less odious, objectively, but more unbearable, intentionally. Season after season, Horvath became more grotesque and noxious, an outsize fictional monster, but antipathy for Dunham created a slippage between the two, a slippage that meant Horvath could never shake her autobiographical underpinnings, no matter how far and outlandishly she moved away from them. People never gave us the benefit of the doubt that the show was actually a self-aware commentary on privileged white womanhood, Dunham said. When a guy plays an antihero, nobodys like, I think Bryan Cranstons really promoting drug use. Dunham didnt always help her causeamong other things, the first season often did seem like an un-self-aware commentary on privileged white womanhoodbut her Hannah Horvath was a truly pioneering antihero, a lightning rod in a revealing mesh shirt, willfully charting the outer limits not of criminality, but of likability. Willa Paskin 9. Willow Rosenberg, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If an infallible computer ingested all of teen and nerd culture, it could not spit out a character more perfectly designed to be fiercely beloved than Willow. Imbued with a quiet, awkward charm by Alyson Hannigan, Willow grew from a nerdy teen into a self-actualized world-saving witch, emerging as the heart and moral center of the show over its eight seasons. But its her queer sexuality, and the way Buffy made it integral to her character but not the entirety of it, that earns Willow a place on this list. When Willow fell for her witch friend Tara in Season 4, it was 2000three years after Ellen DeGeneres goofy coming-out on Ellen and four years before The L Word gave queer women the glamorous, sexed-up soap opera treatment. Before Willow, there had been few lesbian relationships on TV, and none with the longevity or pride of place the Willow-Tara union enjoyed on Buffy. Their pairing was earnest, affectionate, careful to sidestep the voyeuristic male gaze. Audiences watched Willows abilities and confidence blossom as the relationship progressed, a sensitive portrayal of the liberating power of queer love and being seen as, or simply being, ones true self. Buffys depiction of Willows sexuality hit some familiar pitfalls: Bisexual critics lamented that Willow identified as a lesbian even though shed had sex with men. Her maniacal Dark Willow turn after Taras death hewed to an angry lesbian trope that didnt seem to fit the character. And it took Willow and Tara an entire year to kiss on-screen, even as the rest of the cast screwed with abandon. But Willow made up for lost time with network televisions first lesbian sex scene in Season 7and more importantly, she set a high bar for all the even better queer love stories that followed. Christina Cauterucci 8. Sarah Palin, from Saturday Night Live (2008) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Palin never actually said I can see Russia from my house. The fact that the line has become indelibly associated with her, and that many otherwise well-informed people believe she said it, is a testament to how much Tina Feys iconic portrayal has eclipsed the actual Sarah Palin in our cultural memory. Fey, who had left Saturday Night Live two years earlier, was brought back to play John McCains running mate on SNLs 2008 season premiere after the press noted the womens physical resemblance. Fey nailed Palins distinctive Midwesternish accent (Alaskan wind song, as she dubbed it in a David Letterman interview), her indifference to preparation and political norms, and her shameless pandering to hockey moms and Joe Six-packs. Fey continued the riff throughout the election, including in an instant classic reenactment of Palins infamous train-wreck interview with Katie Couric, and by the time the real-life Palin made an awkward appearance beside Fey, the actual Palin seemed less real than her counterpart. The impersonation left a mark on more than just the bottom half of the presidential ticket. Political scientists would later argue that the Tina Fey effect made young Republicans and independents less likely to vote for McCain. And while Fey couldnt stop the would-be veep from cracking open the Pandoras box of our current nightmarish, reality-show politics, the character, too, remains influential: More than a decade later, SNLs arms race of celebrity cameos to portray Trumpworld figures (Alec Baldwin! Matt Damon! Robert De Niro!) feels like an increasingly desperate attempt to recapture her lightning in a bottle. Joshua Keating Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spider-Man could be anyone under that spider-suit, but until 2011, he was only Peter Parker. The genius of that character was always that the shy, nerdy, unlikely hero was the audience proxy of the Marvel Universe: He battled among the demigods of the Avengers and saved the world from Doc Ock, then went home to fret over his chemistry final. But not everyone could be Peter Parker, right? Even in Marvels popular Ultimate imprinta group of titles set outside the main Marvel Comics universehe was the same white kid from Queens. So eight years ago, Ultimate Spider-Man creator Brian Michael Bendisa white writer with two adopted children who are blackkilled off Parker and gave his spider-job to Miles Morales, a 13-year-old from Brooklyn with a black dad and a Puerto Rican mom. It wasnt a stunt, and it wasnt pandering; instead, it provided the superhero world a model for thoughtfully diversifying the stories it told for as big an audience as possible. That model has continued through comics characters like Marvels Ironhearta black teenage girl who builds a suit like Iron Mansand now, it seems, in the ascension of Anthony Mackies Sam Wilson into the position of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Its likely those moves wouldnt have happened without Miles Morales. Miles was a compelling hero (reluctant, sensitive, eventually buoyant) whose story was not an imitation of Peter Parkers but its own vibrant self. The character developed such a passionate fan base that Marvel eventually ported him over to their main superhero universe. The big payoff was 2018s brilliant Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, a Miles-centric movie that won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Sure, it had Peter Parker, tooactually, three or four Peter Parkers, and a Spider-Hambut only one heart. That Miles isnt the only Spider-Man no longer feels like a hedge. As Miles puts it in the film, in a heartening message for the worlds dominant pop culture storytelling mode to deliver: Anyone can wear the mask. You can wear the mask. If you didnt know that before, I hope you do now. Jonathan Fischer 6. Jar Jar Binks, from Star Wars: Episode IThe Phantom Menace (1999) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hey, this is a list of the most important characters, not the most beloved. When Star Wars returned after 16 years with The Phantom Menace, the movies klutzy, floppy-eared sidekick quickly became a symbol of its flaws and a lightning rod for criticism, both legitimate (concerns about cynical commercialization, racial stereotypes, and the inadequacy of the eras CGI to replace human performance) and overblown (gripes about its gee-whiz childish tone, something that had long been central to the series). So venomous was the hatred of Jar Jaractor Ahmed Best received death threats and contemplated suicidethat his role was considerably reduced in subsequent movies, though the character still managed to bungle his way into enough power to enable an evil dictators galactic takeover. Thats nothing compared to Jar Jars impact on our own galaxy. George Lucas has defiantly named him his favorite character, and fans have crafted elaborate theories in which the bumbling comic relief is a villainous mastermind, but even after 20 years, he remains the standard to which other irritating characters, from Poochie to the Minions, are held. Sure, people have been complaining about the decline of the Star Wars franchise since the rise of the Ewoks, but The Phantom Menace was released when they had an internet to complain on, and the tone of the fandom has never really recovered, with Kelly Marie Tran absorbing much of the backlash against The Last Jedi just last year. Jar Jar led to anger, anger led to hate, and were all still suffering for it. Marissa Martinelli 5. Hermione Granger, from the Harry Potter series (1997) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quidditch stadiums full of Harry Potter fans have jokedsometimes in meme formthat if the books were written from Hermiones perspective, each one would tell the story of a smart young witch saving the lives of a couple of idiots who refused to read Hogwarts: A History. Theyre not far off: While Harrys name adorned the covers, Hermione did all the work. Introduced as a bushy-haired, bucktoothed, Muggle-born know-it-all, she transformed over the series into one of J.K. Rowlings most fully realized creations, a brainy, hardworking, bossy, big-hearted, righteous heroine for women everywhere. In 1997, Hogwarts, too, was a boys club, where the most prominent female character bore the burden of standing in for all womankind. Whats amazing is that Hermione pulled it off. (Years later, Rowling would give the character another mantle to wear, blessing the possibility that she could be blackan opportunity seized by the megahit play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.) Crucially, Hermione was a girl but never just the girl, and certainly not there merely as a love interest for the main character. (Sorry, Harry-Hermione shippers.) Harry makes for a good hero and Ron is a fine sidekick, but neither rivals Hermione as the most singularly enduring character from the most popular entertainment franchise of the past quarter-century. An inspiration to generations of bookish girls, Hermione made for a powerful proto-feminist counter to a culture awash in princesses, Barbie, and Britney. (These same readers would learn from Hermiones Yule Ball debut that there was power in femininity, too.) In Cursed Child, set years after the Harry Potter books, Hermione has become the actual Minister of Magic. The books never brooked the possibility that Hermione could fail in the endso those bookish girls, now grown up, never dreamed that the same could happen to, say, a smart, hardworking female presidential candidate in the Hermione mold. WWHD? A host of conditions brought on the post-2016 rebirth of progressive activism, but dont forget the radical SJW-before-her-time spirit of Hermione Granger. Heather Schwedel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It might seem odd to call a musician a character, but in his best work, Jay-Z has been precisely that. Since the mid-1990s, the character that Shawn Carter has crafted verse by verse has doubled as an embodiment of the American dream and a bellwether for the shifting cultural status of hip-hop, the eras dominant musical form. In 25 years, he has gone from selling CDs out of his car to becoming a billionaire, and he has somehow managed to make this progression seem like the natural order of things, the arc nearly every other rapper seeks to follow. His 1996 debut Reasonable Doubt was a groundbreaking depiction of the psychic ravages of street hustling, cinematic in its detail and narrative ambitions. His three-volume series of follow-ups found him scaling the top of hip-hops commercial heap, doggedly building his myth and his empire. His 2001 masterpiece, The Blueprint, was a roadmap to adulthood for its maker and his genre. Throughout the 21st century, his cultural footprint has only expanded, as he has turned what was once a crime drama and a Horatio Alger story into, most recently, a soap opera, co-starring and co-written by his wife, Beyonce. Jay-Z turns 50 later this year and remains both massive and overexposed, and yet complaining about this feels a bit like yelling at the sun. No hip-hop artist has so deftly balanced a well-cultivated street authenticitycharacter workwith such a virtuosic flair for corporate capitalism. From some angles, Jay-Z feels like hip-hops past; from others, he still feels like its future. Jack Hamilton 3. Pikachu, from the Pokemon franchise (1996) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With an estimated $90 billion in total revenue, Pokemon is the largest media franchise in the world, and its universe of video games, trading cards, TV shows, movies, comics, toys, and other merchandise revolves around one electric rodent. This is, in some ways, an accident. Pikachu looks like a character lab-grown for global conquest. With a round, pudgy silhouette, bright yellow coloring, and apple-red cheeks, he appears tailor-made for a Macys Thanksgiving Day balloon. But he wasnt always the franchises mascot. In the original role-playing games, released in Japan in 1996, Pikachu is a relatively rare find in the games wilds and isnt featured on the box art. It was the spinoff propertiesparticularly the animes characterization of Pikachu as the slightly mischievous, sweet, and surprisingly powerful companion to the shows herothat turned it into the franchise mascot. The anime also ingeniously instituted the trope that the titular pocket monsters mostly say their own names in place of the squeaks and grunts real animals might make, meaning that whenever Pikachu spoke, it only spoke the syllables pika and chu, reminding you with every breath the name of the character and what toys to ask your parents to buy. With more than 20 years of branding momentum, and the success of the recent Detective Pikachu film (itself the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time), Pikachu is a kind of supercharged Mickey Mouse for our era, one who, like Mickey, is destined to be with us for decades. Pikachu was also an ambassador not just for the world of Pokemon but for Japanese aesthetics generally. Both Japanese role-playing games and anime existed in the United States before Pokemon debuted, but the arrival of Pikachu on our shores was a generational flashpoint, a moment when Western children like myself were first exposed en masse to the Japanese design style that would go on to revolutionize the aesthetics of animation, game design, and character design and make shows like Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and Avatar: The Last Airbender commercially and aesthetically possible. He may be a mouse, but like Mickey, he casts a long shadow. Benjamin Frisch 2. Donald Trump, from The Apprentice (2004) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My name is Donald Trump, the host of The Apprentice says at the beginning of Season 3. You know everything about me. Did we? Do we? Divining the real Trump, if there is one, may be an interesting project someday for a biographer, or St. Peter. But for most of us, the Trump who mattersthe one whos rage-tweeting, fulminating, running the worldis Donald Trump, the brazen character he workshopped for decades in the New York City tabloids, on talk shows, in sitcom cameos. And, most influentially, on The Apprentice. Trump was reality TV before the genre had a name. He knew it was more important to seem like a thing than to be that thing. People would become invested in youbanks, TV producers, votersand do the work of maintaining your illusion themselves. The Apprentice didnt need a businessman. It needed the idea of a businessman. That was the entire point of Donald Trump. He brought his own props. He opened the first episode in his helicopter, his name plastered on the side. He showed off his jet and his model girlfriend and his Trump Tower triplex, an orgasm of gold and crystal to outdo the love lairs of The Bachelor. As for his historythe legerdemain, the bankruptcies, his diminution into a spokesmodel for his own brandwell, details, details. He looked rich, didnt he? The Apprentice needed Trump to be credible so the show would be credible. It built him a boardroom based on Ned Beattys corporate lair in Network. It imposed logic on his capricious firing decisions in the editing room. It punched up the rough draft he created, with better production values. TVs Mr. Trumpit was always Mr. Trumpwas decisive. He was feared, his approval craved. He was saucy and shrewd and glamorous and generous. He was a serious businessman. But he was fun! Where else do you get a good time like with Trump? he asked a female lawyer whom hed just introduced to America with Theres Miss Universe, right there! He was shot gliding imperiously down gleaming escalators, the same way he would one day announce his campaign at Trump Tower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As his catchphrase, Youre fired!, became a hitthis was the era of nasty Simon Cowell and antiheroes like Tony SopranoTrump dialed it up, grew meaner, grumpier. On red carpets, hed wheel, grimace, and shoot finger guns at the cameras: Youre fired youre fired youre fired. Eventually, the sensation cooled; eventually, he was playing a parodic reprise of his act with Piers Morgan and Gene Simmons. But the beautiful thing about the character was that it was portable, malleable, adaptable to the times. As his ratings declined on NBC, he became a regular guest on another network, whose audience would embrace a flashy, mouthy businessman getting real. In 2010, he recorded a promo for them: Im Donald Trump, and youre watching Fox & Friends. And if you turn the channelyoure fired! James Poniewozik, author of the forthcoming Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America 1. Carmela Soprano, from The Sopranos (1999) It is now a trope of a certain kind of prestige TV that there will be a complex antihero, and he will have a blonde wife whose character arc is structured around whether or not she is going to put up with his shit. There is Skyler White; there is Betty Draper; there is now, more or less, Kim Wexlercharacters shaped by their relation to a mans misdeeds, and by their own latent appetites for related misdeeds. But behind them looms the godmother of blonde wives: Carmela Soprano, the immaculate, the consummate, the eternal blonde wifeone of the finest performances in history applied to one of the best characters ever conceived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women in the world of the Sopranos have a tough lot. We are accustomed to seeing their nude bodies swaying lacklusterly on the stage at the Bada Bing, to seeing them at the receiving ends of rape, slaps, vicious beatings, assassinations (although some of these, of course, are the mens lot too). Tonys roving eye, the mens explicit commentary, the camerawork itself make us complicit in the casual appraisals of the women in the show, and the audience is forgiven, to a point, for seeing the women in the terms the shows world has setDr. Melfis legs, Adriana La Cervas ass. The women of the show assert their power from subject positions, and the actuarial problems of the family business become clear in the fates of Angie Bonpensiero, giving out samples at the grocery store when her husband first dies; or Ginny Sacramoni, whose husbands incarceration leaves her homeless; or, most painfully, Adriana, whose trusting nature and need for a friend gets her whacked. And then there is Carmela, who presides, more or less serenely, above them all. The totality with which Edie Falco embodies Carmela is, of course, in part due to stellar hair and makeup, wardrobe and nails, a presentation that evidently took hours to put together each day. But Falco as an actor brings a magnificent physicality to the roleexuding at one moment the prideful carriage of a woman securely established at a high position in the pecking order, or the Id like to speak to a manager carriage of a woman unhealthily invested in her childrens college admissions, or the sudden frailty of a woman who sees that all she has is tied to a philandering man who is statistically likely to meet a sudden end. She wields her flawless acrylics to hang lasagna noodles over the side of the pot, to present a meaningful ricotta pie with pineapple, to turn the pages of the real estate license handbook, to stroke a Baume & Mercier watch, to scrabble through a bag of birdseed in pursuit of $40,000 cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even when Carmelas taste is not your taste, there is so much aesthetic unity to her outfits, to her decorating, to her presentation, even to her relationships with her husband and children, that she becomes a figure of admiration. Carmela brings a huge amount of authority and dignity to her role as homemaker and head wife: In a time of crisis, she knows just what to say, and will assign you a date to bring the ziti to the bereaved. But her life is one great moral quagmire, and Falco brilliantly delineates the series of moments where Carmela makes the choice to fully lean in, as it were, to mob life. And so the character of Carmela beautifully puts forth the paradoxes of history as expressed in the present moment, when so many of usthe audiences for our eras prestige television series, blockbuster movies, fantasy franchises, iconic tweetsconsider, yet fail to truly reckon with, the weight of our own complicity in the evils of the world outside fiction. How does someone devoted to her family dismiss the fates of other families? How does someone who espouses the virtues of democracy ruthlessly apply her privilege for the benefit of her children? How does someone who reveres religious principles profit from the suffering of others? Carmela Soprano shows us how its done, and without breaking one single, perfect nail. Lydia Kiesling Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, I have recently accepted a new job that will necessitate a move across the country. This is a good thing in many respects (closer to family, higher pay, more stability and lower stress), but I am concerned and feeling very guilty about how it will affect my kids, ages 7 and 9. Advertisement I dont normally experience working-mom guilt, but this one is hitting me hard. I will be working remotely until next summer, so we will not have to move schools mid-year, but it will be a big shake up. We also have a lot of other stress, as their grandmother is dying, and their dad has been gone off and on to try to help his father deal with this. He is the stay-at-home parent, and his absences have been hard on all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also changed schools locally for the 2020/2021 school year, so the kids had the challenge of starting a new school in the middle of the pandemic, and they missed out on the last few months of in-person school with their old school friends. We have not told them about the move yet, since the job starts in January, and it has only recently become official. How do we cushion them and help them with this big and difficult transition in the midst of family grief and loss? I am particularly worried about my older child, who is more sensitive and emotional, and had a lot of anger around the school change two years ago. Advertisement Moving With Worry Dear Moving With Worry, It sounds like your kids are getting quite a few early lessons about how often life requires us to make swift transitions. Its not ideal for anyone to have to uproot themselves from familiar surroundings and routines to start over again in places unknown. Its particularly inconvenient to do so on a timeline that feels disruptive, like mid-school-year or when a grandparent unexpectedly takes ill. Transitions are unpredictable and unavoidable, and while its unlikely that a 9- and 7-year-old will have an easy time accepting that, theyll learn it by continuing to go through it. Advertisement You may be able to lessen the impact by researching extracurricular activities or social groups they may enjoy in your new city. Discuss your plans and their feelings about them as often as feels appropriate. Help them identify at least 2-3 things about your new surroundings that interest themthings they can look forward to exploring, like a local zoo or aquarium, visits with those family members youll be living closer to, an unusual landmark, festival, or theme park, or even a simple change in weather. Consider whether there are small decisions about the move they can have a say in. Maybe they can choose the paint color for their new room, help decide which neighborhood they move to or which church to attend, or research local activities they may want to join. Acknowledge that while a lot of things are changing, other facets of your family life are steady and reliable. Remind them that those things will come with you when you move. Advertisement Advertisement Try to let go of the guilt youre feeling. It sounds like youve made your decision to relocate based on its long-term potential benefits, not just for you but for the whole family. Youve made a solid choice and youd do well to remind yourself of that, as you gear up for another bumpy ride. Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, More than a decade ago, my wifes and my prayers were answered when we were able to adopt a beautiful baby boy. We were told his birth mother was Navajo and had willingly surrendered him for a no-contact adoption, so we found the nearest Navajo reservation and drove him regularly to participate in community activities and ensure he had a connection to his culture. This week, his birth mother and a team of Hopi tribe lawyers showed up on our doorstep. His mother had been assaulted as a young teen, had chosen to keep the baby, and after giving birth at a hospital had never seen him again. Weve heard many stories like this on the Navajo reservation and from other native friends, and a DNA test proved her to be his birth mom. Advertisement Im not sure if the Navajo story we were told was just government incompetence or a lie to keep her from finding him, but she had not willingly given him up and has been searching for him for his whole life. My wife and I are devastated, and we are now faced with an impossible dilemma. The law is technically on our side to keep him, but thats only because it was built on racist colonization ideals (we are both of Asian descent but American citizens). If the law was just, we would never have had him in the first place. On the other hand, weve raised him for 11 years and love him as our son, and he loves us and is so scared by all of this that hes regressed to sleeping on our bedroom floor so that he can make sure were still there as soon as he wakes up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His birth mother, understandably, is not warm towards us and bluntly said that she wants to take him back to her reservation and raise him as she wanted to, without us at all. Even when we proposed moving near the reservation so that we could see him regularly, she told us he wouldnt be ours any more, and the lawyers said that we wouldnt be allowed on their land. Because of this all-or-nothing scenario, my wife, also understandably, wants to refuse and only allow his birth mother contact with us in the room, and although my own maternal instincts want to do anything to keep from losing him, I understand his birth mom, who is traumatized and has been fighting to get her son back from people like us for years. Its hypocritical to have spent years protesting for indigenous rights only to hide behind the law when it benefits usbut this is our son. We had no idea he was stolen from her, but we still contributed to her losing him, and now we cant bear to lose him the same way. We love him more than anything in the world. Please tell us what to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do We Have to Give Up Our Son? Dear DWHtGUOS, I cant tell you what to do. This is an incredibly difficult position for you, your wife, your son and his birth mom to be in. Im sorry youre all going through this. It must be terrible to discover after 11 years that everything you thought you knew about the circumstances surrounding your sons adoption is false. It must be even harder to contend with how much the lies you were initially told are now threatening your adoptive rights. Im not sure what a judge will decide in this case. And it sounds like you will definitely need a great deal of legal intervention to reach any sort of compromise here (and youand your son may want the help of a mental health professional, too, to sort through the emotions of it all). But apart from the legal implications of your case, Id encourage you to further consider a few points youre already raising in the letter youve sent. Advertisement Advertisement First, you shouldnt feel guilty about what you didnt know when you filed for adoption. But you should hold yourself accountable for the decisions youll make now, in light of everything youve learned. You can no longer proceed as though youre unaware that your son has another parent whos been fighting to reunite with him for his whole life. That has to be considered as you and your wife figure out how to proceed. Your son also knows that he has a birth parent who did not willingly terminate her parental rights. Though he may not want to be removed from your home, as its the only home hes ever known, how might his feelings change in the years to come? Will you be able to justify a decision to keep his interaction with his birth mother limited and supervised as he grows older and better understands the injustice he and his birth mom have suffered? Advertisement Advertisement Second, you have had 11 wonderful years with your son. His birth mother, who has lived without knowledge of her childs whereabouts for just as long, cannot say the same. If you refuse to help her facilitate a relationship with him now, you will be knowingly contributing to the harm shes endured. Im not sure how heavily that should weigh in your choices about how to proceed. Only you and your wife can figure that out. Its within your power to grant your sons birth mother the custody that was stolen from her. Doing so wouldnt make him any less your son, at least not in his eyes. Youve raised him through his formative years and built a familial foundation with him that is not likely to be completely severed, even if you cant reach any sort of visitation or custody agreement with his birth mother, while hes still a minor. Theres always the possibility of re-establishing a relationship with him when hes old enough to choose that for himself. Advertisement Advertisement However this resolves, my heart goes out to you all. If you missed Sundays Care and Feeding column, read it here. Advertisement Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, Can a white child use a Soul Cap? Soul Caps are swim caps for those with especially voluminous hair. We are white Hispanics, and my daughter has very long curly hair. This is a superior product but I dont want to appropriate a product for Black swimmers Not Enough Space in Regular Swim Caps Dear NESiRSC, A superior product is a superior product, even if youre not one part of its target marketing demographic. Cultural appropriation is adopting cultural practices and/or wearing clothing, jewelry or hairstyles that originated within a specific culture, without acknowledging those origins or their significance. Buying a swim cap designed with Black natural hair in mind is not the same thingespecially since the company website itself says that the cap is for anyone with big hair. Your daughter can use it and swim with a clear conscience. Advertisement For more of Slates parenting coverage, listen to Mom and Dad Are Fighting. Dear Care and Feeding, Our neighbors young daughter died suddenly a few days ago. We live in a cluster of townhouses backing onto a shared backyard, so we know them fairly well, mostly by our kids playing outside together. The neighborhood has been supporting the family as much as we can: bringing easy-to-reheat meals, running errands, childcare for their son, or company anytime they want it (though any suggestions for what they may need would be welcome). Their late daughter and my daughter happen to have the same name. We all usually call our kids in for dinner by name, but as I went to shout for my daughter I realized that hearing her name like that might be a knife in the chest for the other parents, even if they realize its not their daughter. I went out and talked to my daughter instead, but Im wondering if I should avoid calling her name in communal spaces for the time being? Should I maybe use a nickname? Or is this the least of their worries with the constant grief theyre living with? I cant even imagine their pain and dont want to contribute to it in any way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Name Neighbors Dear Name Neighbors, Im so sorry for your communitys loss. The sudden absence of even one member of a close-knit neighborhood can feel seismic. Right now, the grief is so fresh that it makes sense to think of as many ways to support the bereaved as possible. Refraining from calling out your daughters (and your late neighbors) name, at least for the time being, is a thoughtful gesture, and your instinct that it may be painful for them to hear their daughters name called out daily at dinnertime is enough of a reason not to do it, in the immediate aftermath of their childs passing. Stacia More Advice From Slate My daughter has always been an independent soul, from the time she was a tiny baby. In grade school she loved to sneak out and sleep in her treehouse, and shes done every Outward Boundstyle activity she can get her hands on. Now shes in her last year of high school and has just presented me with an extremely detailed plan she has concocted to spend the summer planting trees in the Canadian wilderness, which is apparently a thing you can do? For money? Im worried that this is a terrible idea and shes more likely to fall out of a tree than arrive at university intact. Should I shut this plan down? When Pedro Santiago was arrested in 2003, he didnt know how to read or write. He was 30 at the time and had been selling drugs for two decades, first in New York and then in Maine, where he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2005. It was while he was waiting for his trial that he says his bunkmate sat him down and told him that he needed to learn to read so that he could understand evidence about his case unearthed during the discovery process. While he was in the county jail, a volunteer came in weekly to teach him. Advertisement It was an awakening, Santiago, 46, said in a phone interview. That got me interested in politics. But he says that when he was transferred to state prison after his conviction, he ran afoul of prison rules. His behavior led him to be classified as a security threat, and he was consigned to solitary confinement for about two years. In solitary, he realized he had a choice to make. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said, Wait a minute, I can go home when Im 65 or I can die here. That was eye-opening for me. That turning point led Santiago to politics as an antidote to despair. When he got out of solitary, he focused on his education, and in 2015 he passed a high school equivalency test. Though he entered prison as a registered Republican, his views changed as he spent more time watching the way coverage differed between news stations like MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN: They all want us to believe a certain thing. Advertisement As he learned more about what he describes as a corrupt system, his motivation to participate in politics increased. Advertisement Advertisement Maine is one of two states that allow all people who are incarcerated to vote (although few exercise that right, often because of low literacy rates and little access to information). Still, Santiago credits his ability to vote from prison as galvanizing, along with Barack Obamas historic candidacy in 2008. [Obama] coming from a broken home, single mother, and all that, made me realize in a way that you make your own destiny. To see the first black president up there was a tear-jerker for me, said Santiago, who is Puerto Rican. Advertisement Santiago now identifies as an independent and voted against Donald Trump in 2016. And though he said he would love to see the first female president, he currently supports Sen. Bernie Sanders. I love all his talking points, he said. I believe that this man could make things happen like taxing the rich and Medicare for all. Advertisement Political arguments in prison, he said, can get heated. He remembered tensions escalating after Trumps comments following the death of a protester during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. But Santiago also says moments like that are proof that we do care about whats happening out in the real world. It does affect us. It affects us all. Advertisement Spending decades in prison could easily result in a total withdrawal from politics. But in a first-of-its-kind survey, the Marshall Project and Slate found that people who have spent more years behind bars are more politically aware than their peers whove been incarcerated for less than a year. Respondents with long sentences were more motivated to vote, more likely to change their political views, and more likely to discuss politics than those who had spent less time in prison. Advertisement Please enable Javascript in your browser to view Slate interactives. For many, prison is more regimented than the lives they left behind. Others become sober for the first time and use their newfound clarity to follow the news or get an education. In particular, for people sentenced to life in prison, the interest in politics is pragmatic. Often, legislative changes to their states criminal code are their only hope for release. Incarcerated people in most states cant vote, so they cant elect officials willing to grant some prisoners a second look or to restore parole. Instead, they write op-eds, mail letters to legislators or advocacy organizations, and encourage their family and friends to vote on their behalf. Advertisement Please enable Javascript in your browser to view Slate interactives. Yet if those in our survey whod spent more time in prison tended to be more politically engaged, they were also most cynical about politicians commitment to criminal justice reform. Advertisement Please enable Javascript in your browser to view Slate interactives. Roughly 30 percent of respondents have spent 21 years or more in prison. While this survey is, to date, the best account of their political opinions, it has some limitations. The survey was voluntary and may represent a self-selecting group of people who are already politically engaged and following the news. As such, it is not a fully representative sample of the overall incarcerated population and may not reflect the views of people whose long sentences have deepened their alienation and who declined to respond. Here are the stories of three other survey respondents who have spent long stretches behind bars. Joseph Badagliacca, 43, Florida Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his darkest moments last year, Joseph Badagliacca battled thoughts of suicide. He had served nearly two decades of his life sentence for murderwith no hope of getting out because there is no parole in Florida. I may never have the opportunity at a real life out there, he wrote. I understand most people would say that my victim never got a chance to complete his life because of my involvement. There are times I agree and wonder if I deserve to get out, or to even live right now. Advertisement Struggling with the prospect of growing old and dying behind bars, Badagliacca found purpose in politics. Hes contributed to a campaign to create a path to reentry for the incarcerated who have demonstrated theyve truly changed. Advertisement Ive lost everyone except my mom as a result of my incarceration and just like anyone else, I dont want to die alone in here. So I fight, he wrote. Badagliacca entered prison at 26. It was surreal, he wrote, recalling his initial shock. It was like I was in a dream with everything moving outside of myself. Over his 17 years in prison, hes learned to speak Spanish while incarcerated, earned a paralegal certification, and is working on his bachelors degree. He says the focus on self-improvement is common for those facing long terms. Emotionally, spiritually, morally, educationally, physically we are more focused on the things that matter, he wrote. Advertisement Demonstrating rehabilitation has political value, too. The Florida Legislature is working to fix the states overcrowded and expensive prison system, but several reform bills have not gotten much traction. He understands the lawmakers hesitance. With nearly 100,000 people in prison in Florida, many arent getting the programming they need to be productive on the outside. Badagliacca says lawmakers are scared to risk letting some violent offenders out for fear theyd commit new crimes. Advertisement Its political suicide, he wrote. The public may be cynical about criminal justice reform, he says, but he suspects that attitude stems from misinformation and a fundamental misunderstanding about the purpose of prison. We were removed from society AS punishment, he wrote. Mistakenly, a lot of people (including some of the officers in here) believe we are here FOR punishment. Some of us are really just regular guys who are defined by the worst mistakes of our lives instead of our innumerable contributions. We want to be better, show others were better and, of course, convince the lawmakers were better. Vegas Walker, 25, Kansas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a kid growing up in Wichita, Kansas, Vegas Walker says she was exposed to prostitution, guns, and drugs at an early age. By the time she was 11, she started smoking weed and hanging out in the streets. By 13, Walker says she was in and out of jail. Life at home was chaotic. Her mother went to jail when she was 5 years old, and her father was rarely around, forcing Walker to stay with her alcoholic grandmother for several years. Walker says she remembers going to school dirty because her grandmother couldnt look after her. Nonetheless, shes grateful her grandmother insisted that Walker get a high school diploma. As much as I couldnt stand my grandma, she had five kids by the age of 18 and still managed to graduate from high school, wrote Walker, who is black and serving time in Topeka Correctional Facility. And thats all she wanted from us. Thats the only thing I managed to do correctly. Advertisement In the chaotic years before Walker went to prison for stabbing an ex-boyfriend during an argument, she says she didnt pay much attention to the news or politics. She was absorbed in selling drugs and trying to stay alive as a woman in an arena typically dominated by men. Advertisement Its hard on the streets for anyone, but for a woman it is ten times harder, Walker wrote. We are viewed as an easy target. I had to fight harder and be 10 times more scandalous than the next person or I would have been eaten alive out there. It wasnt until she landed in prison that Walker says she first started thinking about how politics shapes peoples lives. Walker says many of her political views are shaped by the unfairness of the criminal justice system. She believes prisons in Kansas are designed for people to fail and return. Practices like stop and frisk, she says, allow police to harass innocent black and brown people. And when a judge sentenced Amber Guyger, the Dallas police officer who shot and killed Botham Jean in his own home, to a relatively short 10 years in prison, Walker says, it felt like there are two sets of rules for people of color and white people. Advertisement Advertisement Walker is set to be released next March. As that day approaches, shes started to worry about how she will make a living with only a high school diploma. There arent many opportunities for education or skill-building in womens prisons, she says. Walker says she is drawn to Bernie Sanders because of his focus on improving poor peoples lives. But even if he wins, she isnt sure it will make a difference. Advertisement Advertisement I do believe that its important to vote and have a say, she wrote. But I dont really believe that candidates can actually make half the things they say come true. Samuel Byrd, 46, Florida Advertisement Samuel Byrd says some of his friends in prison have told him hes too conservative to be black. He doesnt support illegal immigration, aid to foreign countries, or financing an extravagant lifestyle with credit cards. He does believe in marriage before children, college education, and keeping dollars on American soil. He admires the conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh too, although Byrd does not identify as Republican. Advertisement His political convictions have strengthened during his nine years in Okeechobee Correctional Institution in Okeechobee, Florida. He says hes surrounded by people who only know what they learned in the streets, on the block or at the trap, and that most barely finished high school and arent interested in bettering themselves. Byrd, by contrast, has a few years of college under his belt. Listening to others blame the system for their problems has pushed him further to the right. Advertisement Advertisement There are very few inmates who I can hold a serious conversation with that dont involve committing felonies or sports, Byrd wrote. Politics, even the ones that directly affect them, are not a major topic. Most blacks hate Trump but cant tell you why. Most whites think hes doing a better job than Obama but cant tell you how. Both groups defend their positions by simply misquoting what they heard somewhere. Before prison, Byrd says he spent his time being a broke playboy, spending his money on strippers and romancing other mens wives. In 2010, he was charged with attempted murder and ultimately sentenced to life in prison. Now Byrd works in the law library helping others with their cases. He prefers to focus on people with short sentences, pushing them to admit to what stupid way of thinking landed them in prison and encouraging them to think about what are they willing to change and give up once released. Byrd cant vote, but he says he would choose Michael Bloomberg to oppose Trump because he, like Trump, is a billionaire businessman. (The survey was distributed in December, before Bloomberg dropped out). Byrd isnt persuaded by the promises made by progressive candidates like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. He believes that education is key to a productive life, but he doesnt support free college education. Instead, Byrd is in favor of personal responsibility, not government assistance, even when it comes to keeping people out of prison. This country was built by those who climbed the ladder of success that the forefathers erected, not by those waiting for someone to throw them a rope, he wrote. I believe that we should focus on increased education not reducing mass incarceration. I want to see prevention through education, not treatment by the government. To hear the Marshall Project team discuss this project, listen to What Next. Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. Here is a link to the audio instead. Play Pause Loading... What 8,000 Prisoners Think About American Politics In a first-of-its-kind survey, we asked the most disenfranchised people in America who they would vote for and what matters most to them. I see firsthand that politics are not structured to help me. Trumps Surprising Support Inside Prisons Before prison, John Adkins didnt care about politics. Now, after 23 years behind bars, hes an ardent Republican. And hes not alone. I dont see Donald Trump as being anyones puppet. Whats the Most Pressing Problem Facing America? Chinas buildup of their military. Hunger. Garbage in the ocean. Too many white people. Mass incarceration. The voices behind the statistics. Iran and Saudi Arabiathe bitterest rivals in the Middle East, which have supported and armed opposite sides in several of the regions proxy warshave held four rounds of diplomatic talks in recent months, and officials say the talks are on a good path and have gone a good distance toward calming tensions. One lesson of this development: In certain parts of the world, Americas disengagement from political and military clashes may be a positive force for peace and stability. Advertisement This runs contrary to the conventional wisdom, which holds that a U.S. presence is necessary to keep unstable regions together and that a U.S. withdrawal would leave a power vacuum, which will only heighten tensions and lead to war. It is unclear where the Iran-Saudi talks are going. They are still in an exploratory phase, their officials say. But Raad Alkadiri, a managing director of the Eurasia Group, an international risk-assessment firm, finds it significant that the talksthe possibility of which would have been dismissed as extremely unlikely just a few months agoare continuing. And while they seem focused primarily on the war in Yemen, a drain to both sides resources, these sorts of talks, which may start out narrowly focused, often trigger a process of confidence-building and a shattering of the freeze in the two countries relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Alkadiri agrees that much of the emergence of the talks is related to the scaling-back of Americas role in the Middle East. Members of the Saudi royal family could once count on Washington to bail them out of any crisis, back them up in any mess they created or fell into. But as U.S. dependence on oil ended, and as attention pivoted to the opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, this reflexive support for Riyadhs side in any clash has diminished considerably. The Saudis may have first felt the cooling of their once-special relationship in September 2019, when then-President Donald Trumpwho seemed to be an enthusiastic supporterblamed Iran for two drone strikes against oil facilities inside Saudi Arabia, but then took no action in response. Advertisement More recently, the Saudis have been very shaken by the sudden and total U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, says Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst and now senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions Center for Middle East Policy. The images of Americans abandoning Afghanistan are scary for the Gulf Arabs as well, Riedel told me. The upside to all this is that these countriesQatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, as well as Saudi Arabiawill have to reassess the regional landscape and take more responsibility for their own security. And that may be for the good. Advertisement Says Alkadiri, The U.S. has a habit of seeing itself as indispensable to regional stability around the world, when in fact its intervention can be very destabilizing, because it becomes part of the local equation rather than sitting above it. Advertisement President Barack Obama seemed aware of this inclination and took steps to correct it in his first term. He tried to rise above the sectarian quarrels between the Middle Easts Shiite and Sunni powers, dealing with each individually from the standpoint of U.S. security interests, which werent affected in the least by ancient religious disputes. However, when Obama negotiated the Iran nuclear deal, he cozied up to the Saudis to assure them that the accord did not mean he was abandoning the Sunnis (Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arabs) in favor of the Shiites (Iran and its militias). To prove the point, he turned up the already-flowing spigot on arms sales to the Saudis and turned an eye when they used the weapons against Iranian-backed rebels in Yemena move that escalated that war. Advertisement Advertisement Obama was not the first American president who tried to escape the regions bloody feuds only to be pulled back in like Michael Corleone. But Obama did send a signalthough partial and misunderstood at the timethat U.S. complicity could not be counted on forever. And President Joe Biden has boosted that signal to a flashing neon sign. Advertisement Some critics condemn the trend, lamenting the decline of U.S. influence in the region and the possibility that othersRussia or Chinawill step in to take our place. One response to this concern might be: Fine. Let them get bogged down in this quagmire of sand for the next 40 years. Would it really harm U.S. security interests? Would it deprive us of the regions oil if at some point in the future we needed it? (Would cash payment in U.S. dollars be rejected?) Advertisement But the Iran-Saudi talks show us a potentially brighter side of this picture. It could be that Americas unqualified assurances of unabashed support kept the Saudis in an infantilized state. Their realization of a new situationthat they cant count on an outside power rescuing them from the next calamitymight turn them into a more responsible regional power. The key word, of course, is might. The talks might not lead to such peaceful pastures. Or some convergence of crisesthe reemergence of ISIS, a terrorist attack, Iranian success at developing an A-bomb, a new conflict involving Israelmight once again pull the Americans back in, and the old way of world politics with it. It is also worth noting that, even if the Iran-Saudi talks amount to something broad and meaningful, American disengagement is not a universal recipe for peace and stability. It is very much in U.S. interests to stay aligned with certain allies, notably in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. In some of these potential hot spots, the conventional wisdomthat a U.S. withdrawal would leave a vacuum that bad actors would try to fillhas wisdom. Advertisement Advertisement However, even among its most long-standing allies, America doesnt hold the sway it once did. Earlier this year, the Biden administration tried to coax the Europeans into sharply curtailing economic relations with China. Several of those allies, notably Germany and France, resisted, having formed solid relations with Chinese companies and not desiring a new cold war with Beijing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had to back off, assuring the allies that Biden wouldnt force them into an us or them dilemma. Americas victory in the Cold War paradoxically weakened its leverage in the aftermath. Countries once fell in line with Washingtons demands, fearful that failing to do so might strengthen the Soviet bear. Once the bear collapsed, and the Cold War ended with it, these same countries could follow the U.S., align with someone else, or go their own way, as their interests saw fit. Certain U.S. officials, who expected an expansion of unlimited power and influence in the wake of their victory over the USSR, were startled to witness the oppositeand still havent quite adapted to the new world. America can no longer be the worlds policeman; this nearly all analysts accept, even those of a somewhat hawkish bent. But our politicians still tend to act as if we can beand are. The fact is, as may turn out to be the case in the worlds most sweat-soaked hot spot, its sometimes best to back off. Protocol was never high up on the priority list during Donald Trumps presidency. Little wonder then that gift exchanges with foreign leaders were, quite simply, a mess. A process that is usually highly regulated and has little in the way of inconsistencies or questions devolved into a scattershot effort that often didnt follow established procedures and had little-to-no oversight, according to the New York Times. We had already received hints that this was the case a few months ago when it was revealed the State Department was trying to locate a bottle of whisky valued at $5,800 that the Japanese government gave former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Politico later reported the State Departments inspector general was investigating some 20 types of missing gifts. But it turns out there are a lot more questions surrounding gifts during the Trump administration, according to the extensive Times report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the questions that are being investigated is whether Trump appointees swiped gift bags worth thousands of dollars that were meant for foreign leaders at the Group of 7 summit that had been planned for Camp David in 2020. The summit was ultimately canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and the bags that contained dozens of items went into storage. But then at the end of the Trump administration, career officers saw Trump political appointees leave with the gift bags. Thats when they started looking at things more closely and realized dozens of gifts given to Trump officials during the administration were missing. To illustrate how highly unusual this is, the Times notes that there were no unaccounted gifts during either the George W. Bush or Barack Obama administrations. Advertisement There are also lots of questions surrounding some of the dozens of gifts the Trump administration received during Trumps first presidential trip to Saudi Arabia. Among the gifts were three robes made of tiger and cheetah fur as well as a dagger with a handle that seemed to be made of ivory. The Trump administration didnt just fail to report many of the gifts until the last minute, they also held on to them even though a White House lawyer warned against it because they likely amounted to violations of the Endangered Species Act. Turns out though the furs were dyed and not real. Its unclear whether the Saudis knew the furs were fake. There are also questions surrounding two gold-tone place-card holders that former Vice President Mike Pences wife, Karen, took from Singapores prime minister and didnt pay for. A lawyer for the Pence family insists a White House ethics lawyer said she could keep them because they were worth less than what was then the minimum threshold for reporting gifts, $390 (the number has since increased to $415). But officials dispute the characterization because she received numerous gifts during the meeting and the total exceeded the threshold. A senior cybersecurity official at the Pentagon said he resigned in protest because the slow pace of technological development has made it impossible for the United States to compete with China. Nicolas Chaillan, who spent three years as the first chief software officer for the Air Force, said Beijing has a clear advantage in the technological space because of its fast advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and general capabilities in cybersecurity. We have no competing fighting chance against China in 15 to 20 years. Right now, its already a done deal; it is already over in my opinion, Chaillan told the Financial Times in his first interview since he left his Pentagon job earlier this month. Whether it takes a war or not is kind of anecdotal. Advertisement In many respects, China is playing in an entirely different league as the United States, Chaillan says, characterizing the cyber defenses in some government agencies as being at kindergarten level. Now China is set to dominate the future of the world, controlling media narratives and geopolitics, he added. While the United States continues to spend more money on defense than anyone else, it continues to focus on expensive hardware, such as new fighter jets, rather than emerging technologies that will be far more critical to the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the reasons China has been able to move much faster than the United States is that it isnt bogged down in massive debates over AI ethics. But also because Chinese companies are forced to work with the government while many U.S. firms are reluctant to work with the Pentagon. Google, for example, stopped doing artificial intelligence work with the Pentagon in 2018 when a dozen employees quit after the company helped the Department of Defense develop software that could improve the accuracy of drone strikes. Advertisement Chaillan had announced his resignation in early September with a LinkedIn post that expressed his frustration at the slow pace of change at the Pentagon and how higher up officials were not willing to make new technologies a real priority. At this point, I am just tired of continuously chasing support and money to do my job, Chaillan wrote. Chaillan is hardly the first person to warn about Chinese advances in the emerging technologies. Earlier this year, the National Security Commission warned that the U.S. government is not prepared to defend the United States in the coming artificial intelligence era and that China was on track to become the worlds top AI superpower. ARCHIVED - Electricity prices in Spain rise by 5 per cent The cost of energy in Spain is now six times higher than a year ago In what is by now a familiar trend, the average daily price of electricity in the wholesale market will rise by 5% on Monday October 11 to 184.48 euros per megawatt hour (MWh), thus resuming its upward climb after several decreases in the past few days. According to data from the Iberian Electricity Market Operator (OMIE), the week begins with the second most expensive Monday in history after the cost levelled out somewhat over the weekend. Last week saw another new record being set as the price per MWh shot up to 288.53 euros on Thursday. It is worth noting that prices tend to drop on Saturdays and Sundays as the demand for electricity is reduced. Despite this increase, the price this Monday is still slightly lower than a week ago, when the cost in the market sat at 186.46 euros/MWh. However, the cost of electricity is still a staggering six times more expensive than it was a year ago. Consumers will face the highest costs today between the hours of 8pm and 9pm, when each megawatt hour will cost 241.27 euros. The cheapest time of the day will be from 2am and 3am, costing 125.01 euros. Image: Archive ARCHIVED - Spain promotes sale of ugly food to reduce waste Three out of four households in Spain regularly throw away food The Council of Ministers approved a draft law on Monday October 11 to combat food waste that will force supermarkets and grocery stores to promote the sale of ugly, imperfect or unsightly produce that is still safe to consume, as well as to encourage the sale of local and organic food and bulk buying. The new project for the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste consists of 15 articles whose main aim is to drastically reduce the amount of food thrown out in Spain. There is no food product more expensive than the one that ends up in the garbage, than the one that is wasted, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas. The Minister highlighted the fact that Spanish households threw away more than 1.3 million kilos of uneaten food in 2020, 31 kilograms per litre per capita. Given that the evidence shows that three out of four households in Spain regularly waste food, Mr Planas added that there is a moral and ethical obligation also when 1.6 billion people on the planet are malnourished. The legislative initiative aims to establish a new perspective of good practices at every stage in production, news that will come as music to the ears of banana growers on the Canary Island of La Palma , many of whom have had their entire harvest refused at market due to its unsightly appearance following the volcanic eruption. With the new law, the Spanish Government will ratify its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, which expressly states its aspiration to halve food waste per citizen in the world. In addition to pushing the sale and consumption of ugly food, the legislation will require food industries, commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants to sign agreements with non-profit organisations and food banks to donate any unused produce. Anything not suitable for human consumption will be used for animal feed or other agricultural by-products. In addition, the law includes a requirement that stores of more than 400 square metres have a dedicated aisle or corner dedicated to the more unsightly food, or items close to their sell-by date. For hotels and restaurants, customers that have not finished their meals must be offered the option of taking the left-overs home, and a reusable container provided free of charge. Furthermore, this service will need to be prominently displayed in the establishment and restaurants will have to account for the amount of food wastage on their premises annually. There will be four levels of sanctions for non-adherence to the legislation, with fines ranging from 6,001 to 150,000 euros. Regarding out-of-date food, the Government will adopt public policies to promote changing the use of best-before dates to combat waste, in line with the European Unions established criteria on the matter. With the new bill, the minister explained, Spain has become the third country in the EU to legislate on food waste, after France and Italy. Image: Archive The most frequently asked question they have to answer is: Why on Earth would anyone choose Slovakia over Italy? News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Slavin, Slovak Radio, Petrzalka or St Martin's Cathedral with the UFO above SNP Bridge in the foreground: all these iconic buildings of Bratislava have stood as models for Matteo Sica, an Italian painter living in the Slovak capital. Although his works depict Bratislava, they always carry a piece of Italy. I illustrate the city of Bratislava and other interesting and special places in Slovakia with a very happy and pleasant light, and with the typical colours of my home in the south of Italy, he explained. Next to red and green, his paintings are bursting with the blue of the sea, the dark colours of the mountains, and the yellow of the lemon trees of the Amalfi coast. Sica is one of the many Italians living in Slovakia who are trying to not just preserve their Italian culture for themselves, but also share it with Slovaks, mostly via their native language and the food of their homeland. The number of Italians living in Slovakia has steadily grown over the past 20 years, found in many walks of life beside language teaching and gastronomy: in the energy sector, construction or banking and financial services. Slovakia's immigration authorities registered a little over 3,000 residence permits issued for Italians to live in Slovakia by the end of June 2021. This number does not include second-generation Italians who are Slovak citizens. Sica first came to Slovakia for a three months professional internship at the Italian Embassy in Bratislava. That was ten years ago, and Sica has since made the country his home. He ended up finding a large network of friends and colleagues in Slovakia, even though Bratislava was not his chosen destination when he arrived. Many of the thousands of Italians living in Slovakia now tell a similar story. Why Slovakia? A native from the seaside southern-Italian city of Salerno, Sica is often asked with genuine curiosity why he chose Slovakia as a place to live instead of Italy. The truth is that he first arrived to Bratislava by chance, when he was offered a job when his application for an internship in Canada and Sweden was turned down. But that is not what he normally answers. I smilingly answer that I came here from southern Italy to learn how not to be lazy and become a committed hard worker, Sica jokes. For Andrea Ena, it's also the question people in Slovakia ask him most frequently. He first visited Slovakia in June 2002, and one year later he came to live here. Initially, Ena moved from his native island of Sardinia to the northern-Slovak town of Ruzomberok, and only later moved to the capital. Fate wanted it this way and now I'm still here, he replies. Ena has since become a renowned chef and today owns two Italian restaurants in Bratislava, both popular places for encounters among the Italian community. The Italian-Slovak Chamber of Commerce organises its good food and good wine events there as well, Ena said. Maintaining contact with his homeland is still crucial for Ena, who is sure that he will always be Italian. We have our mentality, maybe stubbornness, and also our culture of food and fashion, Ena said. Fashion and gastronomy are a symbol and guarantee of Italy. Pasta, pizza and tiramisu are a must. The smell of coffee Periodic melancholy and homesickness are part of a foreigner's package, said Sica. When he feels that he misses the sunny Amalfi coast and his family who lives back in Italy, he tries to fight against these feelings with a postcard of his beloved place. His green moka pot, which he calls macchinetta, is a reminder of home and a weapon against homesickness. It is typical for Napoli coffee culture and has happy written on it, he noted. It is the first thing I grab in the morning and the smell of the coffee makes me feel like home. Postcard and macchinetta that create home (Source: Matteo Sica) Finally, good thoughts of Italy and his native region, Campania, come to Sica when he sees and smells fresh tomatoes in the fresh market on Zilinska Street where he is a regular. That is one of the things that make me feel happier and make me feel at home when I'm here. Besides being an illustrator, he is also a writer and teacher at the Italian Institute of Culture, a daily connection to the "musical language," as he calls his mother tongue, and the culture of his homeland. Italy's number one Sica works with dozens of students passionate about his native language and culture every day. His interaction with his students is a two-way street: he shares knowledge of his language and culture, while learning Slovak culture from them. Italian language courses remain popular among Slovaks, and Sica admits that other people's interest in his language and culture is very welcoming. When there is genuine interest and curiosity that makes you feel accepted and welcomed, there is a kind of spontaneous friendship, he opined. While these emotions are shared by Ena, he stresses that although it has been 18 years since he moved to Slovakia, his relationship towards Italy has not cooled and never will. I return there regularly anytime I can. Italy remains number one in my heart, he summed up. (Source: ) This article is part of the Our Minorities project, carried out with the financial support of the Fund for the Support of the Culture of National Minorities. The Czech Republic's parliamentary elections were held October 8-9. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. The leaders of three parties that are part of the winning coalition Spolu; l-r: Marketa Pekarova Adamova of TOP 09, Petr Fiala of ODS and Marian Jurecka of KDU-CSL. (Source: AP/TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Several Slovak politicians have congratulated the Czech Republic for the high turnout in its parliamentary election. As much as 65.43 percent of eligible voters cast their vote in the election held on October 8-9. It was won by the Spolu coalition (comprised of three parties - ODS, KDU-CSL and TOP 09), followed by ANO of the current PM Andrej Babis, the liberal coalition Pirati/STAN (Mayors and Independents), and SPD led by Tomio Okamura. While most coalition politicians welcomed the election results and expressed their hope for continuing cooperation between the two countries, the opposition was more sceptical of the potential ruling coalition comprised of the two coalitions. Kollar would vote for Babis Democracy needs our active presence, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova tweeted, congratulating the Czech Republic for the high turnout. I wish you a successful and conflict-free process of forming the ruling coalition. PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) also mentioned the high election turnout and congratulated the winner. I wish for them to form a government that will rule the Czech Republic well, he said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. He also stressed that the Czech Republic is an important partner of Slovakia. He did not want to comment on the potential impact of the Czech election on the Visegrad Group (V4), comprised of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. The relations in the V4 are good in the long term, Heger said, as quoted by TASR. Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollar (Sme Rodina) does not think the V4 would fall apart after the election. He said he respects the results although he admitted that if I were a Czech, I would vote for Babis. Coalition welcomes the result, opposition sceptical Most coalition politicians welcomed the election results. OLaNO MP Juraj Krupa said during the political talk show broadcast by the public-service RTVS on Sunday that we are experiencing a wave of tiredness with populism and extremism in central Europe. He also expressed joy when the Communists dropped out of the parliament for the first time since World War II. Ondrej Dostal, an MP for Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), also welcomed the fact that the representatives of the Communist Party will not sit in the parliament, but he was surprised that the members of the CSSD party, which used to rule in the past, did not make it to the parliament. Peter Pellegrini of Hlas expressed regret that the Social Democrats did not make it into parliament because there will not be anyone pushing the social-democratic agenda. He expressed hope that regarding the mutual relations, the government of Slovakia and the Czech Republic will continue cooperating, as reported by RTVS. Smer MP Richard Takac was more sceptical of the election results, saying that the Czech voters did not learn from the post-election developments in Slovakia. He cannot imagine how a grouping of five parties would rule. The Czechs probably do not realise what is coming, he told RTVS. The new regional carrier, Arriva, should take over in mid-November. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. The company Arriva will take over the suburban buses in Bratislava Region, currently operated by Slovak Lines. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The Bratislava Region will have a new suburban carrier. The region's representatives officially signed an agreement with the Arriva company on October 11, which is set to replace the current carrier, Slovak Lines. The latter's agreement expires on November 14. The new 10-year agreement with Arriva is worth more than 300 million. The new carrier will have to meet technical and operational standards that will offer a better and higher quality of travel to passengers, said Juraj Droba, governor of the Bratislava Region, as quoted by the SITA newswire. He added that the selection process took 19 months. Modern buses and change to timetables New bus station opened to public, together with roundabout and bike tower Read more The quality and attractiveness of suburban transport should be increased by new modern buses, among other things. All buses should be low-floor with air conditioning, free WiFi access and USB chargers. Moreover, there should be an announcement for the blind, and a more modern information service providing more details on routes and transfer spots. The prime ministers met in Esztergom to mark the anniversary of the bridge connecting both countries. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Slovak PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) met with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Esztergom in northern Hungary, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of restoring and reopening the Maria Valeria Bridge that connects the Hungarian city with the town of Sturovo in Slovakia. While the former talked about the success story of the Slovak-Hungarian cooperation, the latter was critical of the EU and stressed that central European nations can only rely on each other, the Dennik N daily reported. PMs stress mutual interests In Hegers words, the use of the bridge by citizens of the two countries as well as entrepreneurs and tourists is a success story that inspired other Slovak-Hungarian projects. It is also the story of two good neighbours, now established members of the EU, the prime minister continued, as reported by the SITA newswire. Korcok to Hungarian representation: Weigh your words, do not disturb the reconciliation Read more He praised the economic relations between Hungary and Slovakia, and thanked Hungary for its help during the coronavirus pandemic, whether the help of Hungarian doctors or cooperation with repatriations. Orban said that Slovakia and Hungary have much in common, as they share opinions on various problems. The only difference is the language, he continued. He also said that the EU sees the central European countries as second-class countries, claiming that they need to rely only on each other. He likened the Visegrad Group (V4), where apart from Slovakia and Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland are united as well, to David fighting Goliath from Brussels, as reported by SITA. Slovak-Hungarian relations in focus The meeting between Heger and Orban took place at a time the relations between both countries are more in focus. Earlier this year, Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) made several statements concerning the behaviour and talk of some Hungarian politicians who come to Slovakia. These politicians discuss the shared history of the two countries or issues linked to the Hungarian minority in Slovakia without the knowledge of Slovak diplomacy, often considered very sensitive topics. Hungary should not interfere in Slovakias domestic affairs, the MFA says Read more Most recently, Korcok met with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto, and said that any activities planned by the Hungarian government to be held in Slovakia or that have an effect on Slovakia should be discussed in advance. Still, he stressed that the relations between both countries are good. https://sputniknews.com/20211011/500-bags-packed-with-school-supplies-several-activists--one-hope-for-a-better-future-in-gaza-1089825815.html 500 Bags Packed With School Supplies, Several Activists & One Hope for a Better Future in Gaza 500 Bags Packed With School Supplies, Several Activists & One Hope for a Better Future in Gaza The economic situation in the Palestinian coastal enclave has always been fragile, but the crisis has deepened in the past couple of years primarily because of... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T06:52+0000 2021-10-11T06:52+0000 2021-10-11T06:52+0000 gaza covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/0d/1082614594_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_3daddd9e49d7da3147a8c025359da418.jpg A number of Gaza-based activists have decided to change that reality, launching a project called "One Bag, One Hope" that aims to distribute basic school supplies to children.Although studies in the Gaza Strip have resumed and thousands of Palestinian children went back to school, many families are still struggling to provide them with basic equipment and supplies.The economic situation in the Palestinian coastal enclave has always been tenuous. This is partially due to an Israeli blockade imposed in 2007, when Hamas, deemed a terrorist organisation by Tel Aviv, took control of the enclave and because of internal divisions within the Palestinian leadership.But recent years have seen a deterioration following the eruption of COVID-19. Unemployment rose to 49 percent, pushing thousands of families into poverty. And many have lost hope for a better future.One Bag, One HopeRami Aman, a Gaza-based activist, decided he wanted to bring that hope back. Joining forces with others, he launched an initiative to provide Gaza's impoverished children with 500 school bags containing all the basic supplies they may need, including notebooks and sketch pads, pencils, pens, sharpeners, erasers, and crayons. The bags also contain a motivational note and a flower.He called it "One Bag, One Hope" and he says that the idea was to give Gazans hope for a brighter future.When the first cases of COVID-19 were discovered in the Strip in March 2020, the Hamas authorities decided to close down its 737 schools. Students across the enclave were forced to study remotely and needed to rely on computers and access to the internet.However, in an area with frequent power shortages and lack of computers, connecting students to the remote education system proved to be mission impossible, and that only added to the general frustration of Gazan pupils and their parents.Aman knows that his initiative is a drop in the bucket and that he will not be able to resolve the multiple problems facing Gazan society.So far, only slightly more than one hundred people from all over the world have donated money to the initiative after Aman filmed a short video presenting the campaign and its importance. To make a difference, he needs more funds but says he isn't giving up on the idea to improve the lives of Gazans.Punishable Activities?He has done so multiple times in the past. As a peace activist, Aman organised face-to-face meetings between Israelis and Palestinians. He set up Skype and phone calls to bridge the two and bring them together. He has also been involved in local activities, arranging peaceful demonstrations calling on the authorities to improve the lives of ordinary civilians.Those activities soon backfired. Aman has been arrested, interrogated, tortured, and jailed by Hamas on a number of occasions. The most recent incident occurred in 2020, when he was held in a cell for six months.But the activist says the pressure by Hamas has not broken his spirit. "I am tired as a person because of what I have been through but I became stronger as an activist and I am not going to give up".Aside from the "One Bag, One Hope" initiative, Aman is also working on a number of other projects in education, arts, health, and services for the disabled. His projects have already been getting positive feedback from the masses."We have been getting an amazing reaction from children and families. Everyone here is surrounded by worries and problems, boredom, poverty, and lack of opportunities"."So when we come to surprise them and see their smiles, we brighten up their daily routine and show them that a change is indeed possible". https://sputniknews.com/20210203/covid-19-is-far-from-being-gazas-only-problem-its-water-quality-is-a-bigger-threat-1081966007.html https://sputniknews.com/20210914/with-israel--hamas-locking-horns-again-a-gaza-based-expert-says-full-fledged-war-still-unlikely--1089052255.html Hess Good Zionist propaganda for the Jews. Sputnik should be ashamed of playing a Zionist apologist. 0 Willyspit The kids won't get them, the jews will seize them because to give a Palestinian kid a pencil is the same as giving them a bayonet in their eyes. You're talking about a nation that shoots medics for fun. 0 2 gaza Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade gaza, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211011/a-little-too-fast-king-of-sweden-slams-nations-covid-19-reopening-1089827903.html 'A Little Too Fast': King of Sweden Slams Nation's COVID-19 Reopening 'A Little Too Fast': King of Sweden Slams Nation's COVID-19 Reopening This is second time the Swedish king, who usually refrains from commenting on public matters, has criticised his nation's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T08:17+0000 2021-10-11T08:17+0000 2021-10-11T08:17+0000 news europe sweden scandinavia king carl xvi gustaf covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103864/95/1038649536_0:392:2500:1798_1920x0_80_0_0_a2b6e957a2c14109d50a041a09e2cb9a.jpg Offering his commentary on social events in a rare occurrence, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has argued that the reopening of Swedish society after the COVID-19 pandemic may have been too hasty.Sweden lifted nearly all restrictions in connection with the coronavirus pandemic on 29 September, eliminating assembly limits, reduced closing times for restaurants and bars, requirements for COVID-19 passports, and remote work recommendations.According to King Carl XVI Gustaf, however, Swedes must keep in mind that the pandemic is not over yet.This is second time the Swedish king, who usually refrains from voicing his opinion on public matters, has criticised his nation's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In December, he said the authorities had "failed" in their approach to tackling the virus."I believe we have failed. We have a large number of people who have died, and that is terrible. It is something we all suffer together", Carl XVI Gustaf said at the time.At the beginning of 2020, Sweden pursued a markedly different COVID-19 strategy compared to the rest of the world with no lockdowns and almost no restrictions, drawing a lot of domestic and international criticism.This led to Sweden initially becoming one of the hardest-hit European countries. In total, about 1.16 million Swedes have tested positive for coronavirus, while nearly 15,000 have lost their lives, which is more than its Nordic neighbours combined. Since then, however, the situation has levelled out, with infection rates in Sweden on par with fellow Scandinavian nations.Over the past few weeks, all of the Nordic nations have drastically slashed or completely removed the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place for months as part of their reopening process, citing a high vaccination rate and the necessity to jump-start the economy. https://sputniknews.com/20201217/swedish-king-scolds-government-over-covid-19-pandemic-i-believe-we-have-failed-1081488637.html sweden scandinavia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov news, europe, sweden, scandinavia, king carl xvi gustaf, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211011/afghan-interpreter-who-once-helped-rescue-biden-made-it-out-of-country-no-thanks-to-us-government-1089843578.html Afghan Interpreter Who Once Helped Rescue Biden Made It Out of Country No Thanks to US Government Afghan Interpreter Who Once Helped Rescue Biden Made It Out of Country No Thanks to US Government Even though the US president was briefed that the man and his family were left behind during Augusts chaotic withdrawal, Washington did very little to help... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T18:20+0000 2021-10-11T18:20+0000 2021-10-11T18:20+0000 extraction us afghanistan evacuation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/01/1083766032_0:159:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_672da35a7d9bb32cf7e0c354af28236d.jpg Despite US President Joe Biden assuring that the withdrawal from Afghanistan was a big success, many people whom Washington was supposed to help get out remained in the country, which is now ruled by the Taliban*. Moreover, there are roughly 75,000 Afghans who helped NATO forces and still remain in Afghanistan. Among them was Aman Khalili a local interpreter, who took part in a US team that extracted then-Senator Joe Biden in February 2008 after his helicopter was forced to land in the middle of unsafe territory due to a snowstorm.Khalili made it to Kabul Airport this August hoping, like thousands of others, to get out of the country before the Taliban closed the borders only to find out that the departing troops were only ready to take him, not his wife and children. The Afghan interpreter's application for special immigrant visas (SIV) that would have helped him get his family out was rejected. This apparently happened due to a misunderstanding with the military contractor who hired Khalili, and who should have provided the relevant documents to the US government.And so, the Afghan interpreter, who had worked with NATO forces for almost two decades, was left stranded in Afghanistan after the American troops departed on 30 August. He even managed to send a plea for help to US President Joe Biden, in whose rescue he took part, but the White House did nothing in terms of busting Khalili out of Afghanistan. But others heard his call a group of US veterans agreed to help get him out of the country, The Wall Street Journal reported.They made several attempts and received dozens of offers of help from different sources from conservative commentators to Eric Prince, the former head of the Blackwater private security company. After several unsuccessful attempts, Khalili made it to Pakistan after crossing the land border with the help of a non-profit group, Human First Coalition.Once in Pakistan, Khalili finally got help from the Biden administration he and his family would be taken on a plane to Doha, Qatar on 11 October, the WSJ reported, citing US officials. At the same time, Suzy George, chief of staff to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was tasked with accelerating the process of reviewing the visa request from the Afghan interpreter and his family, so that they can get to the US.While Khalili's story is not the only one with a happy ending thanks to the efforts of non-profit groups working on getting those who want to leave out of Afghanistan, many more might not have access to such aid, or simply might not live long enough to get it.*The Taliban is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia and many other countries. https://sputniknews.com/20210620/leave-no-man-behind-afghans-who-fear-taliban-revenge-for-helping-americans-cant-get-us-visas-1083194523.html NthrnNYker59 Who cares ? He SHOULD have met justice at the business end of a strong rope for betraying his country. 3 Ariane Heller On the scale of 1-10 for character, integrity, ethics, morals, values etc Biden and the other muppets of his administration are a zero. For these shortcoming minds, only ONE thing counts: POWER. Ironically, they dont seem to understand that they are only played by the real powers. Bizarre that the military has not stood up against the Afghanistan betrayal 2 6 afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg extraction, us, afghanistan, evacuation https://sputniknews.com/20211011/bjp-state-minister-yashpal-arya-joins-congress-in-uttarakhand-ahead-of-state-polls-1089828248.html BJP State Minister Yashpal Arya Joins Congress in Uttarakhand Ahead of State Polls BJP State Minister Yashpal Arya Joins Congress in Uttarakhand Ahead of State Polls The decision of the senior politician and his lawmaker son to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the state elections looming ever nearer - they are due... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T11:13+0000 2021-10-11T11:13+0000 2021-10-11T11:13+0000 uttarakhand bharatiya janata party (bjp) world india indian national congress world india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0b/1089831580_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_9a71c30df40e9d7ed4949f17d09b1dc4.jpg Yashpal Arya, transport minister in the BJP-led Uttarakhand government, joined the opposition Congress party along with his legislator son Sanjeev Arya on Monday in New Delhi. Yashpal Arya is a prominent Dalit leader in the state.The Congress party announced at a press conference that Yashpal Arya would leave the BJP. In 2017, Yashpal Arya joined certain prominent politicians in Uttarakhand - including former state chief Vijay Bahuguna and former ministers Harak Singh Rawat and Satpal Maharaj - in quitting Congress for the BJP.However, after his latest transition, he said: This is my homecoming. Although Arya has never explained why he has chosen to make this move, according to the Indian Express, he was upset by Pushkar Singh Dhami being appointed state chief in July. However, local media speculated that he desired a better ministry under the new state chief-led government."The BJP also tried to change his mind. In fact, Dhami himself went to Arya's residence for a breakfast meeting on 25 September amid reports of his unhappiness," the daily reported. uttarakhand india Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg uttarakhand, bharatiya janata party (bjp), world, india, indian national congress, world, india https://sputniknews.com/20211011/blame-game-erupts-as-india-china-fail-to-make-headway-in-military-talks-to-cool-border-tensions-1089824708.html Blame Game Erupts as India, China Fail to Make Headway in Military Talks to Cool Border Tensions Blame Game Erupts as India, China Fail to Make Headway in Military Talks to Cool Border Tensions On Sunday, military commanders from India and China met for the 13th time since June of last year to discuss the ongoing border standoff. The two sides have... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T08:59+0000 2021-10-11T08:59+0000 2021-10-11T08:59+0000 pla ladakh region china india indian army arunachal pradesh people's liberation army (pla) navy india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0f/1080462828_0:170:3037:1878_1920x0_80_0_0_a35bc30422ffa9d7f38b78d7c271db9e.jpg Statements from the armies of India and China on the 13th round of talks between corps commanders have suggested a stalemate in the long-running negotiations to defuse the crisis in Ladakh along the loosely demarcated Line of Actual Control (LAC). China blames India for persisting in "unreasonable and unrealistic demands" during the nine-hour talks held at the Moldo-Chushul border meeting point on the Chinese side.Contrary to these demands, Colonel Long claimed that the Chinese side made great efforts to promote the easing and cooling of the border situation. He said the PLA officers demonstrated sincerity in maintaining the overall interests of bilateral military relations.A few hours later, the Indian Army contradicted China's claim and issued a separate statement, saying that the Chinese side was "not agreeable" and "could not provide any forward-looking proposals" in response to New Delhi's "constructive suggestions".The Indian side made it clear that the meeting did not result in the resolution of the remaining sticking points.The two sides urged each other to abide by relevant agreements (the border agreements of 1993, 2005) and collectively safeguard peace and stability in the border areas.Since the standoff began in May 2020 over infrastructure construction, the two sides have disengaged from Patrol Point 14 or PP14 in the Galwan Valley, PP17A at the Gogra Post, and the north and south banks of Pangong Tso. The previous meeting between military commanders was held on 31 July. Officials from the two sides were hopeful of an early solution in Hot Springs, where a Hindustan Times report says that some 50 PLA personnel are stationed inside India's percepted line of the LAC. There is a serious deadlock persisting over the claim in the Depsang Plains as well, where it is reported in the Indian media that PLA troops have built infrastructure inside India's percepted line of the LAC. The two countries had agreed to hold the 13th corps commander-level talks even as there are reports of faceoffs between patrol units from the two armies at various places along the LAC. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said last Saturday that China has been building infrastructure in the region and was "here to stay".However, the Indian Army chief emphasised that India is ready to tackle any misadventure. The army will also stay in the eastern Ladakh area, with increased intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance facilities, he added.Tensions escalated to an unprecedented level in June 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers and four People's Liberation Army members were killed in a violent clash in the Galwan Valley. https://sputniknews.com/20211010/india-nowhere-near-china-in-space-deterrence-but-cant-lose-focus-experts-1089788774.html NthrnNYker59 Well, one can be sure that the cow-piss guzzling dot-heads can't be trusted to keep the peace..... witness their brazen attempts to confiscate Chinese cattle in order to guzzle THEIR piss too ! 0 1 ladakh region china india arunachal pradesh Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg pla, ladakh region, china, india, indian army, arunachal pradesh, people's liberation army (pla) navy, india https://sputniknews.com/20211011/czech-president-zeman-in-stable-condition-hospital-says-1089827776.html Czech President Zeman in Stable Condition, Hospital Says Czech President Zeman in Stable Condition, Hospital Says Zeman was earlier admitted to Prague's Central Military Hospital where he was placed in an intensive care unit. 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T07:47+0000 2021-10-11T07:47+0000 2021-10-11T08:25+0000 czech republic milos zeman andrej babis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103759/63/1037596392_0:316:4180:2667_1920x0_80_0_0_1f31a9617c7c5449c02813fa9f6378de.jpg The Central Military Hospital announced on 11 October that 77-year-old Czech President Milos Zeman's health is in stable condition. The hospital's director, Miroslav Zavoral, previously said he was not allowed to disclose Zeman's diagnosis.The politician was also hospitalised last month, with media outlets speculating that his health was in rapid decline. Zeman has been suffering from diabetic neuropathy in his feet. The president has also had trouble walking due to this condition, so he has recently been using a wheelchair.The hospitalisation comes as Zeman is expected to lead political talks on the formation of a new government following parliamentary elections. Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis earlier said that he would lead these talks if the president asked him to do so.On 9 October, the day before Zeman was hospitalised, the centrist party ANO (Yes) led by Babis, narrowly lost elections in the Czech Republic to a liberal-conservative three-party coalition named Together, which captured 27.8% of the vote, beating Babis' ANO, which won 27.1%.The winning coalition which won 71 seats, and its third-place partner, which captured 37 seats together form a majority of 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament. Notably, they pledged to work together. Meanwhile, Babis' party won 72 seats, which is six less than in the 2017 election. Zeman, however, earlier indicated he would appoint the leader of the strongest party, but not the strongest coalition, to try to form the government. That would give Prime Minister Babis a chance to form his own majority for a possible new government. https://sputniknews.com/20211009/czech-opposition-clenches-victory-from-babis-with-99-of-vote-counted-1089797935.html czech republic Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 czech republic, milos zeman, andrej babis https://sputniknews.com/20211011/daesh-affiliates-attack-polling-station-in-northern-iraq-during-parliamentary-vote---reports-1089823617.html Daesh Affiliates Attack Polling Station in Northern Iraq During Parliamentary Vote - Reports Daesh Affiliates Attack Polling Station in Northern Iraq During Parliamentary Vote - Reports DOHA (Sputnik) - Affiliates of Daesh* have attacked a polling station in Iraqs northern Kirkuk Governorate, injuring a police officer, the Iraqi Al-Sumaria TV... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T02:23+0000 2021-10-11T02:23+0000 2021-10-11T02:23+0000 kirkuk iraq elections security forces diyala soldier polling station terrorists /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0b/1089823591_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f369a58344cdb34b6b33c6c664dc6711.jpg The attackers opened fire from a sniper rifle at a polling station located in a school in the al-Rashad district, Al-Sumaria said, citing a security source. One police officer was injured.A security source told Sputnik on Sunday that two Iraqi soldiers were injured as a result of an armed attack at a polling station in the eastern province of Diyala. The Iraqi security services said later in the day that a soldier mistakenly shot one comrade and injured another one.On Sunday, early parliamentary elections the first since 2003 took place in Iraq. According to Iraqi media reports, the turnout was about 20 percent.*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other states kirkuk iraq diyala Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 kirkuk, iraq, elections, security forces, diyala, soldier, polling station, terrorists https://sputniknews.com/20211011/democrat-candidate-for-virginia-gov-claims-crt-was-made-up-by-gop-trump-supporters--1089821937.html Democrat Candidate for Virginia Gov. Claims CRT Was 'Made Up' By GOP, Trump Supporters Democrat Candidate for Virginia Gov. Claims CRT Was 'Made Up' By GOP, Trump Supporters McAuliffe made the remarks in response to a question about how he would respond to a former supporter who is now backing his Republican opponent over public... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T00:25+0000 2021-10-11T00:25+0000 2021-10-11T00:25+0000 us racism conservatives racism critical race theory /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0b/1089822440_0:200:3068:1926_1920x0_80_0_0_9307f0a39898d736876bc70cd2b779e9.jpg Terry McAuliffe, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, claimed on Sunday that the highly controversial critical race theory (CRT) is a "made-up" scheme by his Republican opponent Glenn Youngkin to "divide people" in the same way that former President Donald Trump did, in his opinion.The politician stated that he "hates" watching what Youngkin "is trying to do to Virginia what Donald Trump did to our country."Earlier this week, McAuliffe claimed that critical race theory has "never been taught in Virginia.""And as I've said this a lot, it's a dog whistle. It's racial, it's division and it's used by Glenn Youngkin and others, it's the same thing with Trump and the border wall, to divide people. We should not be dividing people in school," he reiterated.However, the gubernatorial candidate brushed aside a request to characterize critical race theory by saying, "It doesn't matter."In early summer, McAuliffe also rebuked critical race theory concerns as a "conspiracy theory." According to an audio file obtained by Fox News, McAuliffe suggested at a campaign rally earlier this summer that critical race theory was "totally made up by Donald Trump and Glenn Youngkin." https://sputniknews.com/20210929/gop-rep-to-introduce-bill-making-teaching-crt-in-federally-funded-schools-a-civil-rights-violation-1089507059.html monti Yes...everything these politicians in DC are doing now is designed to distract the masses from the fact that they are stealing whatever they can before the sh...t really hits the fan in the US...the Democrats don't care about securing the border so they can use the illegal immigrant problem to upset the right about immigration and not pay attention to the fact that they are in reality a right wing neocon faction that serves their corporate masters...exploit cheap labor at the expense of poor Americans that will blame the immigrants for the problems thier political hacks are creating on a daily basis now...and make them feel powerless... 3 TruePatriot C'mon Terry, it's real and it's being taught and the parents weren't asked or consulted about it in the first place. What I'd like to know is who or what entity pushed it nationwide and why the school boards went for it. It's nothing but out and out racism in and of itself. 2 5 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Kirill Kurevlev Kirill Kurevlev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Kirill Kurevlev us, racism, conservatives, racism, critical race theory https://sputniknews.com/20211011/end-of-truce-ethiopian-army-reportedly-launches-ground-offensive-against-tigray-rebels-1089841394.html End of Truce? Ethiopian Army Reportedly Launches Ground Offensive Against Tigray Rebels End of Truce? Ethiopian Army Reportedly Launches Ground Offensive Against Tigray Rebels In late June, the Ethiopian government declared an unconditional ceasefire in the countrys conflict-torn Tigray region in the wake of the recapture of the... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T15:43+0000 2021-10-11T15:43+0000 2021-10-11T15:43+0000 ethiopia africa government army rebel forces tplf (tigray people's liberation front) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/1e/1083272987_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_475e8b4e6381a8f8f8f04d1fd8dda470.jpg Getachew Reda, a spokesperson for the Ethiopian Tigray region's governing party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), told Reuters that the army had launched a ground offensive against rebel forces in the area.According to the spokesperson, the army, along with special forces from the northern Amhara region, started the offensive on Monday morning. The Ethiopian government has not commented on the matter yet.The claims come after the government, in a statement on 28 June, announced an unconditional ceasefire that will last until the end of the farming season in the Tigray region.Rebel forces in Tigray flatly rejected the ceasefire offer at the time, pledging to drive out the "enemies" from the area. TPLF spokesman Reda told CNN back then that the rebels would not rest until the Ethiopian military and its allied forces leave the entire region.Fighting in Tigray broke out in November 2020 after the Ethiopian government accused the TPLF of attacking a regional military base to hijack weapons and arm the anti-government militia. The Tigray region has been occupied by the Ethiopian military since then, which has resulted in deadly clashes with the rebels and heavy civilian losses. https://sputniknews.com/20210302/us-urges-ethiopia-to-prevent-further-violence-in-tigray-region-1082234834.html Truth999 I think biden knows that Ethiopians dont need such gang of the tplf. we must think the tigray residents which are the hostage to the gang as well. 1 Preterist-ADSeventy Will the Biden administration follow through and impose sanctions on Ethiopian individuals and entities now that the truce was broken and no clear and concrete changes took place in the country? 0 2 ethiopia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg ethiopia, africa, government, army, rebel forces, tplf (tigray people's liberation front) https://sputniknews.com/20211011/fake-financial-services-network-defrauds-german-investors-out-of-17mln-1089839149.html Fake Financial Services Network Defrauds German Investors Out of $17Mln Fake Financial Services Network Defrauds German Investors Out of $17Mln MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A fraudulent binary options trading platform spanning three European countries has been busted this month after persuading German investors... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T14:08+0000 2021-10-11T14:08+0000 2021-10-11T14:08+0000 europe germany fraud /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104578/44/1045784491_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_3f8b02166d5a896a5ad3a8a677bb88ec.jpg The cross-border criminal operation was taken down in a series of raids across Bulgaria, Ukraine and Cyprus on October 8. Police from the three countries worked together with German and Dutch authorities, the EU police force Europol said.The Ukraine-based ring operated over 250 domain names and two call centres in Sofia. Their employees posed as financial advisers to encourage victims to invest large sums of money into fake binary options, a type of options contract in which the payout depends entirely on whether the stock price of the underlying asset will be above or below a specified amount at a given time.Raids at eight locations in Bulgaria, Ukraine and Cyprus led to the arrest of a "high-value target" and the seizure of electronic equipment, bank accounts and data back-ups. Seventeen people were taken in for questioning. germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 europe, germany, fraud https://sputniknews.com/20211011/five-indian-soldiers-killed-in-jammu-and-kashmir-1089834995.html Five Indian Soldiers Killed in Jammu and Kashmir Five Indian Soldiers Killed in Jammu and Kashmir In the past 10 days, a total of six civilians have been shot dead by suspected terrorists. The killings sparked public outrage across India, with politicians... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T12:59+0000 2021-10-11T12:59+0000 2021-10-11T12:59+0000 world india jammu world indian army terrorists indian armed forces jammu and kashmir conflict between india, pakistan escalates over exchange of airstrikes in kashmir india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104582/80/1045828093_0:0:4186:2354_1920x0_80_0_0_b6aa40eaf02fc63e7b740699122a16a2.jpg Five Indian Army personnel have been shot dead by suspected terrorists in an exchange of fire in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, an Indian Army official said on Monday."One JCO (Junior Commissioned Officer) and four soldiers were killed during a search operation probably by infiltrators The operation is ongoing", Army spokesperson Colonel Devender Anand told reporters.The spokesperson said that the anti-insurgency operation was launched in a village, located close to the Dera Ki Gali area in the Poonch District, in the morning following intelligence input about their presence.The shootings occurred in a mountain pass near the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the disputed Himalayan territory between India and Pakistan."The encounter with the terrorists was going on, and further details are awaited", Indian news channel NDTV reported.It is being said that it is the deadliest attack on Indian forces this year.The encounter came a week after six civilians were killed by alleged terrorists, evoking widespread condemnation in the region.The Resistance Front (TRF), designated as a terror organisation by India, created months after the Indian government ended Jammu and Kashmir's special status in 2019, claimed responsibility for the attacks against civilians last week, when two teachers were shot dead.TRF is believed to be an offshot of a banned terrorist organisation called Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).On Sunday, nearly 500 people were detained in Jammu and Kashmir by security forces who are investigating the spate of killings by suspected terrorists, AFP quoted an official as saying.A total of 29 civilians have been shot dead in Kashmir so far this year, it added. india jammu jammu and kashmir Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg world, india, jammu, world, indian army, terrorists, indian armed forces, jammu and kashmir, conflict between india, pakistan escalates over exchange of airstrikes in kashmir, india https://sputniknews.com/20211011/foreign-vacation-of-uks-johnson-slammed-as-range-of-crises-mount-1089844523.html Critics Slam BoJo for Foreign Vacation as Range of Crises Mount in UK Critics Slam BoJo for Foreign Vacation as Range of Crises Mount in UK Due to the ongoing natural gas crisis in Europe, British steel, glass, ceramics, and paper producers, among others, have warned that they may be forced to... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T22:08+0000 2021-10-11T22:08+0000 2021-10-11T22:10+0000 uk fuel crisis boris johnson fuel gas vacation crisis gas supplies fuel shortage uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0b/1089846973_0:321:3071:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_7c0bd36f0ec90837a3a6a1a081870ddc.jpg British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under fire for taking a family vacation, his first since early 2020, in the midst of a fuel price crisis that might grind industry to a standstill, The Daily Mail reported on Monday.Johnson took his 33-year-old pregnant wife, Carrie, and one-year-old son Winfred away on a sunny trip at the lavish Costa del Sol, Southern Spain holiday house of one of his ministers, and Downing Street has stressed that the prime minister has full control of the country.At the same time, Johnson is facing mounting opposition from his critics, who are concerned that thousands of manufacturing jobs will be lost in key northern constituencies as a result of global demand and supply chain concerns following the pandemic, which has sent gasoline prices skyrocketing.According to the report, Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, reacted angrily, questioning the timing of the PM's vacation at a time when numerous critical industries were under severe stress.At the same time, one of the sources told the Sunday Mirror that although it is "fine" for Johnson to take a break, "the timing shows just how out of touch he is with ordinary Brits facing bills, bills and yet more bills."Tony Blair's former spin doctor, Alastair Campbell, tweeted his discontent about the news on Monday morning as well."Everybody's entitled to a break and you want people in public life to be fit and healthy and focused, and my problem with him is that it underlines the fact that he isn't really focused on the job in the way that he should be," he is quoted as saying in a separate interview on the matter. "It's also true, as you know I worked with Tony Blair a long time, you can do an awful lot of work wherever you are, but I feel that Boris Johnson is trolling us the whole time. I don't think he's focused on the job in the way that he should be."The head of the British GMB general trade union Gary Smith reportedly stated that "industry is on the brink of collapse, while our members are desperately concerned their jobs are about to go down the pan."In his turn, Security Minister Damian Hinds said it was "important for the whole country" that the prime minister has time to switch off, while Downing Street and government leaders backed his right to take a vacation.Johnson's press secretary reportedly reiterated this argument, noting that the prime minister "has been kept regularly updated on the ongoing work to address the current issues around fuel and supply chains."Earlier the UK media reported that Johnson was said to be "utterly exhausted" by the events of recent months. Especially as this comes after the prime minister was unable to enjoy his summer "staycation" in the UK's West Country, which was cut short after only a day because of the Afghanistan situation. https://sputniknews.com/20211011/uk-steel-industry-begs-government-for-extra-energy-subsidies-to-save-jobs-1089844784.html Tyke It's never going to be a good time for a holiday for the PM. People saying timing is poor due to crisis here and there in the UK. What if he delays it and next month the crisis is worse, surely even Boris needs a holiday after all he has a government to run things and he is at the end of the phone. 0 Tom One absolutely, and why would you stay in cold, dark depressing U.K. when its nice and warm with plenty sun in Spain ? 0 2 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Kirill Kurevlev Kirill Kurevlev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Kirill Kurevlev boris johnson, fuel, gas, vacation, crisis, gas supplies, fuel shortage, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211011/indian-home-minister-convenes-meeting-to-discuss-coal-shortage-power-outage-concerns-1089839702.html Indian Home Minister Convenes Meeting to Discuss Coal Shortage, Power Outage Concerns Indian Home Minister Convenes Meeting to Discuss Coal Shortage, Power Outage Concerns India is facing an unprecedented power crisis as more than half of the country's 135 coal-fired power plants, which generate nearly 70 percent of the... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T16:50+0000 2021-10-11T16:50+0000 2021-10-11T16:50+0000 new delhi delhi world india coal coal power world india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/101667/97/1016679768_0:221:5520:3326_1920x0_80_0_0_e4dedc462cca43fb8963f635a4d4d78b.jpg Federal Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh and Coal Minister Prahlad Patel on Monday amid reports of a coal crisis in the country. During the hour-long meeting, the three ministers are thought believed to have discussed the availability of coal to power plants. The meeting was also attended by senior bureaucrats and officials from the state-run energy conglomerate the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited.Several Indian states, including Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bengal and the union territory of Delhi, have warned of possible blackouts. But the federal government has vowed that India has ample coal stocks to meet the demand of its power plants.Seventy percent of the electricity in India is generated using coal.The current fuel stock at coal-powered plants is about 7.2 million tons, sufficient for four days, the statement added.India is the world's second-largest coal-consuming country after China, which, in turn, has recently witnessed widespread power outages that have shut down factories and badly hit production, as well as global supply chains. new delhi delhi india Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg new delhi, delhi, world, india, coal, coal, power, world, india https://sputniknews.com/20211011/indian-parliamentarian-surrenders-to-court-after-being-accused-of-murder-claims-hes-innocent-1089831803.html Indian Parliamentarian Surrenders to Court After Being Accused of Murder, Claims He's Innocent Indian Parliamentarian Surrenders to Court After Being Accused of Murder, Claims He's Innocent The senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) politician has been on the lam for the last few days, since a murder case was filed against him nearly two weeks... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T13:57+0000 2021-10-11T13:57+0000 2021-10-11T13:57+0000 india india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107978/68/1079786852_0:0:3641:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_5d0af296d04a62b02f9e6c28a24c6d91.jpg Indian Parliamentarian T.R.V. S. Ramesh of the Tamil Nadu state's ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) surrendered to a court on Monday. Law enforcement officers have been on the lookout for the federal lawmaker, who has been on the run for over ten days since being accused of murdering a labourer. The allegations were levelled against him by the labourer's family. The 60-year-old labourer, Govindarasu, was killed during a violent incident at parliamentarian Ramesh's cashew processing unit. On Monday, the politician rejected the allegations made against him. Govindarasu was allegedly attacked by the parliamentarian, along with other men, for reportedly stealing about 8 kilos of cashews from the processing unit on 19 September. He did not return home that night and was found dead on 20 September on the factory premises. A police complaint was subsequently filed against the minister as the main accused on 29 September. As he suffered injuries, the labourer was taken to a police station by his fellow workers. The police instructed the said workers to take him to a hospital. But his co-workers took the wounded Govindarasu back to the cashew processing unit. He was later found dead there. In his police complaint, Govindarasu's son called the incident "a clear case of murder". Over the weekend, the police arrested five workers from the cashew processing unit who were allegedly involved in the violence. A Tamil Nadu political party -- Paattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which possesses a strong hold in the region -- has now vowed to get justice for the victim's family. https://sputniknews.com/20210620/former-minister-of-indian-state-tamil-nadu-arrested-for-allegedly-raping-malaysian-actress-1083192355.html india Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Priya Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/01/1081944855_0:29:2048:2077_100x100_80_0_0_fcca548f1670eac15afebf8b8e336044.jpg Priya Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/01/1081944855_0:29:2048:2077_100x100_80_0_0_fcca548f1670eac15afebf8b8e336044.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Priya Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/01/1081944855_0:29:2048:2077_100x100_80_0_0_fcca548f1670eac15afebf8b8e336044.jpg india, india https://sputniknews.com/20211011/jared-kushner-and-ivanka-trump-visit-israel-to-celebrate-abraham-accords-1089843373.html Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Visit Israel to Celebrate Abraham Accords Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Visit Israel to Celebrate Abraham Accords One of Donald Trumps biggest foreign policy achievements was brokering a deal between Israel and several Arab countries on a normalisation of ties. Both Jared... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T17:45+0000 2021-10-11T17:45+0000 2021-10-11T17:45+0000 donald trump middle east israel ivanka trump jared kushner /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107329/72/1073297290_0:0:5212:2933_1920x0_80_0_0_f8a63cafb8f2dbc93d4f6f735e826758.jpg Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have visited Israel in order to attend the inaugural meeting of the Caucus for Promoting the Abraham Accords, a panel in the Israeli parliament dedicated to the promotion of the Abraham Accords, a US-brokered deal which saw Israel normalise relations with several Arab countries.The event was attended by many high-ranking politicians, including former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Benny Gantz, and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.Jared Kushner, who is Jewish, thanked everyone who attended the meeting for promoting the accords. "The Middle East is changing", said the ex-senior adviser to former President Donald Trump, adding that a focus on cooperation between Israel and Arab states would make "our dream of peace come true".Foreign Minister Yair Lapid thanked former US President Donald Trump and ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanuahu for their parts in the diplomatic breakthrough.The Abraham AccordsSince the creation of Israel in 1948 and the ensuing Arab-Israeli War, there has been an unofficial rule in the Arab world that a normalisation of ties with Israel could only occur after the Palestinians have an independent state.The only two Arab countries that had signed peace agreements with Israel in the past were Egypt and Jordan, in 1979 and 1994 respectively. Both countries share borders with Israel and had fought wars with Tel Aviv in the past.During his presidency, Donald Trump pledged to normalise ties between Israel and the Arab World. On 13 August 2020, the Republican POTUS announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel were to normalise their relations. The deal came to be known as the Abraham Accords and was later signed by Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.The accord has been endorsed by Trumps successor, Democrat Joe Biden, although Israeli media reported that some Knesset MPs were frustrated that the Biden administration is not working on expanding the agreement. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged to encourage more Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel. He is set to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Washington next week. Preterist-ADSeventy Why not? Trump's Ex-Press Secretary said Jared Kushner, Ivanka acted as 'Shadow President, First Lady during Trumps presidency. 3 mandrake The handy knitwork jared put together on instructions from netanyahu is as solid as a card house, the second Iran is ready together with turkey to clean out the jews from palestine mohammed bin salman will remember that he is otherwise engaged and the uae will recall that the jews/jared didnt deliver whatever bribes that was promised for uae:s signature to the accord never was fulfilled. 2 7 israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev donald trump, middle east, israel, ivanka trump, jared kushner https://sputniknews.com/20211011/more-than-half-of-jewish-israelis-favour-military-attack-on-iran-to-stop-nuclear-programme-1089841263.html More Than Half of Jewish Israelis Favour Military Attack on Iran to Stop Nuclear Programme More Than Half of Jewish Israelis Favour Military Attack on Iran to Stop Nuclear Programme More Than Half of Jewish Israelis Favour Military Attack on Iran to Stop Nuclear Programme 2021-10-11T16:38+0000 2021-10-11T16:38+0000 2021-10-11T16:38+0000 middle east israel iran nuclear program /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/0e/1083382354_0:74:3377:1974_1920x0_80_0_0_26e1adfd0de6daed2973ada1acddee8e.jpg More than half of Jewish Israelis believe that Tel Aviv should have launched a military attack against Iran when the Islamic Republic was in the "early stages" of developing its nuclear programme rather than finding a diplomatic solution, the Israel Democracy Institute reported citing results of a recent opinion poll. About 51 percent of Jewish Israelis supported a military hardline approach, whereas only 15 percent of Arab Israelis favoured it.At the same time, only 23.5 percent of the Jewish respondents and 46 percent of Arab interviewees supported a diplomatic approach to resolve a conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv over the Iranian nuclear programme. A important portion of respondents in a poll, which has a maximum error margin of around 3.6 percent, said they did not know which option was better: some 25.5 percent of Jewish respondents and 39 percent of Arab interviewees in Israel struggled to choose between the two.The poll comes as the new Israeli government continues its policy of strongly opposing Iran's nuclear programme, citing the same fears as the government of Benjamin Netanyahu that Tehran will acquire a nuclear weapon. Iran has been gradually increasing its uranium enrichment levels since 2019 far exceeding the 3 percent level which was the ceiling established under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015 (also known as JCPOA or Iran nuclear deal).The Islamic Republic gradually backtracked on its commitments under the nuclear agreement after the US withdrew from it completely and slapped Tehran with hefty sanctions. Iran noted that it was ready to return to compliance, if the US dropped sanctions and returned to the agreement. The new Biden administration expressed interest in such a move, but so far the two countries haven't been able to agree terms of returning to the JCPOA. https://sputniknews.com/20210917/gantz-israel-could-accept-return-to-jcpoa-if-us-has-plan-b-for-irans-nuclear-program-1089174485.html vot tak The israelis are a very sick people. 12 mandrake But considerably more than half of the worlds population wants the jews gone and the palestinians back in their own country. 12 34 israel iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg middle east, israel, iran, nuclear program https://sputniknews.com/20211011/moscow-court-dismisses-navalnys-lawsuit-over-blocked-youtube-channel-1089840093.html Moscow Court Dismisses Navalny's Lawsuit Over Blocked YouTube Channel Moscow Court Dismisses Navalny's Lawsuit Over Blocked YouTube Channel MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Moscow court on Monday threw out a lawsuit brought against the prosecutor general's office by opposition figure Alexey Navalny in which he... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T14:33+0000 2021-10-11T14:33+0000 2021-10-11T14:33+0000 russia alexei navalny youtube /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/101913/28/1019132849_0:54:1025:630_1920x0_80_0_0_5190e2f9b25d68d8d223129c4d782c8a.jpg In September, Navalny filed a lawsuit against the Russian prosecution authority and media watchdog Roskomnadzor. According to Navalny's lawyer, the activist insists that the blockage of his website and YouTube channel was illegal.In January, Navalny was arrested upon his arrival in Russia from Germany, where he received medical treatment for alleged poisoning. A court rescinded his suspended sentence in the 2014 Yves Rocher fraud case over multiple probation breaches and sentenced him to two and a half years in prison. Navalny is currently serving his prison sentence in the Vladimir Region. mandrake Yep navalny neds to be ditched 0 1 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, alexei navalny, youtube https://sputniknews.com/20211011/no-sharp-objects-please-american-jewish-group-fights-for-non-circumcision-1089838136.html No Sharp Objects, Please: American Jewish Group Fights for Non-Circumcision No Sharp Objects, Please: American Jewish Group Fights for Non-Circumcision While the ritual remains one of the most conventional Jewish traditions, and a popular procedure among non-Jewish Americans too, some people believe it should... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T14:15+0000 2021-10-11T14:15+0000 2021-10-11T14:15+0000 us jews circumcision jewish /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105349/66/1053496622_0:254:4928:3026_1920x0_80_0_0_76494ccfa183ece604eda15f629b95c0.jpg A new Jewish group launching in the US this week is seeking help from synagogues to protect the rights of those Jews who are not circumcised. The organisation, called Bruchim ("blessed"), includes people from various non-Orthodox Jewish movements and seeks to normalise non-circumcision. Currently, non-circumcised boys may be denied their bar mitzvah (coming of age ritual) in some synagogues in accordance with a 1981 decision by the Conservative movement's Jewish law authority.The group's social media strategist, Elana Johnson, who faced this problem due to her decision not to circumcise her three sons, said that she had to join a Reform synagogue instead of a Conservative congregation.Bruchim believes that synagogues should actively indicate they welcome non-circumcising families. However, this position is not popular among American Jewry: head of the Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Rick Jacobs previously stressed that the movement "will always advocate" for the ritual.In his turn, Rabbi Elliot Dorff, the leading bioethicist of the Conservative movement, noted there is no basis in Jewish law for denying an uncircumcised man access to the religious community. However, the rabbi stressed that he wouldn't publicly endorse openness to non-circumcising families.The issue itself remains sensitive in the US, since the vast majority of American males (91% white, 76% black, and 44% Hispanic) are circumcised, according to a 2014 study. Some scholars also suggest that circumcised men are more likely to be emotionally unstable and exhibit borderline sexual behaviour. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg us, jews, circumcision, jewish https://sputniknews.com/20211011/pandora-papers-saudi-newcastle-deal-scottish-independence-nobel-prize-this-weeks-news-headlines-1089829522.html Pandora Papers; Saudi-Newcastle Deal; Scottish Independence; Nobel Prize; This Week's News Headlines Pandora Papers; Saudi-Newcastle Deal; Scottish Independence; Nobel Prize; This Week's News Headlines Join George Galloway for the Mother of All Talk Shows - this week we talk about the Pandora Papers, the Saudi-Newcastle deal, Scottish independence, Nobel... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T09:39+0000 2021-10-11T09:39+0000 2021-10-15T09:56+0000 saudi arabia scotland nicola sturgeon radio us nobel prize pandora scottish independence newcastle united fc the mother of all talk shows /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0b/1089829449_56:0:1300:700_1920x0_80_0_0_8d3e5eae0f1d80df69ea4f4cf2e1e885.png Pandora Papers; Saudi-Newcastle Deal; Scottish Independence; Nobel Prizes; This Week's News Headlines from US & UK Join George Galloway for the Mother of All Talk Shows - this week we talk about the Pandora Papers, the Saudi-Newcastle deal, Scottish independence, Nobel Prizes, and the latest headlines from the US & UK. This week we talk to a Nobel Prize winner Dr. David MacMillan - Professor at Princeton University. Journalist & host of RT's Going Underground Afshin Rattansi delves into the Pandora Papers. Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University Sir John Curtice updates us on the accusations that Nicola Sturgeon is trying to win Scottish independence by waiting for the opposition to die. Dr. Anas Altikriti - CEO of The Cordoba Foundation discusses the Saudi-Newcastle deal. Garland Nixon - radio talk show host and political analyst updates us with the headlines of the week from the US. Journalist and campaigner James Giles brings us the latest UK news.Tune in every Sunday at 2 pm EST| 7 pm CET. You can also tweet George @GeorgeGallowayWe'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com saudi arabia scotland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 George Galloway https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/10/1082093052_1332:0:3380:2048_100x100_80_0_0_303ba8721418377dd7f15affe28b0b83.png George Galloway https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/10/1082093052_1332:0:3380:2048_100x100_80_0_0_303ba8721418377dd7f15affe28b0b83.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 George Galloway https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/10/1082093052_1332:0:3380:2048_100x100_80_0_0_303ba8721418377dd7f15affe28b0b83.png saudi arabia, scotland, nicola sturgeon, radio, us, nobel prize, pandora, scottish independence, newcastle united fc, the mother of all talk shows, uk, https://sputniknews.com/20211011/plenary-session-of-67th-nato-parliamentary-assembly-1089824513.html Plenary Session of 67th NATO Parliamentary Assembly Plenary Session of 67th NATO Parliamentary Assembly NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is expected to attend the event and address the session's plenary meeting. 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T08:10+0000 2021-10-11T08:10+0000 2021-10-11T14:21+0000 military & intelligence russia china nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/10/1082090658_0:105:2000:1230_1920x0_80_0_0_d292cc6ab0c7610b3b9730de8ab7c763.jpg Sputnik is live from Lisbon, Portugal, as the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is holding a plenary meeting on the final day of its 67th annual session.The event began on 8 October and involves representatives from 30 aligned nations. The topics on the agenda include climate, defence, China, and Russia.Some participants joined the session remotely due to the COVID pandemic.Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more! Roger Misso A parliament of countries which already belong to the EU Parliament. An alternative or does it supervise the EU Parliament or is it co-equal? In which case, which has greater authority in case of conflict of issues or perhaps they will never be in conflict with each other? In any case, if its a body of European states, what is the US doing in it? Conducting music? 2 Roger Misso 0 2 russia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 military & intelligence, russia, china, nato https://sputniknews.com/20211011/polish-border-guards-shoot-in-air-to-force-migrants-into-belarus-minsk-says-1089840931.html Polish Border Guards Shoot in Air to Force Migrants Into Belarus, Minsk Says Polish Border Guards Shoot in Air to Force Migrants Into Belarus, Minsk Says MINSK (Sputnik) - The Polish border guard has tried to force migrants into Belarus by beating them with batons and firing warning shots into the air, the... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T15:08+0000 2021-10-11T15:08+0000 2021-10-11T15:08+0000 belarus europe poland migration migrants border shooting /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104837/99/1048379992_0:159:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_53f638ba3e54fd331b4130ef5ca2469c.jpg Only the prompt arrival of the Belarusian border forces prevented the Polish side from squeezing the group into Belarus.Last week, the Polish border patrol accused the Belarusian border patrol of firing blank cartridges toward the Polish side. Minsk disputed the claim and demanded clarification from Warsaw.Lithuania, Latvia and Poland have accused Belarus of orchestrating a migrant crisis to get back at Brussels for sanctions against the government of Alexander Lukashenko. The president has denied the accusations, saying his cash-strapped country can no longer afford tight border controls. Golem "Lithuania, Latvia and Poland have accused Belarus of orchestrating a migrant crisis to get back at Brussels for sanctions against the government of Alexander Lukashenko"................................................... Who attacked and destroyed Libya and turned it into a failed state?, who attacked and destroyed Iraq?, or Afghanistan?, or Syria?, who is providing saudi arabia with lethal munitions to wage war in Yemen?, who is levying crippling sanctions against all these countries making it impossible for ordinary people to have any semblance of a normal life in them?, it certainly wasnt Belarus, it was the murderous psychopaths running the west now they are all crying about being inundated by refugees, you reap what you sow and this is just the begining, they aint seen nothing yet. 1 FeEisi Belarus can be the protector of migrants who want a better future in the EU. Belarus can provide migrants with food, water, and warm clothing for their trip to the EU. Belarus can also send border patrols to keep an eye on those abusing migrants. Migrants are the children of Merkel. 0 2 belarus poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 belarus, europe, poland, migration, migrants, border, shooting https://sputniknews.com/20211011/prince-andrew-banned-from-royal-duties-for-good-as-william-is-triggered-by-his-attitude---report-1089820927.html Prince Andrew Banned From Royal Duties For Good, as William Is 'Triggered' by His Attitude - Report Prince Andrew Banned From Royal Duties For Good, as William Is 'Triggered' by His Attitude - Report Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, is reported to have held crisis talks with his grandmother and father, The Queen and Prince Charles... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T03:10+0000 2021-10-11T03:10+0000 2021-10-11T03:10+0000 prince william royal family prince andrew uk royal family royal rift virginia roberts giuffre uk queen elizabeth ii prince charles /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0b/1089823748_0:0:3146:1770_1920x0_80_0_0_4ca0b1e8fb71ac475495c28d14fb2198.jpg Disgraced Prince Andrew will not return to public life after Charles, Edward, and Anne agreed to never allow him back as one of the publicly active family members and William branded him a "threat to the royal family," The Sunday Times reported.Despite facing a sex abuse lawsuit in the United States, Andrew, 61, reportedly had hopes of returning to royal life and allegedly thought that his family was behind him.In the meantime, insiders close to Prince William claimed that Andrew has an "ungracious and ungrateful" attitude toward his position, which is one of the "triggers" that "really gets" William. According to the sources, this has sparked public outrage and poses a risk and threat to the family."Any suggestion that there isnt gratitude for the institution, anything that could lead anyone in the public to think that senior members of the royal family arent grateful for their position, [William thinks] is really dangerous," the source stated.According to the report, Andrew talking to TV cameras outside All Saints Chapel, Windsor Lodge, two days after his father Prince Philip's death, shook the royal family. And his older brother Charles was not amused.However, there is reportedly a belief among Andrew's circle that the royal family could be "much more supportive and engaged," according to a person close to Andrew."They have just stuck their fingers in their ears and gone, Make it stop, make it go away. But Harry and Meghan should have taught them that even when a problem goes away, it doesnt go away," said one of the sources close to the Duke of York. "The duke can no more be disinvested as a senior member of the royal family than Harry and Meghan can. It is who and what they are. If they dont engage at all, it is going to become like Harry and Meghan on steroids."While the family seems to have abandoned him, the British media note that one of the few members of the august family who continues to provide all kinds of backing to the besieged prince is his mother, the Queen, from whom Andrew is reportedly "getting a lot of support," including allegedly paying for his expensive team of lawyers to fight a sexual assault case.The sources claimed that one of the reasons for such a lack of empathy is that Andrew, who was described as a "self-important bore" by one source, failed to make friends "on the way up, so no one is helping him on the way down."Meanwhile, earlier in the day it was reported that Scotland Yard had dropped an investigation of possible sex offenses against minors committed on UK soil against Andrew.Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the Duke of York's alleged sexual assault victim, is said to have spoken to Scotland Yard about claims she was raped and sexually attacked by Andrew when she was 17. The charges have brought him under fire, as has his association with late pedophile financier Jeffery Epstein. Andrew, who is not facing any criminal charges, "categorically" denies the allegations against him. https://sputniknews.com/20211010/no-further-action-scotland-yard-reportedly-drops-probe-into-prince-andrews-alleged-sex-crimes-1089821199.html tim It seems awfully harsh that this good man has been excluded from his royal duties simply because of an inability to sweat which has now returned to him. As I understand it, this ability can be further enhanced at Rikers Island in NYC, so perhaps his rehabilitation can be furthered if he visits the location. 2 feketehollo just palace intrigue, nothing more. What matters is what the Queen decides, she still has her wits about her and Andrew is his favorite son. 0 2 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Kirill Kurevlev Kirill Kurevlev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Kirill Kurevlev prince william, royal family, prince andrew, uk royal family, royal rift, virginia roberts giuffre, uk, queen elizabeth ii, prince charles https://sputniknews.com/20211011/prince-andrews-lawyers-not-surprised-scotland-yard-dropped-probe-into-sex-abuse-claims-1089842370.html Prince Andrews Lawyers 'Not Surprised' Scotland Yard Dropped Probe Into Sex Abuse Claims Prince Andrews Lawyers 'Not Surprised' Scotland Yard Dropped Probe Into Sex Abuse Claims The 61-year-old son of Queen Elizabeth II has for years been accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexual abuse. The 38-year-old mother of three has claimed that the... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T16:44+0000 2021-10-11T16:44+0000 2021-10-11T16:44+0000 scotland yard prince andrew jeffrey epstein metropolitan police sex abuse uk royal family virginia roberts giuffre uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/0c/1089001743_0:0:2800:1575_1920x0_80_0_0_5f4de5dd717d81ad2557f5dc107921ae.jpg Prince Andrews lawyers are "not surprised" that the Metropolitan Police, commonly known as Scotland Yard, have reportedly decided not take further action against the royal in connection with sex abuse allegations, the Daily Mail reported, citing an anonymous source close to the duke.Late on Sunday, UK media reported that after reviewing documents from the civil lawsuit filed by the dukes accuser Virginia Giuffre, Scotland Yard decided not to start a probe into the case.The Met police declined to say whether its officers had spoken with Mrs Giuffre while reviewing the case.Accusations and BanishmentVirginia Giuffre is one of the alleged sex slaves of Jeffrey Epstein, a late US financier accused by dozens of women of rape and sex abuse. Epstein rubbed shoulders with just about all the powers that be, including presidents, prime ministers, celebrities, and royals, including Prince Andrew. For years, Giuffre has been claiming that when she was 17, she was trafficked to London by Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and forced to have sex with the Duke of York.In August, Mrs Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against the royal in a New York court. She is seeking "accountability" from the 61-year-old and is demanding compensation for physical and mental damage.Although the Duke admitted to having visited Epsteins mansions and private island, where numerous women claim the financier and his friends abused them, he has categorically dismissed Mrs Giuffres accusations, saying he has an alibi on the day the alleged sexual intercourse occurred in London. He also said he had no recollection of meeting the woman.The veracity of the latter's statement has been questioned - one woman claims to have seen the royal dancing with Giuffre at a nightclub, and there is at least one photo showing Prince Andrew standing next to a young Giuffre and Epsteins purported "pimp" Ghislaine Maxwell. After the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal broke out, the Duke stepped down from his royal duties and has kept a low profile since. Report have suggested that he is keen to clear his name and return back to public life.However, according to The Sun, his siblings - Prince Charles, heir to the throne, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne - have agreed there was no way back for the duke, as he is seen as a threat to the future of the family and the monarchy. Reports say Prince Andrew is now preparing to hand over "personal documents" for a civil lawsuit in the US. His legal team has until 29 October to respond to the lawsuit. According to The Sunday Telegraph, a remote hearing has been scheduled for 3 November. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev scotland yard, prince andrew, jeffrey epstein, metropolitan police, sex abuse, uk royal family, virginia roberts giuffre, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211011/saakashvilis-condition-worsening-doctor-warns-against-continuing-hunger-strike-1089823294.html Saakashvilis Condition Worsening, Doctor Warns Against Continuing Hunger Strike Saakashvilis Condition Worsening, Doctor Warns Against Continuing Hunger Strike TBILISI (Sputnik) - Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili is feeling worse after ten days of hunger strike in prison, his personal doctor says. 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T01:54+0000 2021-10-11T01:54+0000 2021-10-11T01:54+0000 mikheil saakashvili ukraine georgia arrest murder hunger strike doctor /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/0b/1089823268_21:0:3340:1867_1920x0_80_0_0_fa4cd671958f459e9e6e725d9cde0d5e.jpg "His condition has worsened. He has difficulty moving, its hard for him to speak. With his personal permission I am disclosing that Saakashvili has a blood disorder - thalassemia," Nikoloz Kipshidze said on Mtavari Arkhi TV on Sunday.The medic specified that thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder characterized by decreased hemoglobin production, is not fatal, but a person suffering from it cannot go on a hunger strike.Saakashvili was arrested in Georgia on October 1 and has been on a hunger strike since then to protest the charges brought against him.Saakashvili served as the Georgian president from 2004 to 2013. Later he was the governor of Ukraine's Odessa Region. The politician was arrested in his home country as soon as he returned from Ukraine for his alleged role in the murder of a banker and an assault on a member of the Georgian parliament. Other cases against Saakashvili are being heard in court. The 53-year-old has claimed that he is a political prisoner. vot tak Feed the disgusting war criminal ties. 3 vot tak Thumbs down on the article, it actually promotes sympathy for this sudhuman nazi equivalent war criminal. 3 4 ukraine georgia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 mikheil saakashvili, ukraine, georgia, arrest, murder, hunger strike, doctor https://sputniknews.com/20211011/scotland-yard-is-rotten-believes-uk-home-secretary-as-she-plans-to-overhaul-met-police-media-says-1089828610.html Scotland Yard is 'Rotten' Believes UK Home Secretary as She Plans to Overhaul Met Police, Media Says Scotland Yard is 'Rotten' Believes UK Home Secretary as She Plans to Overhaul Met Police, Media Says Reports say tensions between the home secretary and the Metropolitan Police chief began after the latter reportedly ignored requests to look into the shocking... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T09:28+0000 2021-10-11T09:28+0000 2021-10-11T09:28+0000 united kingdom police brutality priti patel cressida dick uk sarah everard /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/05/1089681800_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_a11deda9b6c111f32af15c3c5da46207.jpg UK Home Secretary Priti Patel believes the Metropolitan Police Service, commonly known as Scotland Yard is rotten from top to bottom as she plans to conduct an overhaul of the task force to bring it under greater political control, The Times has reported, citing a government source. According to the outlet, Ms Patel's bewilderment over Scotland Yard's handling of the Sarah Everard case led to a clash with Metropolitan Police Chief Dame Cressida Dick. The home secretary was left incensed after Dame Cressida reportedly ignored inquiries Ms Patel made on behalf of Sarah Everard's family, the source told The Times.Scotland Yard's "defensiveness" and unwillingness to confront mistakes made the Met Police the worst Priti Patel believes.The Case of Sarah Everard and the Debate on the Role of PoliceThis spring, Britain was rocked by the disappearance of a young man, who vanished in South London as she walked home from a friend's house on 3 March. A subsequent investigation revealed that Sarah Everard was kidnapped by a Metropolitan police officer, Wayne Couzens, who falsely arrested her under the pretence of violating coronavirus guidelines.The 48-year-old, who served in the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit raped his victim, strangled her, and then burned the body before disposing of the remains in a pond.The news caused a huge public outcry and reignited the debate on the role of law enforcement in society and police violence. Public indignation has since grown after it became known that the Metropolitan Police failed to conduct a thorough vetting of Wayne Couzens. He was previously accused of indecent exposure and allegedly nicknamed the "rapist" among colleagues. Reports say he also had problems with drugs and possessed extreme pornography. Couzens received a whole-life prison term, with the judge describing the case as "devastating, tragic, and wholly brutal". Scotland Yard and Dame Cressida Dick came under even more harsh criticism when a public vigil for Sarah Everard was broken up by law enforcement, with officers forcefully removing female demonstrators.Following the murder, Home Secretary Patel announced two probes into the Metropolitan Police one dealing with the task force's vetting of Wayne Couzens, while the other inquiry will look at the "professional standards and discipline and workplace behaviour".The Observer revealed that hundreds of complaints of sex abuse have been filed against officers in recent years and only a small portion of them were upheld. feketehollo obviously the MET needs to come transparent, i agree with the home secretary and all those people who got beaten up by the police just for demanding accountability. 2 mandrake Another institution for pretty patel to destroy. Given her uninterrupted line of miserable failures, she is bound to be successful with the Metropolitan Police as well. Pretty patel is rather pretty than a politician who gets the job done! 2 5 united kingdom Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev united kingdom, police brutality, priti patel, cressida dick, uk, sarah everard https://sputniknews.com/20211011/state-dept-says-talks-with-taliban-delegation-in-doha-candid-1089822636.html State Dept Says Talks With Taliban Delegation in Doha Candid State Dept Says Talks With Taliban Delegation in Doha Candid WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US State Department says two-day talks with the Taliban* delegation in Doha, Qatar were professional and Washington will be... 11.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-11T00:26+0000 2021-10-11T00:26+0000 2021-10-11T01:10+0000 doha us afghanistan talks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/03/05/1082259438_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_d9dffc8167e75768c52c311af409ab89.jpg The Doha talks were held on October 9 and 10 and focused on security issues, as well as human rights, including the participation of women in various aspects of Afghan society, according to the US State Department.Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that the Taliban called negotiations with US delegates in Doha "fruitful" and that there were hopes that the meeting would be a step toward the new Afghan authorities' recognition by Washington.The Taliban said in a statement after the talks that the two-day dialogue "went well" and that political issues were discussed in detail. According to the Taliban, US representatives promised to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghans, as well as facilities for other humanitarian organizations to deliver aid. The Taliban expressed readiness to cooperate on humanitarian issues and to facilitate the movement of foreign nationals.Acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said earlier that the Afghan delegation demanded that Americans should not violate the Afghan airspace or interfere in the countrys home affairs. The Taliban-run government also urged the US to lift curbs on the Afghan central banks reserves. The US also offered COVID-19 vaccines to Afghanistan.This was the first meeting of US officials with the Taliban since the United States withdrew troops from Afghanistan in August.The Biden administration continues to face criticism over the withdrawal, which reportedly stranded hundreds of Americans, thousands of Afghans who had aided the US, and featured an attack that killed 13 US service members at the Kabul airport during chaotic last-minute evacuations.*A terrorist organization banned in Russia Tolerance Will the US return the money that belongs to Afghanistan or will it rob the Afghans? 2 vot tak ""The discussions were candid and professional with the U.S. delegation reiterating that the Taliban will be judged on its actions, not only its words," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement." ... But not from the israeloamerican side, where bi*chy queens reign. Something not changed by israel in their american colony with the nominal change from trump to biden regimes. 1 4 doha us afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 doha, us, afghanistan, talks Page Content U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has congratulated the 2021 President's Education Awards Program (PEAP) recipients, recognizing nearly 1.85 million elementary, middle, and high school graduates on their educational accomplishments. The students come from more than 18,750 public, private, and military schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and American military bases abroad including four schools in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. "President Biden and I are thrilled to recognize this year's honorees and celebrate their accomplishments with the nation, along with their families, teachers, and communities who helped them along their educational journey, said Secretary Cardona. "For all the hardships and heartache over the last school year, I firmly believe that we, as a countryand this rising generationcan emerge from this challenging time even stronger. The President's Education Award Program honorees have forged opportunity out of crisis and drawn on their resolve, their ingenuity, and their tireless optimism to excel." The President's Education Awards Program was founded in 1983. Every year since then, the program has provided our nation's schools with the opportunity to recognize graduating students who meet high standards of academic excellence and those who have given their best effort, often overcoming obstacles to their learning. Each year, eligible graduating K-12 students are selected by their school principals for recognition in two categories: The President's Award for Educational Excellence This award recognizes academic success in the classroom. To be eligible, students must meet requirements, including grade point average or other school-set criteria and choice of state tests or teacher recommendations. This award recognizes academic success in the classroom. To be eligible, students must meet requirements, including grade point average or other school-set criteria and choice of state tests or teacher recommendations. The President's Award for Educational AchievementThis award recognizes students who show outstanding educational growth, improvement, commitment, or intellectual development in their academic subjects but do not meet the criteria for the Educational Excellence Award. Its purpose is to encourage and reward students who give their best effort, often in the face of obstacles. Criteria for this award are developed at each school. Individual recognition is bestowed by the President and the U.S. Secretary of Education, in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The award includes a congratulatory letter to the student and a certificate signed by the President, the Secretary, and the school principal. Unlike other awards programs, the principal has sole discretion in choosing recipients based on eligibility. There is no limit on the number of awards as long as students meet the criteria for each award set by the school. SCCPSS students attending Windsor Forest Elementary, White Bluff Elementary, Garrison School for the Arts and Oglethorpe Charter School received awards. The revival of the Coville Cup began on Sunday (Oct. 10) at Rideau Carleton Raceway with two races for the first of the 10-week drivers contest. Daniel St. Pierre won the first dash of the Coville Cup with Brookletsjustified in a 1:55.4 mile. He secured cover to the half before circling by the first-over and faltering Jon Snow up the backstretch and ground into odds-on favourite and pacesetter Lucky Leonard. Off the turn, Brookletsjustified scooted clear to a two-length win over Benoit Hebert and Twin B Laker in second. Michael Healey and Officially Rusty finished third and Anne Marie Turenne took fourth with Uno Cinucenta. William Roy came from off the speed with State News to deliver as the odds-on choice in the second split of the Coville Cup. Roy ranged out of fifth with his charge and managed to tuck to the pylons to save ground into the final turn. State News then tipped by pacesetter Bobbies Power Play and put him away through the stretch to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Fern Hill Flight and Andrew Moore finished second with Philippe Trudeau and Tico Time taking third and Bobbie Power Play with Bernard Lavigne finishing fourth. Hitman Hill hustled off a helmet in the $9,200 Ross Curran Memorial, which honoured late horseman Ross Curran, to win as the 4-5 favourite in 1:52.1. The six-year-old American Ideal gelding sat sixth off a first-turn skirmish with a three-wide battle to the lead through a :26 first quarter. Stonebridge Beach emerged on top by the stands first time while Ashleysbest was stuck uncovered and Histoire Enchantee faded through the field towards a :54.1 half. With the two wide battlers tiring from the mix, Stonebridge Beach faced pressure up the backstretch from The Light Speed to three-quarters in 1:22.2. Driver Pascal Berube positioned Hitman Hill third over to the final turn and fired off cover coming into the stretch, reeling in late leader The Light Speed to win by a half length. The Regulator finished third and Racemup took fourth. Owned by Kevin Harvey, Anthony Stymest, Rudge Racing and Ken Hardie, Hitman Hill won his fourth race from 18 starts this season and his 23rd from 82 overall, earning $530,407. Anne Marie Turenne trains the $3.70 winner. Capteur De Reve rolled to a facile win in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot in 1:55. The seven-year-old Muscle Mass gelding grabbed the lead to a :27.4 first quarter and faced little challenge through middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:26. Off the turn, he cruised to a 1-1/4-length win over 2-5 favourite Crossfit. Gloire Dream finished third and Raising Rusty took fourth. Trained by Maxime Velaye for owner-breeder Ecurie Provoquante, Capteur De Reve won his seventh race from 12 starts this season and his 32nd from 88 overall, earning $315,727. Steeven Genois drove the $16 winner. To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results Rideau Carleton Raceway. Clapper is the best example of a servant leader I know, Zitz added. He was always accessible to everyone who worked for him. He sought out the underdogs and the people whose voices had not been heard, and he acted on their ideas and concerns. President Barack Obama said of Clapper, [He] possesses a quality that I value in all my advisors: A willingness to tell leaders what we need to know even if its not what we want to hear. Asked to comment on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan after Americas 20-year-long war there, Clapper said it came as no surprise that President Biden did what he did. Clapper, who spent six and a half years in the Obama administration, noted that Biden as vice president had opposed a prolonged U.S. presence in Afghanistan. There was probably no elegant way to withdraw, he said. There was bound to be some confusion and some chaos, in any event. The pullout could have been planned better, and done more gradually over a longer period, he said: Could the withdrawal have been done better? I think so. Russia You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The group will coordinate with state officials and volunteer groups to assist Hurley residents in paying for repairs to owner-occupied homes damaged in the Aug. 30 flood. The United Way of Southwest Virginia has agreed to serve as fiscal agent for the LTRG. To date, just under $201,000 has been raised for the Hurley, Virginia Relief Fund. Slightly over $12,000 of that has already been spent on emergency relief efforts, and fund-raising continues. We would like to more than double what we currently have in the fund to help the citizens of Hurley rebuild, said Travis Staton, United Way of Southwest Virginia president and CEO. We would like to get $400,000 to $500,000. Marci Watson, director of Social Services for Buchanan County, is in charge of case management. She told the LTRG that 76 homes in the area have been listed as having minor damage, major damage or having been destroyed. Of those, 52 owners have come forward seeking assistance. Deadline for applications is Oct. 29, 2021. Chocolate lovers soon will be able to take a peek at how Cacao Kingdom takes beans to bars. Owners Nathan Rogers and Liora Eko-Rogers are chipping away at turning the walls of their workspace in the Three Rivers Mall into windows, so shoppers can watch the days-long process of making chocolate from scratch. While theyre looking forward, Rogers said its been a challenging year. The Rainier residents opened the storefront in the mall just before Thanksgiving 2020 after starting the chocolate business in 2019. Opening up in COVID was hard, Rogers said, and while there was a steady stream of customers Friday afternoon, he said it tends to ebb and flow. Were trying to bring life back to the mall, but theres still a perception that theres nothing there, Rogers said. Paired with rumors about anchor stores leaving or the mall being sold and torn down, all of which have been proven false a number of times, Rogers said people get that perception so they dont come. So far, Cacao Kingdom has relied on word-of-mouth and has not done much advertising as the family works to balance the chocolate business with Rogers full-time work as an engineer for Intel in Hillsboro; and raising his and Eko-Rogers three young children, who are 3, 6 and 9 years old. It gets stressful sometimes, Rogers said. The chocolate business is a labor of love. It makes enough to pay its own bills, but its not a big driver of income for us, Rogers said. Taking a cacao bean to a finished product takes several days of labor, Rogers said. Beans from the Ivory Coast and Ghana are roasted in-house for about half an hour, before cooling for about 6 hours. That brings them down to room temperature and solidifies the coca butter, Rogers said. Then we run them through a cracker to break them up. Cacao Kingdom Address: 351 Three Rivers Dr. STE 216, Kelso Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday Info: @CacaoKingdomLLC on Facebook, www.cacaokingdom.biz or 971- -813-8169 After the cracker, comes another machine to separate the paper-thin husk from the bean. The husk is not edible, but Rogers said makes a good tea. Once weve done that, we run them through the melanger and it spins with a granite platform at the bottom and it has to grind for 36-48 hours, he said. So it takes a couple of days, but that combines the beans, the sugar and whatever else we put in. When it comes out, its chocolate. Cacao Kingdom sells everything from plain chocolate bars to ones with hazelnuts, sea salt and almonds. The Rogerses also create filled chocolates with peanut butter, marshmallow or sea salt and caramel; chocolate dipped pretzels; chocolate dipped Oreos; cake pops; and holiday specials the pair dream up. Right now, hollow chocolate pinatas are available that customers can fill with whatever they want, Rogers said. They come with a little hammer to break them open and are popular gifts, he said. While there have been no supply chain issues with the beans themselves, Rogers said the business briefly struggled to get some of the other food items they sell when a local warehouse had to close for a COVID-19 outbreak in August. In the storefront, some baked good like Scottish shortbread, as well as burgers, hotdogs, nachos, sandwiches, Paninis, pretzels and salads are sold. Theres also a vending machine in the mall that sells their chocolate and shortbread. Cacao Kingdom started online and at farmers markets and holiday bazaars, so Rogers said he got a lot of requests for items. The creation of new products is based on demand and people asking questions. Now, theres three kinds of dairy-free milk chocolate available as well as a line of sugar-free dark chocolate. All of their dark chocolate is vegan, Rogers said, as are the three dairy-free options. Going to the farmers market, we ended up spreading out in to a lot of very interesting niches and we tried to reflect that in the shop rather than having it being a narrow selection, he said. Talking Business is a series featuring local new or expanded businesses and prints every Tuesday. The series was suspended during the pandemic and recently restarted. Contact The Daily News at frontdoor@tdn.com for possible inclusion in the series. Love 8 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Assault, resisting arrest Longview police Friday arrested Charles Franklin Bolton Jr., 32, of Longview, on suspicion of third-degree assault, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Possession of a stolen vehicle Longview police Friday arrested Travis James Castaneda, 42, of Longview, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle. Possession of stolen property Longview police Friday arrested Curtis Lee Jackson, 46, of Longview, on suspicion of possession of stolen property. Burglary, theft Longview police Saturday arrested Ronald Douglas Bendio, 32, of Yelm, Washington, on suspicion of second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, retail theft with circumstances, third-degree theft and obstructing a public servant. Eluding Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Eric Alan Johnson, 38, of Kalama, on suspicion of eluding a police vehicle, driving with a suspended license and violation of an ignition interlock driver license. Burglary, theft Kelso police Sunday arrested Cody Douglas OReilly Coats, 23, of Kelso, on suspicion of residential burglary and third-degree theft. Drugs Kalama police Sunday arrested Noble Kenneth Keist, 52, of Kalama, on suspicion possession with intent to distribute. Burglary, theft Kelso police Sunday arrested Curtis John Matherson, 35, of Kelso, on suspicion of second-degree burglary and second-degree theft. Burglaries 9400 block of Barnes Drive, Castle Rock. Friday. No suspects. 1400 block of Cypress Street, Longview. Friday. Catalytic converter stolen from a company vehicle in a fenced area. 200 block of Louise Street, Kelso. Saturday. Stolen vehicles 100 block of Parker Place, Kelso. Friday. Known suspect stole a red 2001 Kawasaki drifter overnight. 200 block of 20th Avenue, Longview. Friday. Gray 2001 Toyota Corolla. Oregon 238DQL. American flag sticker on the back drivers side window, dent near the gas tank, passenger side headlight broken and drivers side rear tire has a doughnut. Alabama Street and Oregon Way, Longview. Friday. Blue 1995 Honda Civic. Washington AFY2076. Front right fender dented. 1200 block of Third Street, Kalama. Saturday. Flat bed car trailer taken from property. 100 block of Tilla Drive, Kelso. Sunday. Gray 2012 Jeep Liberty. Washington ANX5746. No front fender and Give Thanks sticker on the back. 500 block of Balcer Street, Castle Rock. Sunday. Silver Honda CRV. Washington BTG0157. Thefts 3100 block of Field Street, Longview. Friday. Theft of package misdelivered. 2300 block of Pacific Way, Longview. Friday. Gun stolen. Known suspect. 200 block of 25th Avenue, Longview. Friday. Emerald ring stolen from purse. 200 block of Rosewood Street, Woodland. Friday. Purple Huffy bike stolen. 800 block of First Avenue, Kelso. Sunday. Someone stole items from front porch. 800 block of Harris Street, Kelso, Sunday. Chainsaw taken from truck bed at about 11 p.m. 600 block of Broadway, Longview. Sunday. Suspect attempted to steal a catalytic converter, but didnt get it off the vehicle. Vandalism/malicious mischief 500 block of Seventh Avenue, Longview. Friday. Man entered the property at about 3 a.m. a week prior and caused $1,000 to $1,500 in damage to store property. 1300 block of Industrial Way, Longview. Saturday. Windows shattered and door damaged. 1000 block of Dale Street, Woodland. Saturday. Man seen kicking vehicle mirror. Vehicle prowls 500 block of Kelso Drive, Kelso. Saturday. Occurred overnight. 200 block of Fourth Avenue, Kelso. Saturday. Smith & Wesson .380 easy slide gun and cellphone. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A woman looks at drones carrying goods as part of the National Drone Initiative test operation and demonstrated for journalists over Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. This was the third demonstration in Israel of the drone pilot program set to deliver goods and medicine across Israel. Credit: AP Photo/Oded Balilty Dozens of drones floated through the skies of Tel Aviv on Monday, ferrying cartons of ice cream and sushi across the city in an experiment that officials hope provided a glimpse of the not-too-distant future. Israel's National Drone Initiative, a government program, carried out the drill to prepare for a world in which large quantities of commercial deliveries will be made by drones to take pressure off highly congested urban roads. The two-year program aims to apply the capabilities of Israeli drone companies to establish a nationwide network where customers can order goods and have them delivered to pick up spots. The project, now in the third of eight stages, is still in its infancy and faces many questions about security and logistics. "We had 700 test flights at the start of this year and now we are close to 9,000 flights," said Daniella Partem, from Israel Innovation Authority, a partner in the drone initiative. Israel is a global leader in drone technology, with much of its expertise rooted in the highly technologized military. Many of the 16 companies participating in the drone initiative have links to the military. According to Partem, the initiative was inspired by the halting effect that COVID-19 had on the transportation of medical supplies in early 2020. A drone carries goods as part of the National Drone Initiative test operation and demonstration for journalists, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. This was the third demonstration in Israel of the drone pilot program set to deliver goods and medicine across Israel. Credit: AP Photo/Oded Balilty An early stage tested the transport of medicines and blood plasma by drones. The initiative has since carried out wider tests in three different urban districts in Israel and hopes to promote legislation that would allow drones to be widely used through an app that customers and clients can use. Israel's population of 9.3 million people is largely packed in in urban centers, with major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem suffering from high levels of road congestion. Access to Israel airspace is highly regulated by security officials, and flying a drone requires a permit from the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority. The initiative faces many obstacles. Officials will have to ensure that drones can handle flights through turbulent weather conditions and that the skies can be quickly cleared in case of war or emergency. There are also issues of privacy. Drones carry goods as part of the National Drone Initiative test operation and demonstration for journalists, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. This was the third demonstration in Israel of the drone pilot program set to deliver goods and medicine across Israel. Credit: AP Photo/Oded Balilty The control room of the Israeli National Drone Initiative monitors drones deliveries during a demonstration for the media, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. This was the third demonstration in Israel of the drone pilot program set to deliver goods and medicine across Israel. Credit: AP Photo/Oded Balilty Women look at drones carrying goods as part of the National Drone Initiative test operation and demonstrated for journalists, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. This was the third demonstration in Israel of the drone pilot program set to deliver goods and medicine across Israel. Credit: AP Photo/Oded Balilty "Once you have a drone that actually takes photos or videos you create a totally new dimension of privacy invasion," said Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, digital technology expert and fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, a think tank in Jerusalem. The drone initiative has already tried to address such concerns by using cameras that can help the machine land, but don't have the resolution to take detailed photos. The drone initiative has worked in cooperation with the aviation authority since its first flight tests in January. Five more tests are planned over the next 14 months. "One day, we will have drone-powered taxis in the sky," said Yoely Or, co-founder of Cando Drones, one of the companies that participated in Monday's experiment." Explore further US authorities warn against flying drones over national lab 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Reindeer herding is a traditional cultural practice of the Sami people. Norway's Supreme Court on Monday ruled that two wind parks built in the country's west were harming reindeer herders from the Sami people by encroaching on their pastures. It was not immediately clear what the consequences of the finding will be. But lawyers for the herders say the 151 turbines completed on the Fosen peninsula in 2020part of the biggest land-based wind park in Europecould be torn down. "Their construction has been declared illegal, and it would be illegal to continue operating them," said Andreas Bronner, who represented a group of herders alleging harm from one of the two parks. Ole Berthelsen, a spokesman for Norway's ministry for oil and energy, said that "the Supreme Court verdict creates a need to clarify the situation", adding it would "communicate later about what to do next". The judges declared the licences issued by the ministry to build and operate the turbines void, saying they violated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The UN text's Article 27 states that ethnic minorities "shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language." Traditional Sami reindeer herding is a form of protected cultural practice, the Norwegian court found. "Of course, this is a surprise to us," said Tom Kristian Larsen, head of Fosen Vind, which operates one of the wind farms. "We based our action on definitive licences granted us by the authorities after a long and detailed process that heard from all parties," he added. "Special importance was given to reindeer herding". The company said it would now wait for the ministry's decision on next steps. The Sami people number up to 100,000 people spread across Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia. Some of them make a living from raising semi-domesticated reindeer for their meat and hides. Explore further Supplementary feeding changing reindeer behavior and reindeer husbandry culture 2021 AFP Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain An in-depth analysis of a range of popular Android mobile phones has revealed significant data collection and sharing, including with third parties, with no opt-out available to users. Prof. Doug Leith at Trinity College Dublin along with Dr. Paul Patras and Haoyu Liu at the University of Edinburgh examined the data sent by six variants of the Android OS developed by Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Realme, LineageOS and /e/OS. Even when minimally configured and the handset is idle, with the notable exception of e/OS, these vendor-customized Android variants transmit substantial amounts of information to the OS developer and to third parties such as Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Facebook that have pre-installed system apps. There is no opt-out from this data collection. While occasional communication with OS servers is to be expected, the authors of the study say the observed data transmission goes well beyond this and raises a number of privacy concerns. Prof. Doug Leith, chair of computer systems at the School of Computer Science and Statistics in Trinity College Dublin, said: "I think we have completely missed the massive and ongoing data collection by our phones, for which there is no opt out. We've been too focused on web cookies and on badly-behaved apps. I hope our work will act as a wake-up call to the public, politicians and regulators. Meaningful action is urgently needed to give people real control over the data that leaves their phones." Dr. Paul Patras, Associate Professor in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Although we've seen protection laws for personal information adopted in several countries in recent years, including by EU member states, Canada and South Korea, user-data collection practices remain widespread. More worryingly, such practices take place "under the hood" on smartphones without users' knowledge and without an accessible means to disable such functionality. Privacy-conscious Android variants are gaining traction though and our findings should incentivise market-leading vendors to follow suit." Key findings from the study: With the exception of e/OS, all of the handset manufacturers examined collect a list of all the apps installed on a handset. This is potentially sensitive information since it can reveal user interests, e.g., a mental health app, a Muslim prayer app, a gay dating app, a Republican news app. There is no opt out from this data collection. The Xiaomi handset sends details of all the app screens viewed by a user to Xiaomi, including when and how long each app is used. This reveals, for example, the timing and duration of phone calls. The effect is akin to the use of cookies to track people's activity as they move between web pages. This data appears to be sent outside Europe to Singapore. On the Huawei handset the Swiftkey keyboard sends details of app usage over time to Microsoft. This reveals, for example, when a user is writing a text, using the search bar, searching for contacts. Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme and Google collect long-lived device identifiers, e.g., the hardware serial number, alongside user-resettable advertising identifiers. This means that when a user resets an advertising identifier the new identifier value can be trivially re-linked back to the same device, potentially undermining the use of user-resettable advertising identifiers. Third-party system apps, e.g., from Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn and Facebook, are pre-installed on most of the handsets and silently collect data, with no opt out. There may exist a data ecosystem where data collected from a handset by different companies is shared/linked. Notably, the privacy focused e/OS variant of Android was observed to transmit essentially no data. Explore further Assessing how much data iOS and Android share with Apple and Google More information: Android Mobile OS Snooping By Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and Realme Handsets. Android Mobile OS Snooping By Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and Realme Handsets. www.scss.tcd.ie/Doug.Leith/And d_privacy_report.pdf The COVID-19 death toll in Brazos County grew by five on Monday, as health officials reported 48 new cases of the virus among county residents. The number of active cases in the county decreased to 2,154 over the weekend. After reaching an all-time high last month, the number of active cases has fallen steadily. Health officials said 1,242 cases of the virus reported by health care systems and testing centers were awaiting confirmation Monday. The latest Brazos County residents to die after contracting COVID-19 were a man in his 30s, a woman in her 40s, a man in his 50s, a woman in her 50s, and a woman in her 70s, health officials said. Four of those people were hospitalized, officials said. The five deaths occurred in September, health officials said. To date, 350 Brazos County residents have died after testing positive for COVID-19, according to health department figures. Brazos County officials have confirmed 32,614 cases of COVID-19 in the county since the pandemic began more than a year ago. As reported by Reuters News Agency, a trial involving four large pharmacy chains was to begin recently as the Ohio counties of Lake and Trumbull seek to convince jurors of the pharmacy chains responsibility for flooding their communities with addictive pain pills and thus contributing to the current deadly U.S. opioid epidemic. To date, more than 3,300 cases have been brought primarily by state and local governments to hold the companies responsible for their role in this destructive public health problem. These actions can be seen as merely a preview of the finger-pointing that is sure to follow as we try to understand what has led us to a drug and alcohol epidemic-within-an-epidemic. A tragic development that has taken more than 93,000 lives from drug overdoses in 2020 alone. In a world where, according to an American Psychological Association poll, nearly one in four adults report drinking unhealthy amounts of alcohol to cope with their stress. Excessive alcohol consumption was already the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is responsible for more than 95,000 deaths a year. A prominent Togolese human rights defender has been targeted with spyware by a threat actor known for striking victims in South Asia, marking the hacking group's first foray into digital surveillance in Africa. Amnesty International tied the covert attack campaign to a collective tracked as "Donot Team" (aka APT-C-35), which has been linked to cyber offensives in India and Pakistan, while also identifying apparent evidence coupling the group's infrastructure to an Indian company called Innefu Labs. The unnamed activist is believed to have targeted over a period of two months starting in December 2019 with the help of fake Android applications and spyware-loaded emails. "The persistent attacks over WhatsApp and email tried to trick the victim into installing a malicious application that masqueraded as a secure chat application," Amnesty International said in a report published last week. "The application was in fact a piece of custom Android spyware designed to extract some of the most sensitive and personal information stored on the activist's phone." The messages originated from a WhatsApp account associated with an Indian phone number that's registered in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Once installed, the malicious software which takes the form of an app named "ChatLite" grants the adversary permissions to access the camera and microphone, gather photos and files stored on the device, and even grab WhatsApp messages as they are being sent and received. But when the aforementioned attempt failed, the attackers switched to an alternate infection chain in which an email sent from a Gmail account contained a malware-laced Microsoft Word document that leveraged a now-patched remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2017-0199) to drop a full-fledged Windows spying tool known as the YTY framework that grants complete access to the victim's machine. "The spyware can be used to steal files from the infected computer and any connected USB drives, record keystrokes, take regular screenshots of the computer, and download additional spyware components," the researchers said. Although Innefu Labs has not been directly implicated in the incident, Amnesty International said it discovered a domain ("server.authshieldserver.com") that pointed to an IP address (122.160.158[.]3) used by the Delhi-based cybersecurity company. In a statement shared with the non-governmental organization, Innefu Labs denied any connection to the Donot Team APT, adding "they are not aware of any use of their IP address for the alleged activities." We have reached out to the company for further comment, and we will update the story if we hear back. "The worrying trend of private companies actively performing unlawful digital surveillance increases the scope for abuse while reducing avenues for domestic legal redress, regulation, and judicial control," Amnesty said. "The nature of cross-border commercial cyber surveillance where the surveillance targets, the operators, the end customer, and the attack infrastructure can all be located in different jurisdictions creates significant impediments to achieving remediation and redress for human rights abuses." Im glad that it was available, she said, because I feel it was easier for them to test, and we knew to keep them out of school. The childrens doctor, in fact, told her there was no need for them to take another test. Geigers test, however, was negative. She took a rapid test at a lab the next day and it, too, was negative. On Day 3, she took a PCR test that was positive. Geiger said she persisted in getting tested even though she was vaccinated because of her exposure to her children and their friend and the fact that she had a lot of symptoms. Safranek said Nebraska already is using rapid tests in nursing homes. If residents are tested regularly, the tests can pick up a missed infection a couple of days later. But there can be consequences if the tests are done incorrectly, he said, such as failure to isolate a sick person. A recent study that compared the BinaxNOW with PCR at four sites in Florida found that antigen test results were more likely to agree with positive PCR tests when viral load was high. When she still refused to leave the school, saying she has a right to be there, she was arrested. A pair of LPD officers had Smith put her hands in front of her, placed her in handcuffs and transported her to the police station in downtown Laramie, where Smith was released. The episode was captured on video by Smith on her phone and shows the interactions were calm and respectful on all sides. While she knew another $500 citation was coming her way, Smith said she was surprised the incident evolved to include a schoolwide lockdown and her arrest, especially as she wasnt making a scene, wasnt yelling and had made no threatening comments or actions. They told me they were going to do that, she said about the time leading up to her arrest. I was surprised they followed through. They came up to me probably 20 minutes before I was arrested and said that if you continue to not leave, we will arrest you. That also was a departure from an early conversation the Smith family had with Laramie police about what would happen if Grace continues to show up to school and not mask up, said Andy Smith, Graces father. 1. You know you're getting old when... ...You can go to InstaRepeat and a.) not only recognize the motifs, b.) not only recognize specific places in multiple cases, but c.) remember famous photographs by name photographers taken at that same location, or remember books in which pictures taken at that location were printed. Nevertheless, I find this fascinating, and I have to say I love some of the composites. One thing I was gobsmacked by: a commenter who acknowledges that people will stage view-from-the-tent photos just to get the picture...to put on Instagram. Seriously? I guess it's like bird-watching. You collect motifs, adding them to your life-list. Or maybe you just want to show off by implying that you live the good life because you go camping. Have to ask them I guess. Thanks to Rob de Loe for mentioning InstaRepeat. Even InstaRepeat is a repeat, though; InstaRepeat repeats other instances where motifs have been collected and collaged. Somewhere in the barn I have a book by a photographer who took pictures of people he encountered on the street who are dressed almost identically, proving that even our outfits are memes. I have to mention again that in general I'm frustrated by Instagram because all of the pictures are so small and there's no way to see larger versions. This is twelve times as true for the combined pictures on InstaRepeat. I guess the reason is that people are looking at them on phones? And I shouldn't talk, because pictures on this site are relatively small. As I mentioned the other day, I have transmogrified into a dinosaur. One proof for this is that I come from an era long past and mostly forgotten when seeing pictures online was considered to be an inferior substitute for actually seeing the actual picture, which was accepted to have a separate and independent reality as part of the real world...and which would be better experienced there. Now, of course, "onscreen" is how many pictures are seen period, and there is only very seldomly an alternative in the real world. And that alternative, if it exists, is accepted to be seldom seen. Sigh. 2. Ned Bunnell, ever witty (great guyalthough we've never met in person, I'd like to meet him), linked to a picture he took as a joke-slash-homage to Lee Friedlander, in my humble opinion the greatest American photographer of the second half of the 20th century. Here it is. And here is the original. This is not a cliche at all; rather, Ned's riffing. It's different when it is done with full knowledge of the antecedent, like John Pfahl's "Moonrise Over Pie Pan" is a riff on "Moonrise Over Hernandez, New Mexico." Now then, in support of the point just above, I have to point out that three of these four images were not originally tiny JPEGs. If you haven't seen a print of "Moonrise Over Hernandez," you haven't really seen it. I've seen a print of it about six times. The most interesting occasion was in a private back room at the Art Institute of Chicago, where a small group of us were shown the Institute's collection of different vintages of "Moonrise" prints showing the evolution of Ansel's interpretations. I was asked not to take pictures. I did anyway, furtively, but I can't show them to you. 3. Tom Hill mentioned the book Photo No-Nos by Jason Fulford. Now, I've always had this idea, which I've mentioned several times over the years, that it might be entertaining to compile a list of photo cliches and then set yourself the challenge of making personal pictures of all of thema sort of "make it yours" exercise, or even Ezra Pound's "make it new." Just from reading a few pages of the sample of Jason Fulford's book, however, I think I might have to retire that idea. Perhaps its time has simply passed, in this brave new world. He makes it clear that it's not just the subject that makes a photo a cliche, but the way in which it's photographed...and he's right, of course. But for some reason I think I'm going to enjoy that book anyway. Mike Book o' the Week The Atlas of Beauty: Women of the World in 500 Portraits . "Since 2013 photographer Mihaela Noroc has traveled the world with her backpack and camera taking photos of everyday women to showcase the diversity of beauty all around us. The Atlas of Beauty is a collection of her photographs celebrating women from all corners of the world, revealing that beauty is everywhere, and that it comes in many different sizes and colors." This is a link to Amazon from TOP. The following logo is also a link: Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.) Featured Comments from: James Weekes: "Let me add another vote for Lee Friedlander as best photographer of the last half of the twentieth century. I collect photo books but my sub collection of Friedlanders is my prize possession." Mike replies: I wish I had more of a sub-collection. I just got the astonishing Friedlander First Fifty which details the contents of his "first" fifty(!) books. That's amazing in itself. I'm really enjoying itkinda like candy. I wish I had more than the five or six I do have. At least I have Cherry Blossom Time in Japan which is exquisitely printed. I'm amazed to find it's still pretty affordableprobably because it's full of flower pictures in black-and-white, which would seem just perverse to a lot of normal people. Mark Jennings: "Ive never done it, but Ive read many times that copying great work can be highly instructive. Often the work isnt straightforward either. "John Constable, the early 19th century British landscape painter, and countless other painters, enthusiastically copied the actual paintings of many admired paintings. He did it for the instruction, the inspiration, and the pleasure. "In 2009 I left Ghost Ranch late one afternoon and headed back to Santa Fe. Nothing clicked in my mind when a short time later I passed a road sign 'Hernandez,' but a minute later strange sensations ambushed me. On the left and down a little slope stood the old Adobe church and the cemetery, the flat river valley a ways beyond, and in the far background the mighty Sangre de Christo mountains bathed in the soft late afternoon sun. "The light was changing fast, and I too veered onto the shoulder, gave explanations and requests to my tired, hungry, and baffled friend, and then jumped out of the car with my trusty Leica point-and-shoot. "The location has changed since Adams's heyday. The church and graveyard in 2009 stood at the back of a broad swath of sprawl that included modest cottages, house trailers with white picket fences and flamingoes, an auto repair garage, and other Americana. Id been taken by surprise, but even without previously knowing where Adams picture had been captured, I did know its core enough to feel the hair on the napeof my neck go up when I got near the scene. But thats what photographers are known for, that improbable sense." Mark: "This series on photographic cliches is fascinating, and I thank you for writing it. I don't spend much time in hotels, but I think one could compile a semi-comprehensive inventory of modern photographic cliches from the prints hanging on hotel room walls. The three stacked round rocks, and the bow of the canoe pointing toward the cleft in the mountains are two of my favorites." Albert Smith: "Re 'If you haven't seen a print of "Moonrise Over Hernandez," you haven't really seen it. I've seen a print...', I agree. In 1986 (two years after his death), my now ex-wife and I were touring San Diego, doing all the tourist stuff, Sea World, the Zoo, etc. In Balboa Park, adjacent to the Zoo, unexpectedly was an Ansel Adams retrospective with many dozens of his handmade prints. I was a fanboy of photojournalists and knew of Adams only from magazine articles, which never excited me with their small, low-res images of his work. We went in only because we were there. When I walked into that gallery, I was floored with the size and quality of those prints. As a photographer who never shot anything bigger that 6x6cm in my Rollei, I could not believe the detail in Adams's work. My wife had to pull me out of there to continue our itinerary, but as Mike said, you have to see the real thing to appreciate it." Jeff: "As a print collector (back when prices were sane), Ive had the privilege of seeing various mammoth, mural sized, Adams prints, including 'Grand Tetons and the Snake River,' one of which sold from David Arringtons collection for $988,000 at Sothebys last year. It sold for several hundred thousand more than a smaller, early vintage 'Moonrise,' which came with a much higher auction estimate. People are wowed by the huge prints, especially nowadays when bigger seems better. I prefer smaller prints, but it hurts a bit to know that I could have privately bought one of the few 'Grand Tetons' mammoth prints for low five figures many years ago. Ive also seen Arringtons collection showing changing versions of 'Moonrise,' shown here." Dennis Buss: "Andreas Feininger addressed the problem of photo cliches in a few of his many books. He acknowledged that conscious imitation is part of one's growth as a photographer but should be avoided once technique is reasonably mastered. One of my favorites that he identified are photos of coiled ropes on fishing piers." Jim Henry: "This is somewhat tangential to your main points today, but I need to speak up on behalf of screens. Don't get me wrong, I like prints, I have thousands from the 1960's up until now. They are on my walls, in boxes, have been gifts, sold a few, etc. Nothing against prints. But a good screen display can be wonderful, because the light is being transmitted from the image, not just reflected. Prints are always reflecting the light that falls on them. Screens and (remember them>) slides transmit light; the light emits from them. They are like little jewels, especially when the display has a good color gamut and high resolution. My old iPad 4 (retina display)is just spectacular. Compare a stained glass window with (even a good) post card of one. Perhaps I belabor the obvious. And of course, you are mostly talking about phone cameras and Facebook postings. But don't lump all screen renditions with them!" Geoff Wittig: "Well, now I have my sadness for the week. I'm mostly a traditional landscape photographer, but I have long admired the work of John Pfahl, a post-modernist who spent many years in the Buffalo, New York, area. A Distanced Land (1990) is the best monograph of his work. He produced all kinds of visual wit. He created a weirdly beautiful series of photographs of industrial smokestacks with their toxic effluent perfectly lit by the setting sun. And a series of forest scenes with carefully placed stretched ribbons creating visual puzzles. Sadly, Pfahl was another victim of the early wave of COVID19." Mike replies: I wrote about John Pfahl's passing and even posted a picture of him in April of 2020. In that same post I noticed that I passed along the same Ned Bunnell picture that I passed along again here! I knew I had seen it before but I thought maybe Ned had sent it to me privately, or I had seen it while browsing his Instagram. Oh well, at least I'm consistent. And Ned is too! A Distanced Land is a little-known treasure. I saw a show of those "weirdly beautiful series of photographs of industrial smokestacks" you mentioned in original prints, at the Jones-Troyer Gallery in D.C. Unity Point School District No. 140s board of education is one of just 35 school board statewide being recognized for effective governance by the Illinois Association of School Boards. The board will be recognized Tuesday evening during the IASB Shawnee Division Fall meeting Tuesday evening. The Unity Point School District offers pre-K through eighth grade for the southern part of Carbondale as well as the Boskydell and Makanda areas. According to the IASB website, the School Board Governance Recognition program is for local school boards that practice effective governance behaviorsthrough participation in and support for board development programs and events. Additionally, the IASB website indicates that good governance requires full board commitment to obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities critical to good governance. Its not a surprise that the Unity Point board earned this honor, Unity Point Superintendent Lori James-Gross said. Our board of education is constantly working to improve the district for our students and for the entire community. The individual board members and the full board are always looking for professional development opportunities to advance their governance knowledge and learn from the successes of their peers in other districts. In a news release announcing the honor, she said the program aims to showcase how good governance creates a positive impact for students, staff, and the entire district community. It provides an opportunity for districts to tell their story about programs and projects that are improving outcomes in their local school districts and offers board members a chance to highlight how continuous learning, both by individual board members and the full board team, results in improved governance for the board of education and positive outcomes for the district, the release said. James-Gross said the members of the board deserve credit for the recognition. The board engages with the community on issues of importance and they do an outstanding job of monitoring the districts performance to ensure that we are meeting the goals that align with our mission, said James-Gross. Unity Point School Board President D.W. Presley said the seven-member board works to serve the district. Our board has shown its commitment to the district, and ultimately the students, by continually improving their leadership skills and knowledge. To be a successful board and provide the high-quality educational experience our students deserve requires a lot of time and effort and a commitment to continual learning, he said. Presley added while the recognition is nice, the main focus of the board remains the students. The work of the school board doesnt only occur during our regular board meetings. There is a lot of work that happens outside the meetings; studying the issues, communicating with the community, advocating on behalf of our district, and learning the intricacies of school finance, just to name a few. Serving on the school board can be a lot of work, but its well worth it when we get to see our students achieve success and go on to do great things in their lives and for their communities, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO Asian Americans in Chicago are pushing for a majority Asian ward as the city redraws its political maps, saying it will ensure the fast-growing community has a unified voice at City Hall. The Coalition For A Better Chinese American Community has been fighting for decades for a majority Asian ward in Chicago. With the once-a-decade process of drawing ward boundaries underway again, the coalition says it's time for a ward that will include all of Chinatown. Under their proposal, the ward also would include parts of the McKinley Park neighborhood and Bridgeport, the area that was home to longtime former mayors Richard J. and Richard M. Daley. The number of Asians in Chicago increased by 45,000 over the past decade, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and Asians were the fastest-growing racial group between 2010 and 2020. But there are currently no Asian members of the City Council. David Wu, the executive director of the Pui Tak Center, told WLS-TV that "you have to be in the room to make a difference." "Hopefully we can be in the room this next decade," he said. The City Council approves the new ward map, and must do so by Dec. 1. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BETHALTO An 18-year-old has been charged in an August crash that killed three members of a southwestern Illinois family. Prosecutors recently charged Blake A. Jones of Worden. Madison County authorities alleged he had been driving under the influence of alcohol when he ran a stop sign on Aug. 13 and struck a vehicle carrying 55-year-old John A. Cafazza, 52-year-old Melissa R. Cafazza and 12-year-old Dominic J. Cafazza. They were all pronounced dead at the scene. Jones faced multiple counts of reckless homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death, among other charges. He turned himself in to authorities and was being held on $1 million bail. It was immediately unclear if he had an attorney. A listed phone number could not be located Sunday. "The loss of John, Melissa, and Dominic has been a terrible tragedy for the entire community," said Madison County State's Attorney Thomas Haine in a statement. "Our office will work to ensure justice is served for the Cafazza family." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 South Carolina State University is working to improve its student retention rate with comprehensive measures, including the hiring of professional advisors and the review of its retention activities. Board trustee Dr. Doris Helms addressed the issue during an academic affairs committee report made during the boards Oct. 6 meeting. "We all know that retention is a major focus for S.C. State. Overall retention has been hovering around 72 percent. Based on a study done in the years 2014-15 and 2018-19, freshman attrition rate moved during that time from 30 percent to 42 percent. Of course, we want to move it even further, Helms said. She said the university has hired four professional advisors in the Office of Student Success and Retention programs to help with retention. COVID has played havoc with measures, but overall we need to do better. We need to increase retention, we want to increase enrollment. We've had a very thorough review of our retention activities by Dr. Jesulon Gibbs-Brown, who is the acting associate provost for academic affairs, and Dr. Diane Bruce, who is the SSRP retention manager, Helms said. If it ever crossed your mind that we were not doing enough, reviewing these reports should let you know that we are doing as much as we possibly can, she said. As part of her report, she said S.C. State Provost Dr. Learie Luke also presented an overview of the strategic priorities for academic affairs, including personnel and professional development and academic programs and buildings. If you really want to know what's at the heart of a university, it's ... academic programs and the quality of its academic programs, Helms said. Helms said the following programs had been approved by the Commission on Higher Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges: certificate in professional writing; certificate in global studies; certificate in wellness promotion; graduate certificate in addiction and trauma; B.S. degree in cybersecurity; B.S. degree in mechatronic engineering; M.A. in rehabilitation counseling; M.Ed. in counselor education. Of course, we did some program closures to include the B.S. in business education, the M.S. in individual and family development and the Lowcountry Graduate Center as an off-campus instructional site. We still need to do a thorough review of our academic programs. We are in the process of reviewing our general education programs, which is sort of one of the pillars of the academic experience, she said, noting that the university is working to remain in compliance with the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing, or REACH, Act. She also reported that Luke had been selected as review committee chair for SACSCOC accreditation visits. Following Helms report, the board approved several resolutions, including that for a copier fleet reduction contract totaling just over $352,000. Normally, if you were to replace every single copier with the same one that we have, it would cost us over a million dollars, Luke said. They also approved the following: a revised graduate studies manual; reauthorization of the Ed.S. Program track for superintendents; and the universitys December 2021 graduates. Luke said there are currently 52 graduates, but that it will likely increase to 75 by the time of graduation. Faculty Senate S.C. State Faculty Senate President Dr. David Staten said S.C. State President Alex Conyers made a presentation at the senates first meeting. The faculty are looking forward to some changes at the university. Just remind you that there's still a 'no confidence' vote with regard to the provost that's on the table from the faculty senate. Nevertheless, the faculty senate continues to move forward and we're focused on the recruitment and retention of qualified faculty and administrators at S.C. State University, Staten said. Salary equity is definitely an issue that's high on our priority list. The faculty senate completed a preliminary salary equity study, and we look forward to a more comprehensive study so that we can bring faculty in line with what our peers are making across the state and nation, he said. Staten continued, Faculty senate continues to be concerned about shared governance, faculty and student safety with COVID-19 still prevalent around the nation. We definitely have to do something about enhancing faculty morale, increasing the university's enrollment. Our faculty want to be actively involved in that process. "We must adhere to the university's stated policies and procedures. The faculty senate will continue to be involved in examining and looking at the university policies and procedures. 1890 Dr. Louis Whitesides, executive director of the 1890 Research and Extension Program, said the program has acquired several grants, including $750,000 from the USDAs Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers program and $462,000 from the Natural Resources Conservation Center. "Over the last quarter since you all met, we've acquired $1.2 million in grants from USDA ... and we have an international expansion initiative from the Center for Global Agriculture and USDA," Whitesides said, with two university officials already in West Africa as part of that grant. The 1890 program has also offered its first College 101 Workshop for students. What's unique to our 1890 program is we have the only program area in education innovation and support. ... We have our ag innovation scholars engaged with us. We do that all across the state of South Carolina to kind of engage our students, Whitesides said. The 1890 program has also signed a memorandum of understanding with South Carolina Governors School for Agriculture at John de la Howe near McCormick. With the new formation of the new college of agriculture, it creates a direct pipeline of students from the Governor's School into our university. ... Well be doing summer camps with them through our 1890 program, exposing our kids going to John de la Howe, and one week we'll take from all across the state. So we'll have approximately 400 kids that will attending summer camp there already, Whitesides said. The 1890 program also had its two-day Lowcountry Agribusiness Tour, where we went from organic farms to vertical farms to traditional row-crop farming, he said, noting that a high tunnel production and management hybrid workshop in Anderson was also held as part of 1890s programming activities. We are the major outreach arm of the university. ... We try to make sure that we give top-notch programs ... We have direct programming in 32 of the 46 counties, but we have the ability to deliver programs in all 46 counties through our mobile technology unit, Whitesides said. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Residents of an Orangeburg mobile home park are left wondering where they are going to go and how they are going to live after the Sprinkle Avenue land they have called home was sold. "I will be on the street," Crepe Myrtle Village resident Christopher Fogle said. "They are forcing us off the property. I don't have anywhere to go." Fogle says he is going to lose his home "because I ain't got any money to move." "I am on a fixed income," he said. "I am on Social Security." Fogle is not the only one impacted by change. Park residents say there were 22 families displaced as a result of the decision to sell the property. "You have people here who have no money," said resident Fatima Miles, whose family has lived on the land about 20 years. "We don't know where to go?" Miles says she has been spending nights with her sister and in motels but says she currently works on various jobs and the income is not steady. Dorothy Pauling has lived in her home for the past year. "I am going to be in the street too," Pauling said. "I just hate to lose my home." The Crabapple Lane resident says she received a letter in June informing her that she had to plan to fix the place or leave. "The next thing we know, she is putting us off the land," Pauling said. "We don't have money for a motel," Pauling said. "I don't know what I am going to do." The Sprinkle Avenue mobile home park was purchased by Colonial Holding Group, another mobile home company, earlier this year. In the process of purchasing the mobile home park, the new owners were informed around December and January that the property had to be brought up to meet city ordinances as it was in violation of several. The mobile home park had been grandfathered into the city and was allowed to remain except upon the sale of the property. The protections provided by the city ordinance as a result ended with the property's sale. Gregory Yakubov, who is associated with Colonial Holding Group LLC according to Orangeburg County records, declined comment, referring all questions to their Orangeburg attorney, Skyler Hutto. Yakubov is joined at Colonial Holding by Stanislav Finelt, according to records. When my clients began the process of purchasing this property, they did so without the intent to ask any of the current residents to leave," Hutto said. "We are extremely sympathetic that people do not want to move their homes from somewhere theyve been for years." "This was not a decision that my clients made lightly, and it certainly was not motivated by any animus towards current tenants," Hutto said. "In fact, the current tenants are welcome to move back to the property after repairs and renovations are completed. Under the City of Orangeburg's manufactured home park ordinance, Colonial Holding Group must repair electrical, plumbing, spacing and paving issues to meet minimum safety standards. For example, homes must be adequately spaced to protect from the spread of house fires. "After meeting with surveyors and contactors, my clients were informed that the only way to perform the necessary repairs would be to, at some point, have the park completely vacant so that the park could be brought up to code," Hutto said. "As a result, they sent and delivered a letter in early July stating that the leases would not be renewed going forward." Hutto said legally this requires at least 30 days of notice by either party, which he says his clients gave. Hutto said as part of the letter, Colonial made various offers to current tenants including financial assistance if they wanted to move to one of the other parks in Orangeburg owned by the same company. A reminder of the ongoing evictions as well as the offer of financial assistance was extended for a final time in August, Hutto said. "After this notice was given and after the expiration of the term of the lease, an eviction was filed in August for the remaining homes," Hutto said. "Anyone that wanted a hearing on the eviction could request one." He said a majority of tenants did request a hearing, and those proceedings began in September and are still being held for some tenants in October. "In a majority of cases, my clients extended an offer for the tenant to stay an additional two to three weeks after the date of the eviction hearing to allow additional time for them to make arrangements to move," Hutto said. As for the City of Orangeburg, spokeswoman Jennifer Van Cleave said the "city is working with residents to assist in a resolution." Specifics on how the city will work with the residents were not provided. "The new owners are required to meet the standards of the new ordinance. The residents are not being evicted as a result of the ordinance," she said. "I suggest that you contact the new owners and discuss the reasons behind the eviction," Van Cleave said. The American Civil Liberties Union has been called to intervene. The organization has asked for an extension for the residents to be able to find a place to move to and stay. ACLU Criminal Justice Advocate Anwar Young Sr. said he has been in contact with Hutto about the matter is awaiting a response. "We want to be able to give these people some comfort so they can find a place," Young said. "We understand the business. Nobody is trying to stay there. Just give these people a little more time to move." "I understand they want to try to develop the land up and make it more safer, but to make things more safe, they have to have a safe way off the land," Young said. Hutto said options are being looked into further to determine what if anything can be done. Young said there is a lot of advocacy groups for apartment and home rentals but not much when it comes to trailer parks. "This is our first time," Young said, when asked if the ACLU has ever gotten involved in such a case. "It seems like the pandemic brings forth new issues." "I hate this happened but a situation like this makes people aware of how important your rights are as a land renter," Young continued. "There needs to be better communication and that steps are put in place so situations like this don't happen." Young said many of the residents at the mobile home park are not being obstinate about staying, but due to financial situations, they cannot afford to move to another place. "These are not people who are being asked to move out of apartments," Young said. "These are people who are being asked to relocate homes. It is hard right now." Young said the money offered was "not enough to cover costs." He said some were offered about $500. The average cost to move a mobile home is at a minimum of $5,000, according to real estate officials. Young said the ACLU is looking to see if there are any federal COVID relief monies that can be used to help the residents. In the interim, resident Nakesha Jamison was packing her belongings because she was told she had to be out of the house by Friday. Jamison says she wishes residents had been more clearly told about what the implications of the land's sale would be for residents. "If you had intentions of selling the property, we could have been saving up for when it happened," Jamison said. Jamison, who has lived at the trailer park for 11 years, does not know what she will do going forward. She does have family to stay with, but "I don't want to jump on nobody's livelihood like that." Jamison said colleagues at Husqvarna, where she works, have given her some monetary help during this time. Resident Ann Cole has a 23-year-old disabled son. She is the primary caregiver. "They gave us until the week of Nov. 1 to be out," Cole said. "We have a place to go. We are going to another trailer park similar to this one." Resident George Frazier has lived in Crepe Myrtle for the past 10 years. He had until Oct. 11 to get out of his residence. Frazier said he will stay with his nephew in the short term until he can find another place to live. "I can't move the trailer because it costs too much," he said. "It is terrible." The situation of the residents was also brought to the attention Orangeburg County School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Foster as well as school board trustee Mary Ulmer and OCSD Director of Student Services Heyward Jean. All three visited the mobile home park to offer assistance. City Council members Liz Zimmerman Keitt and Jerry Hannah also visited the property. Attempts to reach Foster, Ulmer, Keitt and Hannah were unsuccessful. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 6 Angry 8 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. South Carolina State trustees got an overall positive report about the university's 2021 financial statement audit during an Oct. 6 meeting, with its delayed submission to the state by the Oct. 1 deadline being the only finding. Stathis Poulos of BDO LLP, the university's external auditing firm, reported during the meeting that the university was working to turn the unaudited version of its financial statements into the state by Oct. 8. "So it will be about a week late, but it will be earlier than it has been issued before. So we're trying to focus in on that. We only have one finding, and that one finding is due to the missed deadline," Poulos said. Poulos said the 2021 financial statements were late due to a few reasons, including a recent electronic communications outage at the university, the effects of which were still being worked on at the time of the meeting. He also cited resource shortages in the accounting and finance office and a general ledger system that needed updating. Teare Brewington, vice president for finance and management, left the university at the end of July. University Controller Brenda Walker has had to fill both roles until another chief financial officer is hired. "Within the accounting and finance department, there were already some resource shortages, and, as it was mentioned earlier in the board meeting, Ms. Brewington left, I believe in July. Ms. Walker assumed her role, but also kept her controller position as well. So she was running two positions simultaneously. So that further contributed," Poulos said. He continued, "The general ledger system at the university, when it was designed many years ago -- probably about a dozen years ago if not more -- just wasn't set up appropriately to facilitate easy financial reporting, meaning that the finance department has to extract data from its GL system and then has to use various EXCEL spreadsheets to manually update and convert the financial statements into the required U.S. GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) presentations. "That is quite a workload and adds a lot of time to it. As you might imagine, not only does it take time to do, but since there is a manual component to it to check and balance everything and make sure everything is properly flown through and that there's no errors, that also takes some time," he said. He said a full report on the results of the financial statement will be made at the board's next finance committee. "So it will be in the coming weeks in October, or perhaps early November. Should there be any major items that arise during that presentation, we'll certainly also present it to you as well," Poulos said. Trustee Wilbur Shuler, finance committee chairperson, said the general ledger system is being worked on. "We understand now, with the staff that we have, we understand what was not done. ... We want to use the technology in the system to generate reports that we need to have. We may have to go back to ground zero to construct these things," he said. Shuler said, "The system that we have is constantly being updated by the manufacturer, but the thing is the way we're using it," he said. "We need to fix that." Walker said, "We're already working on that. ... That's already in the works." S.C. State President Alex Conyers said he is happy to have Walker on staff and thanked her. "Our last CFO left at the end of July. Ms. Walker has stepped in, stepped up, and she has done a phenomenal job in leading us through this transition. ... She's shared a lot of information with us. We've learned a lot of how we can improve ourselves, and she brings with her over 20 years of experience of this work at Benedict College," Conyers said. Finance Walker gave a summary report on finance. According to preliminary unaudited figures ending June 30, 2021, the university's restricted operating budget had $67,429,971 in revenues and $70,206,299 in expenses, leaving a negative net operating income of $2,776,328. The budget is based off a count of 2,172 students and a full-time equivalency, or FTE, of 1,945. Walker said there would be some debt relief reflected in numbers to be collected after June 30, including additional Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act dollars set to come to the university. CARES Act funding as of Sept. 30 stood at $9,790,091 in the initial funding round, with another $13,588,316 approved in a second stimulus bill. The most recent installment of funding from the federal American Rescue Plan totaled $24,839,400, with the university receiving a total of $48,217,807 in total COVID emergency funding. Unaudited figures have the university's total assets standing at $185,968,900 vs. total liabilities of $150,890,107, resulting in a positive net position of $52,991,861 as of June 30. "We did end the year with a positive change (in net position) of $32 million. I will point out that a lot of that has to do with the debt forgiveness by the Department of Education ... ," Walker said. "You'll see that our revenues did increase by about $5 million, but our operating expenses also did increase (by $7.8 million). So our net operating loss did increase compared to the prior year for about $2.5 million," Walker said. She continued, "We had an increase in non-operating revenues ($19,687,664) mostly because of an increase in federal grants, and that would also include the gifts and the refunds that we received." Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Rep. Liz Cheneys House reelection campaign enjoyed its second-biggest fundraising quarter ever this summer, a Cheney aide told the Star-Tribune. The donations came on the heels of Cheneys all-time fundraising record, which occurred one quarter earlier. Cheneys campaign raised just over $1.7 million during the third quarter, which runs from July to September. Although she did not break her all-time fundraising record of roughly $1.9 million, which she achieved in the second quarter of 2021, the $1.7 million represents the second most she has raised in a quarter. The third-most was in quarter one of this year, when the campaign raked in $1.5 million. The Cheney campaign has now collected over $5 million this year and ended the third fundraising quarter with nearly $3.7 million in cash-on-hand (essentially, money it has available to spend), the aide said. Rep. Cheney continues to receive historic levels of support because she is upholding her oath to the Constitution, delivering for the people she represents in Wyoming, and offering a serious path forward for the Republican Party, said Amy Edmonds a senior adviser to the Cheney campaign. She is humbled that so many are standing with her in this fight and she will never waver in her commitment to Wyoming or her determination to do whats right for our country. Cheney has a fundraiser planned with former President George W. Bush for early next week. It will be Bushs first campaign event of the 2022 midterms, according to the Wall Street Journal. The campaign experienced some of its biggest spikes in donations for the fundraiser announcement and when members of the House Freedom Caucus sought to remove Cheney from the House GOP Conference, the aide told the Star-Tribune. Since the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Cheney has criticized Trump for lying about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election and the role he played in encouraging the insurrection, making her one of Trumps primary targets over the last few months. She voted to impeach the former president in light of the riot at the Capitol and has not backtracked in her beliefs, even as she was censured by the Wyoming Republican Party. Since then, a number of county level Republican Parties have voted to unrecognize Cheney as a member of the GOP (a move that is symbolic and doesnt actually strip her of any title or power). Cheneys unrelenting criticism of Trump has prompted a tough reelection challenge, with several GOP candidates announcing runs for her seat. During the third quarter, the long-awaited Trump endorsement came when he chose Wyoming lawyer and former gubernatorial candidate Harriet Hageman as his candidate. Although Hageman was not in the race prior to the endorsement announcement, she has come out of the gate as a formidable candidate Hagemans campaign team has multiple former Trump aides, she has been appearing in different places across the state and has already cemented her anti-Cheney talking points. Hagemans entrance did not result in a significant bump in fundraising for Cheney, one of the congresswomans aides said. Hagemans candidacy prompted Darin Smith and Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, to drop out of the race. But the field is still crowded. Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, Denton Knapp, Marissa Selvig and Robyn Belinksey remain candidates. None of them, other than Bouchard, have put up notable fundraising numbers yet. The rest of their quarter three fundraising numbers, as well as a fuller picture of Cheneys numbers, will be released later this week and early next week. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 4 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 3 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A bill draft proposed by the Select Committee on Tribal Relations aims to make it clear: the states tribes are eligible for Wyoming Business Council funding. In an August committee meeting, WBC staff said that an interpretation of current state statute by the Wyoming Attorney Generals office found that there was no clearly defined way for tribes to participate in the councils Business Ready Community program. The statute currently lists towns, cities, counties, joint powers boards and, in some cases, other local government entities as eligible for that money. The committee, meeting on Friday for the final time this session, voted to advance a bill draft that adds explicit references to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, the Wind River Indian Reservation and any cooperative tribal governing body with representation from both tribes. The draft now includes the tribes and the Wind River Inter-Tribal Council in the list of entities eligible for WBC funding for things including workforce housing infrastructure, community facilities and other public infrastructure covered by the councils Business Ready Communities program. Although it may not have been listed explicitly in the law, WBC maintains that tribes can already apply for that funding. At the committees last meeting, WBC Investment Division Director Julie Kozlowski said the AGs office suggested the tribes could apply for funding after entering into a cooperative agreement with the state. A note on the business councils website also says the council may enter into contracts or agreements with the tribes in order to promote the purpose of the program and fund infrastructure projects. But the committee objected to the extra step only required for tribal applications. Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander. also pointed out that taxes on tribal minerals also contribute to funding the WBC grants. On Friday, the current draft passed with all references to those cooperative agreements looking to be repealed. Committee co-chair Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, said the AGs office told him they were on board with the changes. Larsen said that the bill, along with another that aims to update language in statutes referring to the tribes, will likely be brought in the House during the upcoming legislative session. Wyoming Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell said that in 2006 and 2007, WBC supported a handful of projects by tribal committees. But in the nearly 15 years since then, Dorrell said, neither tribe has brought a project to the council. That tells me that this question of eligibility and providing clarity has been around for a while, Dorrell told the committee. We felt like we really need to fix this. Eastern Shoshone Business Council member Mike Ute told the community that his tribal leadership had looked over the bill draft and agreed to support it. Northern Arapaho attorney Clare Johnson also gave the go-ahead. The committee also advanced a bill on Friday which would make sweeping corrections and updates to Indigenous and tribal references in Wyomings state statutes. The most common changes include adding the word Indian to the Wind River Indian Reservation, replacing mentions of the now-defunct Joint Business Council with the catch-all cooperative tribal governing body and making sure that Eastern Shoshone is listed first wherever both tribes are referenced. Rep. Andi Clifford, D-Riverton, said that that last change is meant to honor the Shoshone as the initial residents of the reservation area. Its small, but meaningful, she said. In older statutes that mention the Shoshone Indian Reservation, whose area today is largely encompassed by the modern Wind River Reservation, an amendment would also add a historical designation for the retired name. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHEYENNE A Cheyenne man is suing three police officers in federal court for allegedly violating his civil rights, after a municipal court judge ruled that one of the officers lied to a judge about the mans refusal to take a blood alcohol level test. Michael A. Sena brought the suit against Officer Alberto Perea, Officer Damon Hall and Sgt. James Peterson, who are all currently employed by the Cheyenne Police Department. The suit also includes the city of Cheyenne as a defendant. On Oct. 30, 2019, the CPD officers arrested Sena on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after testing his blood alcohol level with a Breathalyzer. In an amended complaint filed in February, Sena alleges he then consented to a urine test, but refused a blood test. After that, Sena claims he was used as a training object so that an inexperienced officer could learn how to obtain a telephone search warrant. The same officer, Perea, gave a judge false information under oath, and, while being observed by Hall and Peterson, said Sena had refused both a urine and blood test. On March 30, 2020, Cheyenne Municipal Court Judge Tony Ross ordered the resulting blood draw be suppressed as evidence in Senas DUI case, according to court documents. In the order, Ross said the blood draw was invalid because Officer Perea failed to give Sena the option to perform either a urine or blood test, as required by state statute, and was not truthful in his conversation with the judge to get the search warrant for the forced blood draw. The DUI charge was dismissed for insufficient evidence, and Sena paid a $750 fine for careless driving, according to a municipal court clerk. Under Wyoming statute, if the officer directs that the (blood alcohol content) test be of the persons blood or urine, the person may choose whether the test shall be of blood or urine. According to the complaint, Wyoming law and CPD procedure say a warrant to obtain a blood draw is only allowed when a person has also refused to give a urine sample. The officers then used the invalid search warrant to take Sena to the hospital against his will, and physically assaulted him in an effort to take a blood sample without his consent, according to the complaint, which alleges that the officers actions violated Senas Fourth Amendment rights protecting against unreasonable search and seizure. Without a valid search warrant, the involuntary blood draw is considered unreasonable search and seizure based on clearly established law, the complaint says. Senas 14th Amendment right to due process was also violated, the complaint says, because although Sena does not have a criminal history, the officers treated him differently from other citizens in similar situations, solely because members of Senas family previously had committed crimes in which Michael Sena had no involvement. The amended complaint also alleges that inadequate training by the Cheyenne Police Department, and therefore the city of Cheyenne, led to the invalid search warrant and resulting violations of Senas civil rights. Sena and his attorneys added the city to the lawsuit following the officers answers to the initial complaint, saying the officers directly or indirectly have asserted that their deprivation of Senas civil rights was a result of the unconstitutional policies and procedures of, and the inadequate training provided by, the city of Cheyenne as implemented by the Cheyenne Police Department. Sena is seeking $500,000 in damages, or a greater amount determined at trial. In an answer to the amended complaint filed in March, the officers denied the allegations and any violation of state or federal law, saying Perea lawfully and properly requested a search warrant from the judge. They admitted Sena refused a blood test, but denied that he consented to a breath or urine test. Further, they argued, qualified immunity protects them from Senas claims. Attorneys representing the city denied the allegations against it in an answer filed in April, also claiming qualified immunity. A bench trial is currently scheduled for 9 a.m. April 11 before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl in Casper. My client is looking forward to his day in court, said Ryan Wright, a Cheyenne attorney representing Sena in the case. We urge anyone else who the Cheyenne Police Department forced to do involuntary medical procedures to come forward. CPD spokesman Alex Farkas said the department could not comment on pending litigation. Requests for comment from Senior Assistant Attorney General Timothy Miller, who is representing the officers, and Craig Silva and Amy Iberlin, attorneys representing the city of Cheyenne, were not returned in time for this story. Sena, through his attorneys, Wright and C.M. Aron, filed a motion Aug. 16 to disqualify Miller as counsel for the officers. They argued it was a conflict of interest for Miller to represent all three of the officers because they have different culpability, defenses and potential liability. Because of this, the motion argues, Miller would have to pit the defendants against one another, leading to possible inadequate representation. The motion also claims that Sgt. Peterson may have a current license to practice law in Wyoming, meaning he would presumably have an understanding of the law. According to this motion, Perea testified at the suppression hearing in Cheyenne Municipal Court that Sena had, in fact, asked for a breath or urine test dozens of times, but that he didnt inform the judge of that when he was requesting the search warrant to forcibly draw Senas blood. Perea, Peterson and Hall, through Miller, filed a memorandum in opposition to the motion to disqualify on Aug. 26, saying Sena does not have standing to disqualify Miller because of a supposed breach of a duty to defendants with respect to conflicts of interest, and that there is no conflict of interest among the officers. It also argues that, based on audio and video of the events, Perea did not lie to Judge Moran, the search warrant was valid, the blood draw was proper, and it is Sena who brought up his familys apparent criminal history. The recordings also show the roles played by the officers. This is not a he said, she said case, the memorandum says. On Sept. 22, Senas attorneys requested a hearing on the motion to disqualify Miller. As of Friday, PACER, the federal online court records database, did not show an answer to this re- quest. On the evening of Oct. 30, 2019, officers were dispatched to the 3900 block of East Pershing Boulevard for a report of a vehicle stuck in a snowbank. Witnesses said the driver, Sena, had left the scene on foot. He was later stopped by law enforcement at the intersection of Cheyenne Street and McCann Avenue. Perea asked Sena to perform field sobriety tests, and Sena complied with some of them, the complaint says. Perea then tested Sena with a Breathalyzer. The machine detected alcohol, and Sena was arrested and put in the back of Pereas patrol vehicle. After being read his rights, Sena agreed to provide either a breath or urine sample to further test his blood alcohol level, telling Perea he did not consent to a blood test, according to the complaint. He said he was not good with needles and had anxiety about providing a blood draw, and agreed numerous times to another breath test or a urine sample. Despite this, the complaint says the officers treated Senas statements as a refusal, with Sgt. Peterson telling Sena they would get a warrant to forcibly take a blood sample. Peterson and Officer Perea then used to the opportunity to train Perea to obtain a search warrant by telephone, according the complaint. Perea called then-Municipal Judge Mark Moran and said, under oath, that Sena had repeatedly refused to voluntarily take any blood alcohol level test, the complaint says. Moran then allowed the search warrant to be issued. After obtaining the search warrant, Perea, Hall and Peterson forcibly held and constrained Sena while his blood was drawn, with Hall threatening to put his knee on Senas neck to stop him from resisting the blood draw, according to the complaint. The harm threatened by Officer Hall was outrageous conduct under the circumstances, intending the same use of force that was widely known to have caused the death of a detained person in another state and led to civil unrest throughout the nation, the complaint says, referring to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and what followed after a video of the incident became public. The complaint also alleges that the officers treated (Sena) with harshness and disrespect because of their disapproval of the past criminal conduct by other members of his family, which Sena was not involved with. The officers allegedly spoke with Sena about these past criminal acts during their interactions with him on Oct. 30 and 31, 2019. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sponsored: Ministry of Planning In previous articles weve covered a few of the most significant issues facing the environment today and how our Government is addressing these. A large part of our, and indeed many other countries, strategy to do this involves being part of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and a crucial factor for the successful implementation of MEAs is our youth. More here As a volunteer with the Arizona Rangers, I attended the funeral services for a fallen DEA Special Agent last week. His name was Michael Garbo. While I never had the honor of meeting Mike personally, he dedicated his life to confronting dangerous criminals, so the rest of us wouldnt have to. There is no way to measure the collective lives he saved over the years. To many, that makes him a hero, which is why I paid my respects. As his friends, family and coworkers shared different stories, I learned some valuable lessons. Id like to share a few of these with you. By all accounts, Mike was a remarkable individual. Someone said he literally did everything well. He was an amazing father, husband, friend, family member and coworker. Mikes philosophy was no matter how good you are, there is always room for improvement. Theres always more. Mike loved his job and was quite simply one of the very best. Mike was a guy that led by example, and he led from the front. He was the first to go in, and the last to come out. He was quick to share the glory when things went well, and the responsibility when they did not. He made everyone around him look good. Everyone knew they could trust him, no matter how stressful or dangerous a situation became. Bnai Brith Strauss Manor on Pantano is a HUD-funded subsidized housing specifically for low-income seniors who are 62 or older. When someone moves in, they need all the basic household items and furniture for their apartments. Living at or below the poverty line means that basic necessities are often difficult or impossible to obtain no matter what the former living circumstances were. Our seniors rely on the tax-credit donations for their basic necessities. OPINION: Gov. Doug Ducey and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema are the main topics in letters today. Join the discussion, submit a Letter to the editor about any opinion political or otherwise at tucson.com/opinion. OPINION: "The catch is, these fines could be applied to something as small as hanging a flyer or notice in the wrong spot, which has nothing to do with a workplaces actual labor conditions. Even worse, the budget bill even includes fines that could be levied against directors or officers of a company personally," according to four chambers of commerce in Arizona. Democrats say the Trumpist threat to democracy justifies reform of everything from the Senate filibuster to gerrymandering to campaign finance. No Republican state legislature sought to overturn the verdict of the voters. There were no dueling electors. The courts were all unanimous in dismissing Trumps legal challenges. Vice President Mike Pence rejected the lawless course that Trump and his associates were pushing: that he should throw out the electors from seven states that went for Biden. It would have been another blow to the health of the American political culture if he had gone along. But even in that case, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi would have presumably called an end to the farce by suspending the joint session of Congress. Trump would not have stayed in power after Jan. 20. With students out of class for fall break, Tulsa Public Schools will have grab and go meal service available Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families will receive six days worth of snacks and dinners on Tuesday. Meal sites include Celia Clinton, Clinton West, Eisenhower, Emerson, Hawthorne, Hoover, John Hope Franklin, Key, Marshall, McKinley, Peary and Skelly elementary schools; East Central Junior High School and Rogers College Middle and High School. Grant opportunity: The state Department of Education announced Wednesday that it will use $21 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds over the next three years to provide competitive grants for after school and summer programming. Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $150,000 and must be used to establish or expand comprehensive summer learning or enrichment opportunities that address a local need. COVID-19 by the numbers: Several area school districts published updated COVID-19 case counts Friday. Twenty-first and Garnett (Road) is an area thats already seen tremendous change, Rojas said. The citys New Tulsans initiative has helped more than 500 immigrants become U.S. citizens, Rojas said, and has assisted about 200 others match skills and professional credentials from their countries of origin with opportunities in Tulsa. According to figures compiled by the Tulsa World from the 2020 and 2010 censuses, Tulsas non-Hispanic white population declined by 12% during the decade, to just over 200,000, while the overall population increased by 5.4%, to 413,066. The Hispanic category grew 43%, to nearly 80,000, and is the second-largest grouping at 19.1%. The non-Hispanic, two or more category nearly doubled during the decade to about 38,000. The non-Hispanic Black and American Indian categories were slightly lower, while the Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and other non-Hispanic categories all increased sharply percentage wise but remained relatively small shares of the population. That adds up to a majority-minority city, a designation not universally viewed positively, but that demographers say is often misunderstood and inaccurately framed. PSO currently pays the city 2% of its gross receipts generated within the city limits. That money approximately $9 million a year goes into the citys general fund to pay for day-to-day city operations. The new agreement calls for the franchise fee to remain the same but adds an additional 1% charge that would be placed in a special revenue fund for the maintenance and repair of public ways. The combined fee of 3% would be in line with Oklahoma City and other communities in western Oklahoma whose power is provided by OG&E. Blair said as part of the proposed agreement, the city may require PSO to relocate lines underground with the difference in cost covered by the franchise fee. For example, if we are doing street work as were doing over the next several years on Peoria from Admiral (Boulevard) to 51st (Street), as part of that street work, where we would already have to do utility line relocation, we can require PSO to relocate those lines underground instead of above ground, and the cost difference in doing that we can cover from that incremental franchise fee, Blair said. When someone files for unemployment, the claim goes through a computer system that automatically accepts it or assigns a stop-code, she said. Its just a four-digit code that corresponds with the section of law that may be impacting your ability to work, you know, ability to get benefits, Bushnell said, explaining that in non-pandemic times, claims with stop-codes would get assigned to an adjudicator who would then make a timely decision on the claim. Federal guidelines say that within 21 days of the date that the issue is first noticed or detected by the agency, the agency needs to issue a decision, she said. Bushnell said that in her experience, a flagged unemployment claim can only pay out if an adjudicator approves the claim or removes the stop code. What Ive been seeing with the cases Ive been dealing with is that the claimant, the person applying for benefits, gave information when they applied that in my experience would put a stop code on their claim, but they never received a decision (from adjudication), but they got money, Bushnell said. Zumwalt said most overpayment determinations happen during a retroactive review process most claims go through when applicants seek to renew benefits. The open arms of Tulsans to refugees arriving from Afghanistan demonstrates the citys humanitarian and philanthropic spirit. Oklahoma is receiving the highest per capita number of displaced Afghans, with about 850 expected in eastern parts of the state. Tulsans have rallied to prepare and welcome the newcomers. For weeks, Catholic Charities, as the federally recognized resettlement organization, has been working with other Tulsa groups to have housing, meals, clothing and other necessities for families to get a fresh start. It is a challenge to have this ready, but Tulsans are showing teamwork and generosity in doing this. Tulsas leadership set this hospitable tone, recognizing the responsibility we have to our Afghan allies and the power in having immigrants and diversity in our community. Vietnams aviation authority has estimated that the project upgrading runways, taxiways, and parking lots at Con Dao Airport off southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province so it can handle large aircraft will require an investment of nearly VND2.4 trillion (US$105.6 million). The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has submitted a proposal on the investment plan to the Ministry of Transport. The investment will be spent on upgrading Con Dao Airports runway system to ensure the effective exploitation of code-C aircraft, such as the A321ceo, A321neo, A320neo, A319, or equivalent airplanes in order to meet the increasing travel demand via the airport. The project will expand the airports existing runway, build three connecting taxiways and one parallel taxiway, and install the precise landing gear system of the runway and the approach lighting system in line with approved planning. Work on the project is expected to commence this year and reach completion in 2023, at a total cost of nearly VND2.4 trillion sourced from the state budget. Con Dao Airport can only receive small aircraft such as the 68-seater ATR 72 and the 124-seater Embraer E195 currently. Its sole runway was built in 2004 and has now reached the end of its operating life. Despite impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, Con Dao Airport served 447,750 passengers in 2020, up 4.1 percent from 2019, according to the Vietnam Government Portal. According to the adjusted airport planning by 2030 recently approved by Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The, the airports capacity will increase to two million passengers and 4,400 metric tons of cargo per year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese airlines canceled a number of flights on Sunday, the first day selected domestic routes were resumed, due to the impacts of Storm Lionrock and complicated quarantine regulations at their destinations, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). The flights were obstructed by the storm, which was downgraded into a tropical depression before landing in the Hai Phong - Thanh Hoa region on Sunday, including those between Ho Chi Minh City and Thanh Hoa and Nghe An Provinces operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjets two flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong City. The lack of detailed instructions on quarantine regulations in Hanoi also prevented the two carriers from carrying out the flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City to the capital city. Vietnam Airlines flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Lam Dong and between Thanh Hoa and Lam Dong were unable to find sufficient customers. Tickets for Vietjets flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Yen and Gia Lai and from Da Nang to Can Tho, as well as Bamboo Airways flights between Da Nang and Dak Lak were not open for sale in time. Meanwhile, many passengers decided not to board Bamboo Airways flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Binh over COVID-19 quarantine requirements. The hybrid carriers other flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Thua Thien-Hue also received a lukewarm response as passengers were requested to register for admission from the central provinces authorities in advance. Although the relevant localities and the Ministry of Transport had reached an agreement on the flight resumption, in reality, each locality added different requirements. Thua Thien-Hues admission request, which the transport ministry did not originally stipulate, is just one example. As a result, Vietnam Airlines successfully carried only 160 passengers from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, 27 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Khanh Hoa and 20 others on the return trip, 55 from Ho Chi Minh City to Binh Dinh and 20 on the return flight, and 33 from Ho Chi Minh City to Quang Nam and five on the return journey on Sunday. Low-cost carrier Vietjet transported 89 passengers on its round trip between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City while 67 passengers boarded Bamboo Airways Ho Chi Minh City - Kien Giang flights. The CAAV proposed the transport ministry request localities to abolish the centralized quarantine regulations and issue specific stipulations concerning COVID-19 prevention measures, such as transporting arrivals from their airports to other localities. The aviation authority also proposed removing the full vaccination requirement and accepting a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued within 72 hours before departure instead, as COVID-19 vaccine coverage remains low outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Leaving middle seats vacant as a social distancing measure should also be discontinued to reduce cost pressures, the CAAV suggested. Vietnam has documented 835,036 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth and worst virus wave emerged on April 27. Since the COVID-19 pandemic first struck the country early last year, the national tally has reached 839,662 patients, including 782,199 recoveries and 20,555 deaths. The government has gradually reopened the national economoy since early this month given decelerating daily infections thanks to social distancing measures and sped-up vaccinations. Health workers have administered over 53 million vaccine doses since inoculation was rolled out on March 8. Almost 15 million people have been fully vaccinated. Health authorities aim to immunize at least two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam has reported 779,382 recoveries, or 93 percent of 835,036 COVID-19 patients documented in the fourth virus wave, which has struck 62 out of 63 provinces and cities in the country since April 27. The northern province of Cao Bang has remained the only location with zero transmissions reported. Vietnams rate of COVID-19 infections per million people ranks ninth among the ten ASEAN countries and 155th among 223 countries and territories worldwide, the online Nhan Dan (People) newspaper cited the Ministry of Health in an article published on Monday morning. The national fatalities have mounted to 20,555, accounting for 2.4 percent of the total 839,662 infections registered since the coronavirus pandemic first emerged in the country early last year. This figure is the 34th highest in the world and stands at the tenth place among 49 Asian countries and territories. The countrys rate of deaths per million people ranks 135th internationally and 30th in Asia. However, the weekly record of deaths has decreased sharply in recent times with an average of 119 cases per week. The national vaccination campaign also accelerated rapidly with more than 53 million doses of vaccine administered, above 38.2 million of which were first doses and over 14.9 million were second shots. Only 5,014 patients remain under treatment, including 835 cases, or 4.2 percent, needing ventilators and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or outside-the-body life support. Speaking at a meeting held by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control last Saturday, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that the number of cases found in the community between September 25 and last Friday decreased 44.7 percent compared to two weeks earlier and 47.3 percent compared to a week back. Last week, such hard-hit localities as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, and Kien Giang all reported a sharp decline in new cases. The weekly rise fell by half to 15,070 in Ho Chi Minh City, by 559 to 400 in Binh Duong, by 19 to 41 in Dong Nai, by 57 to eight in Khanh Hoa, and by 18 to 13 in Kien Giang. Hanoi logged five cases, down by ten compared to the previous week. The number of new hospitalizations reduced 6.7 percent, severe and critical cases dropped 16.4 percent, cases needing oxygen masks decreased 15.8 percent, and cases resorting to invasive ventilation fell 17.1 percent compared to a week before. The intensive care centers in the southern provinces and cities have received a total of 13,206 severe and critical cases, 7,120 of whom either recovered or had their severity improved, accounting for 53.9 percent. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son attributed those positive signals to the rapid COVID-19 testing drive from August 23 to September 30, the central and local governments' drastic strategies, and the solidarity of health workers and residents. Leaders of the health ministry evaluated that the pandemic situation has been basically under control nationwide, but advised people to remain careful and strictly apply prevention measures. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Tran Van Thoi District, located in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, stated that the recent culling of 15 dogs and one cat after their owners tested positive for COVID-19 was necessary due to pressure for pandemic prevention and from local residents. The Tran Van Thoi Peoples Committee organized a press meeting on Sunday evening to provide information on the incident. At around 10:30 pm on Friday, authorities in Khanh Hung Commune, Tran Van Thoi District received a group of seven people, along with 15 dogs and a cat, returning from a virus-hit area. All of the individuals and their pets were taken to a concentrated quarantine facility at Khanh Hung High School. The seven people later had their samples collected for both rapid and real-time RT-PCR COVID-19 testing. During the process, many people at the quarantine center did not agree to let the dogs run around the premises due to problems related to hygiene, safety, and pandemic prevention and control. The owners were thus asked to tie their pets to a tree to better manage them. As the rapid test results of five out of the seven individuals came back positive for the novel coronavirus, they were required to stay in a room that was separate from the other two. The dogs later slipped off leash and began running around the facility again, thus the owners had to put them in bags and baskets and placed them in front of their rooms. People in the quarantine facility, as well as residents living around continued expressing their concern that the dogs might run to the nearby residential area, posing high risk of COVID-19 transmission. At 7:30 am on Saturday, the management board of the quarantine center had to cull the dogs and cat, and the process was witnessed by many people inside the venue as well as local residents. At 2:40 pm the same day, the RT-PCR test results of the five individuals came back positive, thus they were transferred to Tran Van Thoi General Hospital for treatment. The dogs and cat are culled at the quarantine center in Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau Province, October 9, 2021 in this supplied photo. Tran Tan Cong, chairman of Tran Van Thoi District, claimed that the culling was necessary to ensure pandemic prevention and control, adding that the management board was also under pressure from people at the quarantine facility as well as local residents. "If we had had better management capacity, we could have isolated the pets, disinfected them, and monitored them carefully," Cong admitted. "The animals should have been culled only when they had been confirmed to be infected with the disease." In the prevention and control of COVID-19, ensuring peoples health and preventing cross-infection in quarantine facilities are the top priorities, the chairman continued. The health ministry has also advised that COVID-19 patients should not come into close contact with their pets, he added. Competent authorities are encouraging the owners of the dogs and cat to focus on their COVID-19 treatment. Following their recovery, the administration in Khanh Hung Commune will further discuss with them regarding this incident. According to previous reports, the families of Pham Minh Hung, 49, and Nguyen Duy Khanh, 39, traveled from southern Long An Province to Ca Mau Province on their motorbikes on Friday. Hung and Khanh worked as masons in Long An, but their livelihood was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The two families brought along 17 dogs, including 13 puppies, and one cat. They later gave away two of the pups. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Hanoi administration has attributed safety reasons to strict mandatory quarantine regulations imposed on air travelers from Ho Chi Minh City, explaining that the rules are aimed at protecting the health of local residents, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Hanoi recently agreed to restart commercial flights on Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi-Da Nang routes from October 10 to 20 on a trial basis. Upon arrival, passengers from Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Son Nhat Airport must spend seven days at concentrated quarantine centers or designated hotels before having their health monitored at home for another seven days. They will also need to pay for quarantine and testing fees during the period. Meanwhile, those coming from Da Nang are only required to quarantine at home or other accommodations for seven days and have their health monitored for another seven days. The quarantine regulation is to ensure pandemic prevention and control and protect the health of residents, according to the Hanoi People's Committee. Hanoi is Vetnam's capital, a national political-administrative center, and a major hub of culture, science, education, commerce, and transactions, the committee elaborated.. The city is home to many agencies of the Party, National Assembly, and government, as well as foreign diplomatic agencies and headquarters of multinational enterprises and corporations. Therefore, protecting the city against the COVID-19 pandemic is the top priority. The restoration of air routes poses a potential risk of COVID-19 transmission while any new outbreak might directly affect socio-economic development in Hanoi and other localities, as well as threaten peoples health. Authorities at all levels thus need to take measures to gradually restore air routes while ensuring safety by strictly controlling the spread of the disease. The recent social distancing drives in the capital have proved effective, but new cases are still detected in the community, of which several come from other localities. The municipal authorities have to impose stricter regulations to protect the health and lives of citizens, as well as to tightly control the pandemic while continuing to fully vaccinate local residents, the Hanoi People's Committee said. Vietnam has documented 835,036 in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities since the fourth outbreak broke out on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City is the hardest-hit locality with 410,128 cases, Hanoi has recorded 4,269 cases, and Da Nang has registered 4,927 infections in this bout. The Ministry of Transport recently allowed 38 flights on 19 domestic routes, including those connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, to resume operations on Sunday. The Vietnamese government has gradually reopened the national economy since early this month, as the country has basically kept the COVID-19 pandemic at bay, with new infections and deaths falling markedly nationwide, as assessed by the Ministry of Health at a meeting on Saturday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams health ministry recorded 3,619 coronavirus cases throughout the country on Monday, along with 2,549 recoveries and 115 fatalities. The latest cases, including two imported and 3,617 local infections, were reported in 44 provinces and cities, the Ministry of Health said, adding that 1,726 patients were detected in the community. Ho Chi Minh City logged 1,527 of the new cases, Dong Nai Province 499, Binh Duong Province 446, An Giang Province 142, Dak Lak 119, Kien Giang Province 91, Can Tho City 47, Khanh Hoa Province 26, and Hanoi one. Vietnam had found 3,513 locally-transmitted infections on Sunday. The country has confirmed 838,653 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave emerged on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City leads the table with 411,655 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 222,528, Dong Nai Province with 55,488, Long An Province with 33,306, Tien Giang Province with 14,608, Dong Thap Province with 8,714, Khanh Hoa Province with 8,259, Da Nang with 4,927, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 4,328, and Hanoi with 4,270. Vietnam documented only 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves. The health ministry announced 2,549 recoveries on Monday, elevating the total to 784,748. The toll has increased to 20,670 deaths after the ministry recorded 115 fatalities on the same day, including 75 in Ho Chi Minh City and 18 in Binh Duong Province. Vietnam has registered 843,281 patients since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year. Health workers have administered above 54.2 million vaccine doses, including 879,949 shots on Sunday, since inoculation was rolled out on March 8. Nearly 15.6 million people have been fully inoculated. Health authorities target to inoculate at least two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! CDC, along with many other professional healthcare experts, are committed to increasing awareness of AFM. Listen to members of our community of experts as they express their dedication to learn more about AFM. Fernando Flor Researching in France, Awarded Postdoc at Yale Fernando Flors natural curiosity has propelled many of his pursuits in physics. What began as an interest in theoretical physics during his undergraduate studies became work toward a full-fledged Ph.D. in physics, and now, a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. Fernando Flor was awarded a Fulbright Research grant to study in France; he also was awarded a National Science Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to work at Yale University. However, Flor said his success would not have been possible without the help from his Ph.D. advisor, Rene Bellwied, M.D. Anderson professor of physics, and his academic community at the University of Houstons Department of Physics. Since I joined Professor Bellwieds Experimental Heavy Ion Physics group, I have received an insurmountable amount of support and knowledge, said Flor, who will complete his Ph.D. at the end of 2021. I had academic, financial and intrapersonal backing from my group and the physics department at UH. I will treasure my experience within the department for the rest of my life and will fully correlate the success of my academic path to Professor Bellwieds group and the opportunities arising from it. He has spent the last four months at the Hubert Curien Pluridisciplinary Institute at the University of Strasbourg in France as part of his Fulbright Research Award. His award expires in February. The following month, his National Science Foundation Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship begins. The fellowship enables a student to be a postdoctoral researcher at a university of his or her choice for up to three years, fully funded. The highly competitive selection process requires students not only to write a proposal but to also obtain letters of support from their new mentors at their universities of choice. Fernando's success is based on a unique mix of genuine scientific curiosity coupled with a bright mind and a tremendous work ethic, said Bellwied. He will go far because what drives him is his desire of fundamental knowledge. Flor and Jamie Stafford, also a UH physics Ph.D. student, received the NSF fellowships this year. Flor in France In France, Flor has studied under the mentorship of professor Boris Hippolyte, describing rare particle formation in the early universe with statistical thermodynamics models. In collaboration with UH, were modifying and developing a statistical thermal model that we can apply onto experimental data from ALICE, A Large Ion Collider Experiment, at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland to be able to replicate the particle yields our detectors detect, said Flor. Researchers at CERN place nuclear particles in a circular accelerator. One ring of the accelerator moves the particles in one direction and another ring moves them in the opposite direction. At certain points in the accelerator, the particles collide at high speeds, close to the speed of light, and these are known as relativistic heavy ion collisions, Flor explains. These collisions generate enough energy that the original state of the particles is disintegrated, and additional particles are formed. The additional particles interact until they no longer generate new particles. At some point, the newly generated particles interact with the detectors, the data is stored and software techniques reconstruct what was seen, along with what particles were generated through these collisions. Flor describes his experience thus far in France as fantastic. Since I arrived, everybody has been welcoming, and it feels as if the people here are part of my family, just as the people in Houston are, said Flor. There was not too much of a culture shock when I arrived, and I think its due to how hospitable people at the university and lab have been. Layers of Flavor Hierarchy The doctoral candidates dissertation consists of using a theoretical approach through the statistical thermal model to test whether physicists can use a model to predict particles that will be detected. Were trying to use a statistical model onto which we feed experimental yield data, Flor said, to basically run an algorithm so that we generate a list that tells us how many other particles were going to generate. The difference between Flor and Bellwieds current technique and the typical approach, is they believe that as the universe continued to evolve, some particles froze out at one temperature and others continued to generate other particles, until they eventually froze out as well. We call this a flavor or temperature hierarchy in the chemical freeze out, Flor said. For Flors postdoc at Yale, he will be working in the Wright Laboratory under the supervision of Helen Caines, professor of physics. While he will not be changing fields completely, he will join the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. In the postdoc, what I would want to do is work on software development for particle identification, directly from the experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, said Flor. It would consist of analyzing data to reconstruct heavier particles at lower collision energies than those generated by ALICE. In principle, this could be applied back to the thermal model and adds another layer to the flavor hierarchy. Rather than being two temperatures, potentially collecting more data could show us that it might be the case that theres three or more. I believe a cross-comparison between the experimental data collected by ALICE and STAR is necessary to gain a better understanding of matter formation in the early stages of our Universe. His intent for the postdoctoral fellowship is for it to not only serve as a continuation of his doctoral work but to also provide an inclusive pedagogical platform for enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students within the experimental heavy ion physics community. Receiving accolades and funding from both Fulbright and the National Science Foundation all feel like a dream to Flor. Im still waiting to wake up and realize it was all a dream, but in fact its not, he said. Its a good point to use this opportunity as a vehicle to start giving back just as I have been given by the people around me. - Rebeca Trejo, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Fiji Airways announces flight schedules, fares and amazing package deals for visitors as Fiji announces reopening of borders LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fiji Airways, Fiji's national airline, has announced that flights to the South Pacific paradise will officially resume for fully vaccinated international travellers from 1st December 2021, with the first commercial flight from the United States to Fiji since March 2020 scheduled to depart Los Angeles and San Francisco on November 30th, arriving in Fiji (Nadi) 2nd December. From 30th November, Fiji Airways will launch daily flights from Los Angeles to Fiji (Nadi) utilising its brand new Airbus A350-900 aircraft, five flights a week from San Francisco on its A330 aircraft, and two flights a week from Honolulu utilising it Boeing 737 MAX. Visitors from the US will be among the first to enjoy a well-deserved vacation in one of the world's first fully vaccinated tourist destinations, with Fiji on track to have the entire working population vaccinated by November. Award-winning Fiji Airways, with its two distinct achievements for COVID Safety and wellness, is offering exclusive package holidays with luxury resorts at prices up to 45% more affordable than 2019 rates. Four nights per person at the luxury Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island, Fiji, with its rich array of exciting guest offerings start from $1249 USD, including return flights with Fiji Airways, accommodation, all meals, transfers and more. Four nights at the same resort for a family of four (two adults and two kids), including return flights with Fiji Airways, accommodation, all meals, transfers and more will start from $3499 USD. The Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced the travel framework which would allow Fiji to reopen its borders to tourists from 1st December after more than 20 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All arriving travellers must be fully vaccinated, present evidence of a 72-hour negative RT-PCR test prior to boarding, and complete an additional rapid test at their pre-booked resort or hotel upon arrival before commencing their holiday quarantine free. Story continues Fiji Airways Managing Director & CEO Andre Viljoen said "After almost two years of no tourism, we cannot wait to welcome back international travellers from 1st December and greet them with our famous Fijian hospitality. We can finally give our American friends a big bula welcome onboard our aircraft and safely transport them to a well-deserved vacation in paradise." "We fully support the health protocols and travel framework laid out by the Fijian Government for safety of Fijians and visitors alike. In addition to the measures announced, we have our Travel Ready programme to safeguard the wellbeing of staff and customers, which includes mask-wearing at all appropriate times on board our aircraft and at the airport." "Fiji is a pioneer of COVID-safe international travel; our entire working population is on track to be fully vaccinated by November and we are the only airline in the Australia-Pacific region to achieve a Skytrax 5-Star COVID Safety rating as well as the highest Hospital Grade "Diamond" certification by APEX Health and Safety powered by Simpliflying," said Mr Viljoen. Fiji Airways will adjust its planned schedules accordingly if certain states or destinations remain closed for international travel on 1st December. For more information and to view the full flight schedule and all package deals please visit: https://www.fijiairways.com EXAMPLE OF FIJI AIRWAYS' PACKAGE DEALS PER PERSON Shangri-La Fijian Resort Yanuca Island, Fiji 6 Nights from US$1,299 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More) InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa 6 Nights from US$1,499 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More) Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay 6 Nights from US$1,699 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More) Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island Fiji 6 Nights from US$1,799 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More) Castaway Island Resort 6 Nights from US$1,899 (Flights, Accommodation, All Meals, Transfers & More) Click here to access images in the media kit. Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fiji-airways-set-to-welcome-visitors-from-the-us-from-2nd-december-301396687.html SOURCE Fiji Airways (Met handout) Police are appealing for help to identify the owner of two dogs after a man was attacked as he walked his dog in Harrow. A 67-year-old man was walking his dog in Regal Way when two unaccompanied dogs approached on September 26. The larger of the two dogs began to attack the mans dog and so he lifted it up. The dog then bit the mans arm and stomach, before both the dogs ran off towards Woodcock Park. The man was treated in hospital for his injuries. Officers have released images of the dogs. They are keen to trace the owners to speak to them following the incident. Anyone who can help should call or tweet 101 ref CAD 6264/26 Sept. Information can be given anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org. Read More Perfect paw-traits: Stars celebrate 90 years of Guide Dogs charity South Koreas president to consider dog meat ban Prince Charles reveals he named Balmoral wood after Prince George Cancun is seeing a big rise in interest from UK travellers seeking some winter sunshine (Pixabay) Demand is soaring for travel to countries that have just come off the UKs red list. Forty-seven countries were removed from the list at 4am on Monday, meaning arrivals from those locations will no longer need to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel at a cost of up to 2,285 per person. Booking websites have reported surging interest in travel to countries like Mexico and Thailand, which are among those opening up, as UK-based travellers plan long-haul holidays or long-awaited trips to see loved ones. Following the governments announcement on the red list changes last Thursday evening, Skyscanner reported a 60 per cent rise in traffic in subsequent three hours compared with the same period the previous week, according to the MailOnline. Specifically, the bookings website saw a 126 per cent rise in searches to Mexico compared with the previous day. There was a 112 per cent rise in searches for Thailand, while everywhere was the third most popular search on the website. Watch: COVID-19: Travel between UK and dozens of destinations now easier after red list cut to just seven countries Last week the Standard reported how some airlines had seen bookings to some destinations more than double in the days up the Thursdays announcement, as anticipation over the expected opening up of long-haul travel grew. Stephanie Boyle, global travel industry expert for Skyscanner, said: We are expecting to see a significant and immediate uptick in demand and with searches and bookings on Skyscanner ahead of key holiday moments like October half-term and the peak winter sun period. As well as holiday travel, we will see increases in bookings for those looking to visit loved ones over the festive period. This change in rules will driver long-term planning, and we expect to see searches and bookings for the remainder of the year and into 2022 rise sharply as a result. Since last Thursday the top booked holiday destinations are Dubai, Tenerife and Alicante. Unaffected by the latest travel rule changes, Spain remains the most searched-for country - but South Africa and Thailand are among several former red list countries which have moved into the top 20 searched destinations. Story continues Emma Coulthurst, from the holiday price comparison websites TravelSupermarket and icelolly.com, told MailOnline: Mexico - in particular the Caribbean coast and the resort of Cancun - and Cape Verde are the two stand out countries which have seen increased holiday interests. Just seven countries remain on the red list - Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. Further to those changes, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has lifted its advice against non-essential travel to a further 42 countries and territories due to the coronavirus pandemic. This follows the removal of travel advisories to 41 locations last week. The changes make it easier for people to obtain travel insurance for trips to those destinations. Watch: Holiday travel surge: Travel boom expected in December Read More Where can I go on holiday now? Travel opened up between UK and dozens of long-haul destinations Foreign holidays: new rules explained and advice on booking | The Leader podcast Ever since Dr. Cathy Whiting researched the reproductive cycles of alligators and lizards for her Ph.D. program at the University of Florida, she has seen the value of such opportunities. Now, the professor of biology helps provide similar opportunities for undergraduate students at the University of North Georgia (UNG). A 2021 Presidential Semester Incentive Award from UNG President Bonita Jacobs funds a histology lab that Whiting is creating. Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues. While undergraduate students at large research institutions traditionally have a small part in a faculty member's research, the histology lab offers a place for students to devise and execute their own research projects from start to finish in one or two semesters. "Undergraduate research experience is becoming more important in making students competitive for graduate and professional programs," Whiting said. She also enjoys teaching these student leaders people skills and professional writing techniques that will benefit them in their future endeavors. "The mentoring aspect of leadership is so important to me. You have a chance to develop leaders and critical thinkers and problem-solvers," Whiting said. "That's where I can have a long-term impact on my students. Investing in students through undergraduate research provides opportunities for them to develop these skills as they prepare for the next step in their academic journeys." She said compassion and empathy allow faculty members to understand students' struggles and bring out the best in them. "I have a reputation for being rigorous in the classroom," Whiting said. "But my students know that I care about them. That allows them to give me 100%." She appreciates the growth her students experience, particularly when they struggle initially. Some of her proudest moments come when former students receive acceptance into medical school and graduate programs. "I'm not just teaching them content," Whiting said. "I'm teaching them how to be a lifelong learner." Exactly a year ago, on September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan's Patriotic War began. On that day, Armenia's occupying forces subjected the positions of the armed forces of Azerbaijan along the front line and the adjacent populated areas in Azerbaijan to intensive fire with the use of large-calibre weapons, artillery and mortars. Baku decided to launch a counter-offensive operation to ensure the safety of the civilian population. Vestnik Kavkaza offers its readers to follow the events of the 44 days of Azerbaijan's Patriotic War as they were covered a year ago. The fifteenth day of the war, October 11, began with a tragedy: at night Ganja was hit by several medium-range missiles launched from the territory of Armenia, one of them hit an apartment building. The missile killed ten people, injured 34 people, and destroyed three buildings. Soon, photos of this war crime were published, it turned out that the target of the strikes was Victory Park. Early in the morning, medium-range missiles were fired at the city of Mingachevir, which is 100 km away from the front. It became known that under the guise of humanitarian aid, "Smerch" rockets were being delivered to Armenia. Simultaneously with the terrorist attack in Ganja, the occupation troops made an attempt to return to the lands liberated from them, but were thrown back by the liberation Azerbaijani army. The foreign ministers of Russia and Turkey had an urgent phone conversation after the terrorist attack in Ganja. In the afternoon, Azerbaijan provided detailed evidence of the terrorist attack in Ganja, Baku stressed that it considers this missile strike as an act of genocide. It was proposed to introduce international sanctions against Armenia. Yerevan's puppet regime started talking about the need for Armenia to recognize the sovereignty of the fake regime in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who had returned to Yerevan the day before after negotiations in Moscow, was going to fly to Russia again. Pope Francis called for a truce, without commenting on the terrorist attack in Ganja. Video footage of the liberated village of Dashkesan in the Jebrail region and the liberated village of Horadiz in the Fizuli region were published. Civilian media representatives visited the liberated Talysh for the first time. The occupying troops of Armenia paid with heavy losses for the first day of violation of the ceasefire regime. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev described the terrorist attack in Ganja as another manifestation of Armenian fascism. First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva called on the international community to condemn the war crimes of Armenia. In the afternoon, Armenia sent a drone to Mingachevir, it was shot down by the air defense of Azerbaijan. The shelling of the front-line settlements of Azerbaijan continued all day. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that both Baku and Yerevan are important for Russia. Armenian fighters were spotted at the Russian military base in Gyumri. Western media have witnessed the facts of Armenia's missile attack on Ganja. In the evening, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry officially informed the OSCE Minsk Group about the terrorist act in Ganja, which did not react to this war crime. Baku emphasized that the Armenian troops are purposefully attacking the civilian population of Azerbaijan, while the Azerbaijani army is firing only at military targets. Saudi Arabia again supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Thus, on the fifteenth day of the war, Armenia committed a grave war crime by shooting down medium-range missiles at the peaceful city of Ganja, which is remote from the war zone and had no military targets. The terrorist attack did not help the occupation forces of Armenia to stop the advance of the Azerbaijani liberation army in the south, towards Fizuli and Zangilan, only exacerbating the position of Yerevan as an aggressor and war criminal. Allegations that the territory of Azerbaijan is being used for intelligence purposes against Iran are false, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan said in a statement. The statement notes that the Iranian media had recently published an interview with the commander of the Iranian Border Guard Commander Brigadier-General Ahmed Ali Goudarzi, who made false statements. There have never been, and never will be, third forces on the state border of Azerbaijan. Rumors that Azerbaijan is using its territory for intelligence purposes against Iran and that representatives of a religious extremist movement are acting on it is false. There are no forces and specialists of any foreign state on the state border of Azerbaijan. The State Border Service, which has the most modern capabilities, does not need the support of foreign forces for reliable guarding and protection of the state border of Azerbaijan, the statement reads. The State Border Service emphasized that border and customs control on the section of the Gorus-Gafan road passing through the Azerbaijani territory on the state border with Armenia is the sovereign right of Azerbaijan. Despite the fact that working meetings at different levels and exchange of information are periodically held between the Azerbaijani and Iranian border guards, until today the Azerbaijani side has not been provided with any information contained in Goudarzi's interview, the statement said. "At present, the operational situation on the state border with Iran is stable and is fully controlled by the border guards of Azerbaijan. Any provocations on the state border directed against the state interests of Azerbaijan will be suppressed," the statement added. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said. The meeting of the FMs took place within the high-level event of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Belgrade (Serbia) on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Movement. The ministers exchanged views on a number of issues on the agenda of bilateral cooperation, as well as the current situation in the region. The foreign ministers of the two countries also discussed issues of cooperation within the framework of international organizations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry does not stop conducting a slanderous campaign against Azerbaijan, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Leyla Abdullayeva said, commenting on the interview of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on the Lebanese Al-Manar TV channel. "We strongly reject such accusations. Azerbaijan has stated and is now reiterating that there were no terrorists on the territory of the country during the 44-day war [from late Sept. to early Nov.2020]. Azerbaijan, as a country that suffered from terror, has never had a place for terrorists," Abdullayeva said. Azerbaijan liberated its lands at the cost of the blood and lives of martyrs, the spokesperson stressed, reminding statement of President Ilham Aliyev that Azerbaijan with its 100,000-strong army does not need mercenaries. "Its surprising that during the war the Iranian side did not bring up such accusations. After the war (before the new government came to power in the country) there was no issue that could raise concerns. The anti-Azerbaijani campaign wont benefit Iran, she further said. Its clear that the reasons for these baseless accusations are the prevention of the illegal entry of Iranian trucks into the territory of Azerbaijan, which and the liberation of Azerbaijani territories. We advise those who want to find terrorists look around themselves better. Back in October last year, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry provided the diplomatic corps accredited in the country, including the Iranian embassy, with information based on specific facts about the participation of Armenian mercenaries in the combat operations [during the 44-day war] in the previously occupied territories of Azerbaijan," added Abdullayeva. Serbia is hosting the Non-Aligned Movement Summit. The two-day event is taking place in Belgrade. Belgrade, then the capital of Yugoslavia, had hosted a summit of the movement once before in 1961. On Monday, it will once again gather the representatives of more than 100 countries 60 years later. The Non-Aligned Movement was established during the era of decolonization by numerous developing countries, many of which had recently won their independence, that did not want to opt for one or other military-political blocs of the Cold War and instead chose to pursue an independent foreign policy. The most recent summit was hosted by Azerbaijan in 2019 in the capital Baku. The movement today has 120 members. A suspended ceiling has collapsed in a ward of the Iashvili Batumi Maternal and Child Central Hospital in the Black Sea coastal city of Batumi. Four children were in the ward at night when the incident happened but nobody was injured. The hospital management said that the cause of the accident would be identified after the investigation, Agenda.ge reported. Last week a residential building located on 26 May Street collapsed in Batumi. Nine people were killed, including three children. The condition of one rescued remains grave. Today is a day of mourning in Georgia for the victims of the tragedy. The Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research has set a target for October to launch the clinical trials of its CoviVac coronavirus vaccine for the 60+ age group, the centers Director General Aidar Ishmukhametov told TASS on Monday. "Three centers - in Moscow, Novosibirsk and Perm - will take part in the research. During the research, part of the volunteers will be immunized with three doses of the vaccine. This will give us a possibility to receive reliable data on the efficiency of this scheme of vaccination and compare it with the existing two-jab scheme," he said. Earlier on Monday, it was reported that the Russian Health Ministry gave the go-ahead for clinical trials of CoviVac among the people older than 60. According to data from the ministrys registry, 250 volunteers will take part. The Health Ministry registered the CoviVac vaccine developed by the Chumakov center on February 19, 2021. A meeting between U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov is scheduled for October 12, a source in diplomatic circles said on Monday. "So far [it] has been planned for Tuesday," the TASS agencys interlocutor said. Earlier, a source in the presidential administration said that a meeting between Deputy Chief of the Russian Presidential Staff Dmitry Kozak and Nuland would be held on October 13. Hundreds of Afghans left Ramstein Air Base late Saturday as flights to the U.S. resumed following a three-week pause imposed after measles cases were confirmed among evacuees. "We really are excited to be finishing up this herculean effort," Ramstein installation commander Brig. Gen. Josh Olson told Stars and Stripes. "It's taken much longer than expected but its an awesome ending to what's been quite an effort, quite an opportunity - the world's largest airlift for 124,000 people." Around 300 evacuees were on board the specially chartered Omni Air International flight that left Ramstein, bound for Philadelphia, Stars and Stripes writes. Officials at Ramstein expect to fly around 1,000 evacuees a day to the U.S. in the coming days, meaning the roughly 9,000 Afghans who have been housed in hastily erected camps at Ramstein and nearby Rhine Ordnance Barracks should all have left Germany in a little over a week. The first evacuees arrived at Ramstein at the end of August after U.S. bases in the Middle East that were temporarily housing them reached capacity. Among those airlifted out of Afghanistan were American citizens, legal residents, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and their families. But in mid-September, flights were abruptly halted when four measles cases were discovered among Afghans who had arrived in the U.S. from overseas bases. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has discussed bilateral and regional cooperation with his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan during his working visit in Yerevan. During the meeting the Georgian and Armenian prime ministers discussed Garibashvili-proposed peaceful neighbourhood initiative aimed to promote stability in the South Caucasus by facilitating dialogue and confidence-building. The initiative further aims to lead to the implementation of practical solutions to regional issues of common interest with the United States and the EU partners. Garibashvili again reiterated his readiness to continue the role of an active mediator for ensuring peace and stability in the region. Pashinyan and Garibashvili have noted that the high-level intensive bilateral contacts testify to the dynamic development of the Armenian-Georgian relations and the high level of political dialogue. They also reaffirmed their readiness to further deepen friendly ties and agreed to continue the active dialogue. "In the frames of my visit to held productive talks with PM Nikol Pashinyan we discussed bilateral cooperation, new peace initiative for South Caucasus region and his readiness to pursue active mediation to create more opportunities for sustainable peace and development in the region," Garibashvili wrote on Twitter. Pashinyan once again offered condolences on the tragic collapse of a residential building in the Georgian Black Sea town of Batumi on October 7 causing the death of nine, as well as expressed his solidarity with the Georgian government and the Georgian people. The Armenian PM has also thanked Garibashvili for not cancelling his visit to Armenia despite the tragic incident in Batumi, Agenda.ge reported. Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Saeed Khatibzadeh announced on Monday that the relations between Tehran and Baku are normal and that Irans borders and its air space are open. The Islamic Republic has expressed its concerns and they have promised to remove them, Khatibzadeh said, stressing that Tehrans main principle follows brotherly behavior. He made the remarks at his weekly press briefing in Tehran, IRNA reported. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahiyan, in turn, told reporters in Moscow that Iran and Azerbaijan have historical, cultural and religious ties, therefore, any issues at the political level should be resolved as soon as possible in order to prevent the deterioration of relations due to some media reports. According to the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, all countries in the region must solve their problems themselves and prevent interference from foreign states. In addition, Abdollahiyan said that he met with his Azerbaijani Jeyhun Bayramov at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and expressed concerns about a possible geopolitical change in the region. He added that the meeting took place in a "friendly and sincere atmosphere." In addition, the Iranian Foreign Minister expressed hope for the development of relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia, urging the countries to focus on "constructive cooperation." According to Mehr, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahiyan will soon visit Baku. However, at the moment it has not been reported what issues will be discussed by the Iranian minister during his trip. Europe may need more Russian gas than previously agreed, Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said. He noted that "Russia wants Nord Stream 2 to be launched, and the EU needs gas." "We still need Russian gas, and we will probably need more than [what is in] the contract," Borrell told El Pais newspaper. He also recalled that Spain has proposed that the European Commission negotiate gas contracts on behalf of all EU member states. "I hope that they [the EU] will think about whether the electricity pricing system needs to be changed," the EU High Representative said. He believes it would be wise to "rethink the model and see if it fits the circumstances," but that will take time. "And the situation requires quicker decisions," Borrell stressed. On October 6, the price of gas in Europe broke new record highs, rising sharply to above $1,900 per 1,000 cubic meters, but on October 7, the price dropped below $1,000 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. One of the ministries has been renamed in Azerbaijan, the corresponding decree was issued by President Ilham Aliyev. According to it, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan receives a new name - the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan. It is specified that this measure was taken within the framework of improving management in the field of digitalization, innovation, high technologies and communications. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said China's growing economic development and its closer cooperation with Russia threaten the North Atlantic Alliance. "The rise of China is important for our security. We see how they are trying to control critically important infrastructure <...>. We see them in the field of cybersecurity," - said the head of NATO. Stoltenberg stressed that China is striving to become the world's leading economy by creating destructive technologies and investing large sums of money in its nuclear capabilities. At the same time, he pointed out that the PRC is working more and more closely with Russia. The NATO Secretary General also drew attention to the fact that the North Atlantic Alliance needs to fight global threats. "I am not in favor of NATO becoming a global alliance, which would mean membership of countries from all over the world. But I believe that, as a regional alliance, we must confront global threats," TASS quotes him. Russian President Vladimir Putin had a conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Kremlin press service reported. "The worrying situation in connection with the delaying of the internal Ukrainian conflict resolving process was thoroughly discussed. At the same time, the three leaders noted the importance of the implementation of the 2015 Minsk agreements as an uncontested basis for the settlement. They also emphasized their interest in further coordinating the efforts of Russia, Germany and France in the Normandy format.", - specified in it. The Russian leader gave a principled assessment of the policy of the Ukrainian leadership, which is "stubbornly evading" from complying with its own obligations under the Minsk Agreements and agreements agreed upon at previous "Normandy" summits, including the one held in Paris on December 9, 2019. The Kremlin added that, taking into account the difficult situation with the settlement of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine, the heads of state gave their political advisers and foreign ministries instructions to intensify contacts and activities in the framework of the Normandy Four. The foreign ministers "will lead the case" towards holding a meeting at their own level. In addition, the participants in the conversation agreed to continue, through the appropriate channels, consideration of the prerequisites for the possible holding, if appropriate, of a "Normandy" summit. Let us remind you, earlier today, Macron and Merkel had a telephone conversation with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian religious leaders are expected to meet in Russia. Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade is on a visit to Russia between October 11-14 at the invitation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, the press service of the Caucasus Muslims Office was quoted as saying. The Caucasian Muslims Office along with the Azerbaijani embassy in Moscow plans to organize a ceremony to commemorate the martyrs of the 44-day Patriotic War which will be attended by Muslims and representatives of other religious confessions in Russia. The health condition of Georgian ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has been on a hunger strike in prison since October 1, has deteriorated and he needs to be taken to hospital, his personal doctor Nikoloz Kipshidze said on Sunday. "Prison medics are the best. I spoke with then for 30 minutes about how to survive this night. I will visit him (Saakashvili - TASS) again tomorrow. We will probably have to take him to hospital," he said in an interview with the Mtavari arkhi television channel. Saakashvili was detained in Georgia on October 1. He is currently being kept in prison in the city of Rustavi. He went on a hunger strike as he claims to be a political prisoner. Saakashvili was Georgias president from January 2004 to November 2013 and left the country several days before the expiration of his office term. Immediately after it, four criminal cases were initiated against him and verdicts were pronounced on two of them. Thus, Saakashvili was sentenced in absentia to three years behind bars on charges of the murder of banker Sandro Girgvliani and to six years in jail on charged of the assault and battery of lawmaker Valery Gelashvili. In the recent time, Saakashvili, who holds a Ukrainian passport, has been living in Ukraine. Observers at the British newspaper Express commented on an article that Russia is "putting pressure" on Europe and deliberately raising gas prices. Many believe that the European Union underestimates Russia's capabilities, especially when they criticize it. "The arguments in favor of wind and solar energy are inconclusive this year. Russia has driven Europe into a corner with gas. Europe has lost, the United States has no reason to keep its troops there to protect it from energy lenders. Good luck, Europe," said a reader with nickname 122 WestObserver. The user NeilSays believes that the rise in energy prices in the world is not associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Gas prices are growing all over the world, like the cost of any energy resources. This has nothing to do with Putin," he said. "Does Britain want Russia to ship unlimited amounts of this gas for free? Yes, please sign me up if possible!" - wrote the columnist Honest broker. Some readers urged not to buy gas from Russia. "Why is everyone so nervous? Do not buy gas from Russia, everything is simple. On the other hand, it can choose who to sell it to, this is its gas," said one of the users. The Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urban Development has received a new name, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara. We have decided to rename our Ministry of Environment, Urban Development and Climate Change, TASS quoted him as saying. The head of state specified that the changes are related to the ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement by the Turkish parliament on October 6. The military-analytical channel Caliber on October 9 wrote about Iran's intervention in last year's Karabakh war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to the source, the Iranian military, having invaded the territory of Azerbaijan on October 17-18, 2020, temporarily blocked the advance of the Azerbaijani army in the Zangilan direction, as a result of which the Azerbaijanis were forced to take a longer detour. According to the article, only after a day of tough diplomatic pressure, Iran withdrew its troops from Azerbaijan, but the Azerbaijani military lost precious time and a certain tactical advantage. This information could be not taken seriously, it could be referred to the category of mutual accusations, a lot of them have been made in the Azerbaijani and Iranian media lately. However, the seriousness of the topic and the source suggests that it's not about journalistic fantasies. An indirect confirmation of this is the fact that this information was also disseminated by Russia Today and Israel Hayom, and almost immediately confirmed by Turkish journalist Ragip Soylu, Turkey Bureau Chief for the Middle East Eye. "The story mentioned below is correct. One regional source and one Azerbaijani official confirmed me at the time. But I didnt report on it because Iran had already withdrawn and Baku had more or less stable relations with Iran. Didnt see much of a point," the journalist wrote on Twitter. The Iranian media also reacted to the accusations from Baku. Thus, referring to a certain "informed source", the Iranian Nour News agency called the Azerbaijani channel's report about the introduction of Iranian troops into Azerbaijan during the second Karabakh war "fake". However, Nour News wrote that, according to the agreements between Baku and Tehran in 2016, the protection of the reservoir from the Azerbaijani side "was also entrusted to Iran." In 2016 the Jebrail region was still under the occupation of Armenia. Meanwhile, there is no documentary evidence in open official sources that the Iranian troops really had the right to be on the Azerbaijani side of the Araks River. In 2016, an agreement was reached that the Azerbaijani-Iranian technical commission will work out the rules for the protection and joint use of the Khudaferin and Giz Galasi HPPs. It's not unknown what the parties agreed on - not to the general public. However, one can proceed from the fact that blocking the advancement of the Azerbaijani army across the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan could under no circumstances be part of any Iranian-Ayzrbaydzhan agreements, and this is precisely what the Azerbaijani media blames on Iran. And the Iranian side has been quiet about this so far. On Monday, October 11, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili went on an official visit to Austria. This is stated in a message posted on the website of the administration of the head of state. Zurabishvili will begin her visit with a meeting with Georgians working in Austria in the field of art and medicine. As part of the trip, the President of Georgia will hold talks with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Belen, and will also meet with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmidt. In addition, the head of the Georgian state will visit the photo exhibition "Women for Peace", dedicated to the Austrian writer and leader of the international pacifist movement Bertha von Suttner. In addition, Zurabishvili will open the Georgian-Austrian business forum. The official visit of the President of Georgia to Austria will end on October 13. The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World) has revealed the opening of a new chain named TopZone, with many indications that it will be their second retail chain abroad. The first information about a new retail chain called TopZone has been revealed on the Mobile World website and some other channels of this retailer. This retailer did not disclose what TopZone will sell before the launch on October 16. TopZone.vn website has been established, but it only displays a game for users to guess what TopZone will sell. There are 5 answers, including: overseas chain, fashion stores, high-end technology stores, stores cooperating with Samsung or Oppo. By the exclusion method, it will be possible to guess the function of the TopZone chain. Firstly, it will be very unlikely that Mobile World will open a chain of stores that only sell high-end technology products. Nguyen Duc Tai, co-founder of Mobile World, has shared the philosophy of serving a majority of customers, so opening a chain that only sells high-end goods in the current context is very unlikely. Looking at the retail chains of mobile phones, electronics, department stores, and pharmacies of Mobile World, it is easy to see that they are targeting general customers. TopZone cannot be a chain that cooperates with Samsung or Oppo because of this philosophy. Not to mention a slogan associated with TopZone "Where you want to stop" so it will be very difficult to be a store that only serves one brand. At the same time, the TopZone logo has four colors, which can hardly represent a specific brand. However, the inclusion of the names Samsung and Oppo shows that the upcoming chain will have a significant presence of two leading brands in the Vietnamese smartphone market. Previously, Mobile World opened stores that only sold Apple products, but they closed. The possibility of opening a fashion retail chain is also unlikely, although this segment has potential. There are hardly any domestic retail brands that can compete with brands like H&M, Zara, Uniqlo In the context that the domestic economy has just reopened, and the fashion segment is almost the opposite of the current businesses of Mobile World, it seems unreasonable to open a clothing chain now. The biggest possibility is that TopZone will be Mobile World's second technology retail chain in foreign markets for many reasons. Their mobile phone and electronics chains are currently occupying a large market share in Vietnam, so it is difficult to expand further. In addition, the smartphone market in Vietnam is also saturated. Therefore, Mobile World needs to look for other markets with more potential. In its recent business reports, Mobile World included Bluetronics as a bright spot. In the first 8 months of 2021, this chain grew by nearly 300% over the same period of 2021. This achievement shows two things. Firstly, the business model in foreign markets has found a recipe for success. Secondly, it alerts the company about the potential of a newer market outside Vietnam. Doan Van Hieu Em - CEO of the two chains of The Gioi Di Dong and Dien May Xanh told ICTNews early this year that Mobile World would only open a maximum of 80 stores in Cambodia. Cambodia will be the springboard, where the firm will conduct international business trials before jumping into other markets in Southeast Asia. There are many signs that TopZone is an overseas chain, but the domain name TopZone.vn seems to be for the Vietnamese market. Sources from Mobile World have not revealed anything more about TopZone. Hai Dang The Hanoi Peoples Committee on October 11 issued Document No.3487/UBND-DT on the pilot resumption of regular domestic flights to and from the capital city. Accordingly, passengers who meet all criteria by the ministries of transport and health will be put under quarantine at home and follow COVID-19 prevention and control measures in line with the State and citys regulations. The Hanoi authorities also asked the Ministry of Transport to direct its units to work closely with departments and agencies of Hanoi, cities and provinces concerned in the process of bringing passengers to and from Noi Bai international airport, ensuring safety in pandemic prevention and control. The municipal Health Department was assigned to acquire passengers information and work with airport authorities and airlines to take epidemiological control over them in line with anti-pandemic regulations. At 5pm the same day, Vietnam Airlines VNA216 flight departed from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, carrying nearly 120 passengers on wide-body Boeing 787. It was the first commercial flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi after several domestic routes reopened a day earlier. They all confirmed the host quarantine establishments before departure, tested negative to SARS-CoV-2, received enough vaccine shots, filled out health declarations and followed 5K regulations. Also on October 11, the Peoples Committee of the northern city of Hai Phong issued Document No.7611/UBND-VX on the control of passengers to and from Cat Bi international airport when domestic commercial flights are resumed. Accordingly, they will be exempt from concentrated quarantine. Those from high-risk areas must isolate themselves at home for a week, and test for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR method every Monday and Saturday. Meanwhile, those from at-risk or new normal areas must oversee their health for two weeks and test for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR method every Saturday. All testing and other costs will be covered by themselves. So far, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has resumed two-way flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, between Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Dong Hoi, Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa, Phu Quoc. The flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Rach Gia of Ca Mau are run by VASCO, a member of Vietnam Airlines Group./. Source: VNA Waco police are looking for a man accused of shooting another man during a fight early Sunday near Baylor University, then fleeing an off-duty police officer, who shot at the vehicle during a confrontation, officials said. The shooting occurred around 1:55 a.m. in a parking lot in the 1200 block of Speight Avenue, police spokeswoman Cierra Shipley said. The incident began when a man and woman were arguing and the victim stepped in to try to stop the argument, Shipley said. The two men began arguing, and two more men showed up to oppose the victim, Shipley said. The victim was punched in the mouth and knocked to the ground. The victim got up and began walking toward the suspect, who pulled a gun and fired it first in the air, then at the victim, according to the news release. A Mart police officer working off-duty security across the street at the Scruffy Murphy's pub heard the first shots, and as he approached the scene he witnessed the suspect shoot the victim, police said. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will then review the plan and open it up to public comment before accepting or denying it. Bostelman said the American Rescue Plan funds would not be used to clean up AltEn; rather they would be set aside to help the people of Mead and the surrounding area. "With any large-scale cleanup operation and loss of a major employer in an area, there are many unforeseen issues that arise that will need immediate or long-term attention," Bostelman said at the committee hearing. The $20 million request could help the village address short- or long-term economic, environmental or potential health risks that arise, he told the committee. "Those are all things that are real and facing the community now," he said. While the Legislature plans to appropriate the American Rescue Plan funds beginning in January, those funds must be spent by 2026 under the law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden. Bill Thorson, the chair of the Mead Board of Trustees, said those rescue plan dollars could be used to upgrade the village's water infrastructure should pesticides from the AltEn site be detected in its groundwater wells. Warbird Digest has received the July/August, 2021 report from Chuck Cravens concerning the restoration of the Dakota Territory Air Museums P-47D Thunderbolt 42-27609 at AirCorps Aviation in Bemidji, Minnesota. We thought our readers would be very interested to see how the project has progressed since our last article on this important project. So without further ado, here it goes! Update This month, work continued on fuselage systems, the ailerons underwent riveting, and work also began on the exhaust system. Some of the ducting for the turbosupercharger was fitted in conjunction with the exhaust system. Fuselage Systems work continues on the fuselage.